NSW
1173 posts
Just looking for some advice please!! I have done a fair amount of board repair, and most of the time the results have been ok. However, a lot of the time when I epoxy a board over a crack/hole, I close the garage, go for a beer and then come back 30 minutes later to find bubbles in the epoxy that seem to have come from inside the board.
Does anyone else have this problem and is there anyway to stop it? It's difficult trying to get rid of them once the epoxy starts to thicken...
Thanks!!
WA
2236 posts
when epoxy starts to "go off" heat is generated. I have had fin boxes raise 20mmm before ( a real barstard when you check the next day). The best way i have found to solve this problem is by placing a straw in the repair ( to act as a breather) and filling it once the repair has set. I only have found this problem in large repairs. The other reason may be that there is water in your board. I am no expert but i have been doing ding repairs for ten years as a small cash earner and am self taught. Hope this helps
NSW
78 posts
If the bubbles are small and appear all over the epoxy, it might be because of the way you mix it. Folding the mixture with a paddle pop stick or your wife's best spatula rather than stirring can help. I have also heard that if you do your repairs in the late afternoon as the temp drops the board will tend to suck the epoxy in as it cools and the air shrinks instead of blowing the epoxy out. Look at the boardlady site. She seems to have some good advice. Good Luck!
NSW
1173 posts
Eva, from boardlady has answered my question and agrees with Mackay - do the fix later in the day:
yup, "breathing" is what she does! as the day warms, the air inside your board warms as well, expaning in the bargain. If you have an open ding somewhere, this expanding air will blow through there, no matter how much glass you lay over it. The answer is simply to wait until the day is definitely cooling off. For myself, here in Southern Cal, I never ever glass anything until after 4pm.
Good luck!
Eva
WA
12885 posts
What about undoing your bung??? That should also release any pressure build up.
Have you tried putting some release agent on monofilm, and taping/weighting with sandbags on top of the ding? saves on sanding later, and should help force any air thru the bung.
NSW
1173 posts
Decrepit, I haven't tried that, sounds a good idea though. Although most of my "injuries" are on the rails and/or nose...
WA
12885 posts
Rails are fine, just have board on edge, with damage to the top.
You can use masking tape instead of sand bags to pull pressure on the mylar.
Nose is a bit harder thou.
