Where to buy resin?

[Dumontrudisel]

I finished putting together a pep file of mine and I want to harden it. Where can I get some resin I could use indoors? I heard Epoxy resin is okay for using indoors with proper ventilation. Where could I get some resin? Lowes, Home Depot? Specific brands would help me find what I'm looking for

 

[laellee]

If you're hell-bent on using epoxy resin, Smooth-on is still likely going to be the way to go for you. I use Smooth-cast 300. If you're only doing something like a helmet, their trial size is plenty, otherwise you'll want to buy the gallon packs if you've got a bit more to do.

 

[Dumontrudisel]

If you're hell-bent on using epoxy resin, Smooth-on is still likely going to be the way to go for you. I use Smooth-cast 300. If you're only doing something like a helmet, their trial size is plenty, otherwise you'll want to buy the gallon packs if you've got a bit more to do.

I have a pretty good idea of what resin I want, but I have no idea where to buy it

 

[Dumontrudisel]

I'm assuming this is the stuff

 

[laellee]

Yep that's polyester resin. Bondo 401 will work fine, it is going to smell though.

 

[Dumontrudisel]

Yep that's polyester resin. Bondo 401 will work fine, it is going to smell though.

Yea I know. I plan on getting a can of resin, a respirator, some fiberglass cloth and work in the shed in my yard. Oh and bring out a fan for ventilation and a heater so it'll cure right. I suppose that should work. Quick question: Does this stuff still smell after its cured?

 

[laellee]

Haha, that's tough to answer. Resin should not have a noticeable odor after it's completely cured. Having said that, it can take anywhere from a day or two for the odor to mostly dissipate to months. Things like improper mixing ratios and temperatures outside of the recommended range during application and during the cure time can affect how soon the odor goes away. I've never had a huge problem with it, but I'm also pretty much immune to the smell of curing fiberglass after years of being around it. I do try to wait at least a week after fiberglassing before I prime and seal, although that's not a necessity.

 

[NovaDom]

I have a helmet that was done with fiberglass (polyester) resin over 3 YEARS ago, and I still find that it smells horible whenever I put it on. YMMV

 

[NovaDom]

oh and, in your first post you mentionned that you might work indoors..

you can have a look here, we were discussing different type of products which are less toxic..
fiberglass resin and epoxy resin are great to work with, if you take the proper precautions AND that you know what to expect.. if you're looking for other alternative, check out that thread!

 

[Dumontrudisel]

So I'll take that as a yes. It almost sounds like you could reduce the smell by painting over it after its cured

 

[Knowone251]

I did a video about using epoxy resins. Look at boating(marine) shops for stuff like West Systems.

 

[Metal Man]

I used EpoxAmite 100, works great and almost no smell.

 

[Dumontrudisel]

How much is this stuff going to cost? Sounds pretty pricey

 

[Knowone251]

How much is this stuff going to cost? Sounds pretty pricey

That question is relative. At the shop where I buy my West System resin the smaller tin is $40ish dollars and the large tin is $90ish, but the large one has 4x the amount of resin. For me its cheaper in the long run to get the big tin, but you might never need that much. Do you have a Hobby Lobby near you? If you do, download their smartphone app. It always has a %40 off coupon, so I would go and pick up the big bottles of the 30min epoxy they carry. Depending on how much tax is where you are it should be around $6-10 dollars with the coupon. Try the hot water bath trick to make it easier to spread. I just started hardening a pep piece this way, adding burlap strips for additional support. I'll post pics later.

 

[Metal Man]

How much is this stuff going to cost? Sounds pretty pricey

All together + shipping was $97.00 for one gallon . I didn't think that was a bad price. I didn't have to wear a mask. 4oz's at a time covered alot of area on my pep. I did four shoulders bells ,two upper arms, two lower forarms, two large pods, two elbows, two biceps. Think about your health, Price means nothing
Hope this helps.

 

[Dumontrudisel]

All together + shipping was $97.00 for one gallon . I didn't think that was a bad price. I didn't have to wear a mask. 4oz's at a time covered alot of area on my pep. I did four shoulders bells ,two upper arms, two lower forarms, two large pods, two elbows, two biceps. Think about your health, Price means nothing
Hope this helps.

Cheaping out of my own health isnt going to happen. First thing Im buying before choosing a resin is buying an organic respirator

 

[Dumontrudisel]

I stopped by O'Reilly's Auto Parts after school today to see if they have what I need instead of going ALL the way to Home Depot or Lowes and I believe I found what I'm looking for




They also had respirators but really high end ones. Probably could find one cheaper elsewhere.

Last questions:
After glassing, do you sand then put on body filler?

What grit sand papers are needed for projects like this?

Is it better to use fiberglass mat or cloth for helmet insides?

 

[Knowone251]

Bondo products will work, but they are polyester based and have the highest VOC of all the resins we have been discussing. So a respirator is a MUST, and if you do it indoors the stink will linger for a long time. And by stink, I mean harmful vapors. Generally on pep you resin the outside, the inside, lay fiberglass on the inside for support, and bondo on the outside for detail. You can glass the outside and then bondo but you will lose quite a bit of detail from the pep piece. I prefer cloth over mat because its less messy, but either would work. As for sandpaper, bondo sells an autobody pack with grits from 250-600. Add some 80-100 girt for taking down high spots and that should be enough unless you are going for a glossy mirror finish. Or go with a set of sanding sponges. Course, medium and fine.

 

[Dumontrudisel]

Very nice

 

[Dumontrudisel]

Bondo products will work, but they are polyester based and have the highest VOC of all the resins we have been discussing. So a respirator is a MUST, and if you do it indoors the stink will linger for a long time. And by stink, I mean harmful vapors. Generally on pep you resin the outside, the inside, lay fiberglass on the inside for support, and bondo on the outside for detail. You can glass the outside and then bondo but you will lose quite a bit of detail from the pep piece. I prefer cloth over mat because its less messy, but either would work. As for sandpaper, bondo sells an autobody pack with grits from 250-600. Add some 80-100 girt for taking down high spots and that should be enough unless you are going for a glossy mirror finish. Or go with a set of sanding sponges. Course, medium and fine.

Well that works out perfectly then. I just need some finer grit sand paper since I already have a sanding sponge. I could get all this right now PLUS the respirator. I plan on working in the shed next to my house. Ill keep a heater in there for proper curing of the resin and a fan for ventilation.