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Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=33297		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  WudWerkr [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
I have used Zpoxy several times as pore filler and I do like it . However I can not seem to get it as flat as I would like with the squeege application like in the vids . So I cut a square of cotton Tee shirt and applied it by wiping on and rubbing in . It seemed to work well , its a bit thick that way . Has anyone ever tried to thin it with alcohol ? Any ideas how that would work ?
Author:  kenjeffs [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
Hi Jim,

Was just at Hibdon and Talked to Jerry. :)

I am thinking about zpoxie for my next build. Who is your supplier?



---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.669715,-90.501375
Author:  WudWerkr [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
I purchased it through stewmac or lmi , cant remember for sure . It does a nice job of filling pores but it can be a lil bugger to work with first time or two . Just keep it small amonts and thin as possible otherwise you will have alot of sanding to do. Thats kinda why i ask the question here, if anyones ever tried thinning it out for use?
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
Wud, you can thin it with up to about 50% de-natured alcohol (DNA). I used to use it thinned about 10 to 20% for pore filling. Nowadays I use a UV cure polyester process that has its own gel filler that works great.

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  WudWerkr [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
Dave Fifield wrote:
Wud, you can thin it with up to about 50% de-natured alcohol (DNA). I used to use it thinned about 10 to 20% for pore filling. Nowadays I use a UV cure polyester process that has its own gel filler that works great.

Cheers,
Dave F.



So You have done this and had no bad effects from it or problems with it then ! THANKS [:Y:]

Thats kinda what I was hoping , if no one piped in I was gonna experiment on a scrap.
I may do that anyway . [:Y:]
Author:  jac68984 [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
Zpoxy becomes significantly thin with very little DA added (10 to 20%). I apply two thick coats like Todd demonstrates, but use autobody putty spreaders of various sizes (Bondo makes some you can find in various sizes at most automotive stores) to apply. I find I can more aggressively squeegee off the epoxy with the spreaders, which tend to be more stiff than the window squeegees I've been able to find. For the final "wetting" coat, I thin with around 10% DA and use a small window squeegee to apply as thin of a coat as possible. Seems to have worked well so far.
Author:  WudWerkr [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
I tried the bondo spreaders and seem to get alot of same result . Maybe Im not cleaning the spreader well enough when Im trying to get it down to final coat . I keep getting thin / thick lines.

Thanks for the help guys
Author:  jac68984 [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application
kenjeffs wrote:
Hi Jim,

I am thinking about zpoxie for my next build. Who is your supplier?


LMI sells it. I don't think Stewmac does, but I could be wrong on that. Certain hobby stores might also carry it (like Towerhobbies.com, who sells it a few bucks cheaper than LMI) for a finishing resin for covering wings with fabric and such.
Author:  jac68984 [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
WudWerkr wrote:
I tried the bondo spreaders and seem to get alot of same result . Maybe Im not cleaning the spreader well enough when Im trying to get it down to final coat . I keep getting thin / thick lines.

Thanks for the help guys


Yep, regardless of the implement used, once you are trying to smooth things out as much as possible, wipe the blade or spreader edge after each cleanup pass. Use paper towels with some DA applied to them to wipe down the edge. You are trying to get all the epoxy you don't need off the guitar surface. It takes very little epoxy to fill the pores of most woods, and you are not trying to build a coat of epoxy on the surface wood.
Author:  CharlieT [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
WudWerkr wrote:
I tried the bondo spreaders and seem to get alot of same result . Maybe Im not cleaning the spreader well enough when Im trying to get it down to final coat . I keep getting thin / thick lines.

Thanks for the help guys


Here's something I've been doing that I find works works really well. Spread the epoxy onto the surface with the Bondo spreader, a credit card or squeegee or whatever, then just let it sit until it gels to a point where it will almost hold its own shape if you move it around...maybe 30 minutes or so. At that point, take a single edge razor and dull the corners with a file or sandpaper, then scrape the epoxy off. Pull the razor across the surface from one end to the other, holding it at a bit of an angle so the excess epoxy gets pushed onto the unscraped side, kind of like a snow plow. Wipe the epoxy off the razor with a paper towel then scrape the next track. The razor will not pull the epoxy out of the pores, but it will push it into any unfilled pores or depressions, although you're not likely to have any since the epoxy sat on the surface for 30 minutes or so. It leaves a very thin and very smooth surface, and makes sanding pretty darned easy. Works great for me.
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
All good tips!

Here's one more - watch out for the expiry date on the product. For example, my local wood craft store had some once when I was out, but it was nearly expired - didn't buy it. You can't go wrong with LMI though - they seem to pay good attention to things like this!

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  Andy Birko [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
Another point - the more you thin it, the more it will shrink back as the alcohol evaporates.

I once thinned some black epoxy a lot to get it to self level in an area - that was about 7 years ago, it's still rubbery.
Author:  johnparchem [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
I just finished z-poxy pore filling on one guitar this weekend and am nearly finished with a second guitar. (tonight?). I do thin the zpoxy about 10% for a last wipe on coat, mainly to make sure that I have an evenly coated surface to go forward. I have noticed that the extra thinned zpoxy in the cup never really gets hard. It cures but it is still rubbery. The very thin coat I have left on the guitar is OK, I am guessing the alcohol evaporated before the zpoxy cured.

Just an observation.
Author:  Pat Foster [ Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zpoxy Application " Thinned "
johnparchem wrote:
I just finished z-poxy pore filling on one guitar this weekend and am nearly finished with a second guitar. (tonight?). I do thin the zpoxy about 10% for a last wipe on coat, mainly to make sure that I have an evenly coated surface to go forward. I have noticed that the extra thinned zpoxy in the cup never really gets hard. It cures but it is still rubbery. The very thin coat I have left on the guitar is OK, I am guessing the alcohol evaporated before the zpoxy cured.

Just an observation.



The one time I thinned Z-poxy with denatured alcohol, I noticed the same rubbery quality to the "cured" leftover epoxy. Cant' help but think the alcohol interfered somehow with the curing process.

Pat
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