Glassing pinblocks

[Farrell]

Epoxy, like polyester, has two components - resin and hardener. Yes, epoxy
is sensitive to proportions, but that is easily dealt with by using the West
System pumps, or, better yet, a scale.

I know what you mean about the West System #406 Colloidal Silica filler
being "dusty". It blows all over the place and is a bit difficult to mix.
That is why I never use it. I don't like it. For this type of application, I
use #404 High Density filler. It doesn't blow around as much, mixes much
easier, and cures to a more dense hardened epoxy mass. You can mix in as
much as you want to make it any consistency from something like honey (which
would be too runny for a pinblock fit) to a peanut-butter consistency. That
solves your viscosity preference. If you want it lower density, mix in some
#405 Filleting Blend filler. It mixes very easily.

With references to developing sensitivities to epoxy - I have heard that is
possible. I don't really know any more than that. Wear gloves. I do know
that polyester stinks to high heaven - way, way more than West System epoxy.

I use epoxy on the block/flange fit - it is fast, easy, and yields a perfect
fit.

Terry Farrell

www.farrellpiano.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 6:49 PM
Subject: Re: Glassing pinblocks

> I prefer to limit my exposure to epoxy and it's thickening agents and I'd
> like to find something with a variable cure rate that can be controlled by
> the amount of catalyst.  Epoxy is sensitive to proportions, resins are
not,
> they simply cure more slowly if less is added.  Actually the stuff Jon
Page
> uses (Marine Tex) is a resin, not an epoxy as I mentioned earlier, and
> would be fine except I would like something not quite so thick.  I prefer
> not to have to squeeze out the excess with a lot of clamp pressure.  I
have
> used it before and it works well, though, I may just go back to it.
> Something with slightly less viscosity that is a similar product would be
> better for me.
>
> David Love

> I guess we're talking about epoxy resin versus polyester resin--all
epoxies
> are resins but not all resins are epoxies?  I don't really know what
> qualifies something as a resin, per se.  In answer to Greg's question, one
> can develop sensitivities to epoxy and I use epoxy a lot so any
opportunity
> to limit my exposure.  Also, I have a hard time controlling the airborn
> tendency for colloidal silica which I use to thicken epoxy--not nice stuff
> to breath.  Of course, I could just spend a lot more time getting a
perfect
> fit without glassing...but my golf game might suffer.
>
> David Love