<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=2>Del:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I have typically used West System epoxies but I am = curious about your use of the clear coat epoxy  you describe below.  I = use West System, among other things, to secure bridge pins when repinning an = old bridge.  After cleaning the bridge cap, sanding out the string = grooves, and renotching, I put a drop or two of epoxy into the bridge pin hole, dip = the tip of the new pin in epoxy and tap it in.  As the excess oozes out, I = take a fine brush dipped in lacquer thinner and spread the excess epoxy over = the cap and into the notches to seal the wood.  After it cures I paint on a = thin coat of permalon--I've gotten away from putting graphite on the = bridge.  I am curious about the clear coat epoxy because it seems that it might be = a better seal for the wood.  Will it serve the same function as a filler for = small cracks as the West System?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=pianobuilders@olynet.com href="mailto:pianobuilders@olynet.com">Delwin D Fandrich</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> January 02, 2002 7:48 = AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Epoxy</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">Farrell</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> January 02, 2002 4:50 = AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Epoxy</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Roger Jolly (bless his heart) refers to West System resin as = being "water-thin" (I sure hope I have not mis-quoted Roger!). I asked him = if he were using something different than I. He said no. It is definitely = not water-thin, but it is indeed quite low in viscosity compared to many = of the thick epoxies. With no fillers added, it has the consistency of = something like motor oil. I would say it is thick enough to not wick into = things real well like thin CA can. But I use it for installing bridge pins - it = works real well, easy to handle, and will creep into little cracks next to = pins that are present in so many old bridge tops. And of course you can = make it as thick as you want with the various fillers.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A = href="http://www.westsystem.com/">http://www.westsystem.com/</A>  = </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What is your intended use?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have heard from others that a product called Epotec 301 (my = spell checker suggested "erotic", but I think it is Epotec) may be thinner = than West System resin. I have not tried it. I had the address, but I = cannot find it now. Anyone have the address?</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>I'm sure Epotec makes a fine = product. But it sure is hard getting product information out of = them.</FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>We have used WEST system epoxies = since the early '70s with much success. They make excellent products. But when = it comes to coating epoxies we use SystemThree (<A href="http://www.systemthree.com">http://www.systemthree.com</A>) = Clear Coat Epoxy. </FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>To quote, <EM>"</EM></FONT><FONT color=#000080><EM>Clear Coat epoxy is a very low viscosity (thin) = almost colorless epoxy system that has a long pot life and cures without = amine blush. Unlike some of the so called penetrating epoxies, Clear Coat contains = no solvent. Furthermore, it is a very strong system when cured whereas = the penetrating epoxies have little, in any, strength or resistance to moisture."</EM> This stuff really is nearly water thin. It also </FONT><FONT color=#000080>requires an extended cure = time--depending on the temperature from 36 to 72 hours.</FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>Del</FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT = color=#000080></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>