Epoxy vs. Polyester Resin: the enviroment and your health

[cRAZY Canuck]

Found an interesting tid bit:

It takes 76,000 ft³ (2,152m³) of air to dilute 1lbs (0.45kg) of styrene to 50 parts per million.

Good enough reason for me to use epoxy and not Polyester......

Though having said that epoxy isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread as it comes from crude and a lot more people tend to be sensitive to it if they don't use the proper protective clothing when using it.

[prwinds]

haha Dont know if I catch your drift...but yeah wear your protective gear, at least a high quality filter mask when messing with epoxy.

I was repairing a windsurf board using epoxy a couple months without any gear and I really really messed up my throat...I felt super sick and sore for a whole week after. It was probably from sanding the fiber cloth but epoxy is definitely dangerous!

[zfennell]

...I felt super sick and sore for a whole week after. It was probably from sanding the fiber cloth ........!

nuff said

another legit consideration, regardless of which nasty chemical used for your board.
use what suits your needs, but take the 'appropriate' precautions.

[dannyalvarez]

Baby Powder...leaves a soft skin...

[dannyalvarez]

Safety and health first...

[HAMLINDP]

Don't forget desired results.

Polyester Resin is UV resistant and doesn't yellow, which is important if you want your, below final coat graphics to stay clear and colorful.

Epoxy Resin yellows with time, but I think adding a solid pigment keeps it's color. Could be wrong here? Anybody know for sure?

Sometimes in life, there's no suitable substitute for what you need.

[Phatbob]

The epoxy will yellow due the UV exposure. But putting a spar varnish (with UV inhibitors) on top with stop (or slow) the yellowing.

The yellowing does take quite a bit of UV exposure. If you don't leave your board cooking in the sun every day all day.. you shouldn't have that much of a issue.

[afflatus]

the thing you need to know about polyester resin besides it melting EPS foam is that it is not water-proof...

What you say? I said it's not waterproof...

That's right, you can make it waterproof though, you have to add some slick-um stiff to your final coat...

Fire in the hole--is the fin installers mantra...

careful out there...
fo

[blowhard]

both epoxy and poly are available with uv inhibitors $$$$$

[HAMLINDP]

Shahweeeet!