West system

moccabee

moccabee

Mocc1Cues
Silver Member
Just purchased the West System Epoxy. Is there anything I should know when I use it? I purchased the fast hardner as well, how long does it take to set?
 
moccabee said:
Just purchased the West System Epoxy. Is there anything I should know when I use it? I purchased the fast hardner as well, how long does it take to set?
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Suggest following the directions carefully and start out mixing small batches until you get used to working with it. Set time can vary depending on temperature.

I mix mine by weight rather than volume and find that to work better. First time I used it I felt froggy and mixed enough to glue up four forearms. I got half way through #4 and the stuff started setting up.

Also, when it begins to set it does get hot. It will melt some plastic containers.
 
I wished West would put them out on a mixing gun. I have the 206 hardener. The mix turns yellow but it's very strong. I used it for brass on phonolic billet and it made the brass stick like I couldn't believe.
I will have to get a postal scale to do TILIS does.
I don't see a need for the fast hardener really since the slower the hardener is the stronger it usually is.
 
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JoeyInCali said:
I wished West would put them out on a mixing gun. I have the 206 hardener. The mix turns yellow but it's very strong. I used it for brass on phonolic billet and it made the brass stick like I couldn't believe.
I will have to get a postal scale to do TILIS does.
I don't see a need for the fast hardener really since the slower the hardener is the stronger it usually is.
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A mixing gun like the Devcon? Yes, but then the cost would go even higher. West also sells pumps for the containers so you don't have to pour from the can...Much easier and less messy. The pumps are calibrated according to the size can being used, but I prefer weighing it.

The hardener is yellow for a reason. It lets you know that you have both components mixed thoroughly. That's a good reason not to use it for finish.
 
I only use the regular hardener and I only mix it two ways. First is one full pump of each and second is one half pump of each. Never had a problem doing it that way.
 
TellsItLikeItIs said:
A mixing gun like the Devcon? Yes, but then the cost would go even higher. West also sells pumps for the containers so you don't have to pour from the can...Much easier and less messy. The pumps are calibrated according to the size can being used, but I prefer weighing it.

The hardener is yellow for a reason. It lets you know that you have both components mixed thoroughly. That's a good reason not to use it for finish.
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I have the pump. Problem is it pumps a LOT of glue.:eek:
The 207 hardener I believe does not turn yellow.
 
moccabee said:
Just purchased the West System Epoxy. Is there anything I should know when I use it? I purchased the fast hardner as well, how long does it take to set?
Click to expand...
My suggestion is to weigh the material in Grams, and then ratio it accordingly. Think Fast and slow are 5:1, and then mix throughly... I have had 2 sets of pumps, and if you weigh them on a accurate scale they are off. The hardner pumper does not actually start pumping until you are about 1/8 way down, which throws off the calculations. Joey is right also, if you weigh your epoxy, you can just mix small amounts. Like posted above invest $30 on a postal scale, and weigh you epoxys. Just my .02 cents worth.
 
TellsItLikeItIs said:
I've used the 206 & 207 hardener. Both are the amber color.
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Time to switch to System 3 for basecoat then. :)
Btw, what kind of scale are you using?
 
JoeyInCali said:
Time to switch to System 3 for basecoat then. :)
Btw, what kind of scale are you using?
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Appreciate the advice, but "if it ain't broke, I don't fix it". My scale for epoxy is a cheapy from Office Max. I verified it against my Pitney Bowes Mail Station and surprisingly it's accurate.
 
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