• Happy Weed Appreciation Day! 🌱🌿🌻

Search results

  1. P

    Composite Materials & Skin Sensitivity

    Thanks, just learning what chopper gun fiberglass is all about and I remember that old canoe having that type of finish (although it also looked all rotted out, which still has me a bit on edge about going with a material that could soak up water). I can imagine that method of application...
  2. P

    Composite Materials & Skin Sensitivity

    Thanks. Just FYI I am leaning towards buying but I have definitely thought of giving a build a go as well. Not sure which way I’ll go quite yet! I have considered the all Kevlar route. I see your point in avoiding the fibers, etc., however I can imagine that being a futile exercise on a...
  3. P

    Composite Materials & Skin Sensitivity

    Nick, I appreciate your insight. Thank you for quelling some of my concerns on Kevlar. It made sense to me to look for materials that were hydrophobic for a canoe, but if it’s not an issue it’s not an issue. As far as “itchy” stuff goes I had some experiences with a fiberglass canoe many...
  4. P

    Composite Materials & Skin Sensitivity

    Thanks Nick! I had been starting to lean towards some Innegra basalt or carbon options but a bit bummed to hear carbon and basalt are similar to fiberglass there. I think I’m only seeing Innegra combined with carbon or basalt. Perhaps Kevlar is better for this concern although not sure I like...
  5. P

    Composite Materials & Skin Sensitivity

    Thanks Glenn! That one is more about resins, more curious here about the effects if any that these composites might physically have on skin. Example splinters, itchiness etc. like you can get with fiberglass sometimes.
  6. P

    Composite Materials & Skin Sensitivity

    Hey guys I was curious if anyone that has experience with various composites can chime in on the potential for skin irritation either in raw material form or during maintenance (sanding) and just all around. What I am experienced with would be fiberglass and related splinters / irritation...
  7. P

    “Chalky Epoxy”

    Thank you, great info. Any idea if epoxy on a skin coat would be more of a chalk in looks only or are we talking like you ran your finger over a chalkboard type chalk / powder with UV exposure? Curious to know what I’ll be dealing with, with age of the canoe.
  8. P

    Ribs vs. Foam Core Floor

    At this point I think so. Leaning that way as while I don’t feel great about the composition of either epoxy or vinylester, from what I’ve gathered so far it seems like there are some safer options out there in epoxy (when cured), compared to vinylester. @Jim Dodd I wouldn’t be hand laying the...
  9. P

    Ribs vs. Foam Core Floor

    Thanks everyone. Seems like both systems have their share of damage reports. Foam-less sounds really interesting…if the weight was alright…but I’m focusing on epoxy for now and I’m not seeing epoxy options out there with no foam at all.
  10. P

    Ribs vs. Foam Core Floor

    Hey guys, Curious what you’d go with if you could choose either foam ribs across the floor or a full foam core floor on the same canoe? Kevlar hand layup either way if that’s a factor. Thanks!
  11. P

    “Chalky Epoxy”

    Thanks guys. Right now I seem to be focusing in on skin coat epoxy canoes. Sounds like the epoxy could get powdery with age? Appearance wouldn’t be an issue, but wouldn’t be a fan of dealing with epoxy dust on trips…my understanding is you can become sensitized even to the dust? Wouldn’t feel...
  12. P

    “Chalky Epoxy”

    Thanks @ppine - I had thought amine blush was released during cure (and I’ve been investigating blush-free epoxy as well) - are you saying the epoxy continues to blush as it ages?
  13. P

    “Chalky Epoxy”

    Hey guys, Getting the search narrowed down on a new canoe purchase, one consideration is obviously longevity / maintenance / what type of condition the canoe will be in down the line. For older epoxy canoes I see a lot of references to the epoxy taking on a “chalky” characteristic with age...
  14. P

    Epoxy and Vinylester Toxicity

    @memaquay - sorry to hear that! No negative reaction to fully cured product, however?
  15. P

    Epoxy and Vinylester Toxicity

    Thank you for the welcome Glenn. @billconner my understanding is that builders can become “sensitized” to (I think only uncured) epoxy and develop up to severe reactions. I have not seen anything saying that this can happen after curing, but I’m not sure to be honest and would like to find...
  16. P

    Epoxy and Vinylester Toxicity

    Thanks - I definitely try to take care in what I buy in day to day life as well, not just canoes. Is it inert once cured, however? The chemicals going into both are quite rough. What I’m trying to determine is not the risks compared to anything else, but the risks of the (cured) products...
  17. P

    Epoxy and Vinylester Toxicity

    Seatbelts are something I use, without a doubt. :)
  18. P

    Epoxy and Vinylester Toxicity

    Thanks, I had honestly not seriously considered those canoes of alternative / traditional materials so I will do some research there to see if it’s workable. @Alan Gage it would appear that there are some epoxies out there rated for food contact (and vinylesters, I think) but none are used in...
  19. P

    Epoxy and Vinylester Toxicity

    Thanks everyone and some great input for sure. I definitely am one to read the label and I try to avoid said “mutinates” if I can, @Alasgun ! @pblanc there are actually several manufacturers I’ve been checking out that use epoxy. However reading through the data sheets on either epoxy or...
  20. P

    Epoxy and Vinylester Toxicity

    Hey everyone, ResearchIng a new canoe buy and looks like these composite canoes use some interesting chemical components in their construction. While it seems that the builders are most at risk and need to be most aware, curious if anyone has any input on the least toxic of the two options for...
Back
Top