TotalBoat 5:1 Epoxy Kit (Gallon, Slow Hardener)

Rather than replacing more than a dozen rotted deck boards. I decided to try to fill the "ravines." I tried many wood putties: n'yet . Bondo? n'yet (Became unworkable too fast for my application). This kit with its slow hardening was perfect. Beyond being simple to use, with the two attached pumps pre-measuring the correct amounts of the resin and hardener. I decided to WILDLY experiment with "additives." First, I added a couple of scoops of Durham's Water Bingo! Mixed easily and perfectly increased the amount of the glop and was easy to spread into the ravines. Dried hard as a rock but it must be abraded hard for painting. Next, I stuffed steel wool into craters, which are deeper than ravines. Then I infused the steel wool with the mixed epoxy. Why? Epoxy bonds with steel and throws off heat to boot. The gaps I filled with steel wool and epoxy are clearly stronger than the original wood fibers because solid steel....Btw: you can perform microsurgery on the "treated" steel wool if you have a competent grinder with attachments. Finally, I mixed grout with sand into the epoxy. Why? Because the sand in this concoction, when used to fill shallower gaps, provided a surface onto which coating would better adhere. Success. Moral of the story: I would have been far, far better off, prying up the deck boards, purchasing new ones, and installing them. Why didn't I do it? I am a retired desk jockey and when I started the project more than a year ago, I did not have the carpentry skills to cut and replace the boards. I have them now. Absolutely no regrets even though the filled-in boards are less than cosmetically perfect. Two warnings: you should absolutely not experiments with epoxy additives. Use only those that the manufacturer prescribes. My outcomes were fine but yours may be disastrous. Second, I could care less about bubbles in the epoxy. Accordingly, my recommendations are expressly limited to the use to which I put the product.

I use a epoxy for a lot of different reasons & have tried several different brands. I'm an avid maker/DIY type (not professional) One of my favorites is West Systems yet its very high in price in comparison. I bring up West because its the closest competitor that I can think of for boat construction aka working with fibers. With Totalboat you get a lot for your money, almost at 1/4 the cost. I have not conducted any destructive or chemical test. I will say it feels nearly the same. The cure time for both SLOW hardeners is about the same. I'm a bit more keen on Totalboat's plastic containers because its easy to set up. With the other I need to dangerously pry off the metal lid. Another perk with this product that it comes with helpful accessories including 2 mixing cups, gloves, mixing sticks, & a plastic spreader; I know that's minor, but wow its helpful. I don't know how Totalboat does it. While I got this on sale, even their regular price is better.

Good products for repairing my boat

This is the 3rd time ordering this product through amazon. 2/3 times that I've ordered it, UPS has absolutely destroyed the container and I end up receiving a re-boxed package that's missing half the contents and the other half is damaged spilling epoxy all over the place. Do NOT order this through amazon. Go straight to Total Boat. Aside from that, this epoxy is 10/10 and I'll continue to buy it from Total boat.

Works as it should