Hi Guys,
I've just been and bought some colors to mix with my epoxy, big question is, do I still need to varnish the finished epoxy to give UV protection? I guess this also applies to graphite powder blends, any issues with UV epoxy degradation if you don't varnish?
Can't find answers any where on the net so any help appreciated
Cheers......Nick
Colored Epoxy and UV Protection
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Colored Epoxy and UV Protection
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Re: Colored Epoxy and UV Protection
I'd say you'll want some UV protection over the epoxy especially if you have a translucent color.
The surface will cloud without any UV protection. You don't really notice it with the graphite since it's such a dark color.
The surface will cloud without any UV protection. You don't really notice it with the graphite since it's such a dark color.
-Matt. Designer.
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Re: Colored Epoxy and UV Protection
Matt....... Does the clouding effect the strength or water proffing abilitys of the epoxyjem wrote:
The surface will cloud without any UV protection.
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Re: Colored Epoxy and UV Protection
Hi Nick.
I used a transparent dye in the final epoxy coat on my Cape Fear build.
This stuff. From Aldax Moulds
I didn't count on it providing UV resistance so finished of with a couple of coats of good marine varnish.
A small price to pay as insurance if in doubt.
What brand of dye did you get?
I used a transparent dye in the final epoxy coat on my Cape Fear build.
This stuff. From Aldax Moulds
I didn't count on it providing UV resistance so finished of with a couple of coats of good marine varnish.
A small price to pay as insurance if in doubt.
What brand of dye did you get?
John.
1 Cape Fear Sit In....a couple more planned
2 Laker 14's
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1 Cape Fear Sit In....a couple more planned
2 Laker 14's
1 Paddle board
"People who don't make mistakes don't make anything"
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Re: Colored Epoxy and UV Protection
The very surface layer will begin to break down over the long-term. You'll end up having to sand it off and recoat. It would take many months of direct, unrelenting sunlight before would become a structural issue. But it would eventually become an issue.Bemm 52 wrote:Matt....... Does the clouding effect the strength or water proofing abilitys of the epoxyjem wrote:
The surface will cloud without any UV protection.
The thing that motivates me the most is having sand everything. To me, that worth the extra time to apply some paint or varnish.
-Matt. Designer.
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Re: Colored Epoxy and UV Protection
UV protection on the bottom is probably not needed, nor a good idea? For one thing, it is under water and not upright in the sun. For another, varnish is way softer than epoxy, especially epoxy fortified with powdered graphite. Also, scraping etc. during paddling means it will likely have to be sanded and refinished more often than the upper part. So, a paddler would just have to sand off an expensive layer that wasn't needed in the first place.
Kayak Jack
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Doing what you like is FREEDOM
Liking what you do is HAPPINESS
I spent most of my money on whiskey and women - and I'm afraid I just wasted the rest.