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#1
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WaterWheel Product Finishing & Sealing
Hi,
I build Water Wheels and sell them. However, I am no expert at using epoxy and various protective finishers & Sealers for Wood. I use 3/4 inch Marine Plywood for my 4ft Water Wheel (with 12mm Marine Ply used for Water buckets) and 1/2 inch for my 3ft and 2ft WaterWheels (with 9mm Marine Ply used for the Water Buckets). Can anyone recommend some products to use to seal & finish my Water Wheels decoratively and I would be most greatful if you could provide a good method of application. Currently, I just sand the wood, apply the paint undercoat and whatever color paint onto that and finally applying the epoxy to seal it. Any suggestions or ideas welcome. For reference, please see www.irishwaterwheels.com. Thanks in advance. |
#3
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As Johnathan said. You got it bassackards. Apply the epoxy first. You
might even consider encapsulating the parts in two coast of epoxy before assembly. That will protect the hidden edges should the finish coats crack when a joint flexes a little. Then you can finish it how ever you want. Use a UV resistant varnish if you are finishing it bright so the sunlight won't degrade the epoxy. OTOH, I think it may depend on the wood. An old geezer down the creek from me built a grist mill powered by a 10' wheel. All unfinished heart pine. It has been running for almost 60 years. It is covered in moss but I don't think he has ever had to replace a board. -- Glenn Ashmore I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com wrote in message oups.com... Hi, I build Water Wheels and sell them. However, I am no expert at using epoxy and various protective finishers & Sealers for Wood. I use 3/4 inch Marine Plywood for my 4ft Water Wheel (with 12mm Marine Ply used for Water buckets) and 1/2 inch for my 3ft and 2ft WaterWheels (with 9mm Marine Ply used for the Water Buckets). Can anyone recommend some products to use to seal & finish my Water Wheels decoratively and I would be most greatful if you could provide a good method of application. Currently, I just sand the wood, apply the paint undercoat and whatever color paint onto that and finally applying the epoxy to seal it. Any suggestions or ideas welcome. For reference, please see www.irishwaterwheels.com. Thanks in advance. |
#4
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Alright, thanks for clearing up that confusion as the guy in the Marine
supplies shop told me I should do it the "backass way" I described, guess he didn't have a clue!! So, in summary, I should apply ... - the epoxy first against the bare wood (encapsulating the parts in two coats of epoxy before assembly) - then the wood primer - then apply the color coat - then finish it with a UV resistant varnish to avoid sunlight epoxy degradation. Now, I'm sure there are different varying types of epoxy so can anyone please recommend a god epoxy or is one just as good as another? Do I need to sand in between application of coats? Is there any special method of application or any tools that would make the above method quicker? Thanks for all the advise and help to date. |
#5
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The main thing I think you need to consider is the viscosity. In my
experience the less expensive brands tend to be a bit thick to penetrate the wood pores unless they are specifically for encapsulation. To apply, sand the wood to #120 at most, lay on a first coat and let it cure until it almost looses its tack before laying the second. That way you will have a chemical bond between the coats. If you wait more than 24 hours you will have to wash and sand again. Epoxy develops a waxy water soluble surface film as it cures so let the second coat cure for at least 3 or 4 days then wash and sand before laying the primer. Do some research before settling on the primer to make sure it will bond to the epoxy. I would also use the epoxy as the assembly adhesive. The UV varnish is needed if you are clear coating. If you are using a good opaque primer and top coat you don't need the UV varnish to protect the epoxy but it will make your top coat last longer. -- Glenn Ashmore I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com wrote in message ups.com... Alright, thanks for clearing up that confusion as the guy in the Marine supplies shop told me I should do it the "backass way" I described, guess he didn't have a clue!! So, in summary, I should apply ... - the epoxy first against the bare wood (encapsulating the parts in two coats of epoxy before assembly) - then the wood primer - then apply the color coat - then finish it with a UV resistant varnish to avoid sunlight epoxy degradation. Now, I'm sure there are different varying types of epoxy so can anyone please recommend a god epoxy or is one just as good as another? Do I need to sand in between application of coats? Is there any special method of application or any tools that would make the above method quicker? Thanks for all the advise and help to date. |
#6
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Thanks for the prompt response and the really helpful information, I'm
totally new to this whole area sp please excuse any seemingly stupid questions. I intended to use the the epoxy as the assembly adhesive alright but I have to ask why I have to wash and sand before laying the primer onto the Epoxy? I'm not sure if the primer I was sold will bond well to the epoxy I got but I'll do some other research besides on this. When all is done and if I do apply the UV varnish ontop of the topcoat, how long should the whole Water Wheel last before maintenance is required? Also, is Marine Plywood the correct material to be using for this type of product or could you recommend any better materials? Again, the information you have provided me is invaluable, thanks. |
#7
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wrote in message oups.com... Thanks for the prompt response and the really helpful information, I'm totally new to this whole area sp please excuse any seemingly stupid questions. I intended to use the the epoxy as the assembly adhesive alright but I have to ask why I have to wash and sand before laying the primer onto the Epoxy? I'm not sure if the primer I was sold will bond well to the epoxy I got but I'll do some other research besides on this. When all is done and if I do apply the UV varnish ontop of the topcoat, how long should the whole Water Wheel last before maintenance is required? Also, is Marine Plywood the correct material to be using for this type of product or could you recommend any better materials? Again, the information you have provided me is invaluable, thanks. As I said, epoxy develops a waxy film called amine blush on the surface as it cures that limits the bond with the next coat, what ever it is. Amine is water soluable so it can be washed off. Sanding without washing just grinds the amine into the surface. Sanding also gives the surface some tooth for a better mechanical bond. How long a finish lasts is related to the UV exposure, heat and the transparency of the coating. A clear coat boat finish in the tropics might get a year before a new top coat is required. A good quality marine paint might last 3 or 4 years or longer. Further north you can probably expect twice that. What usually happens is that the pigments start bleaching and paint surfaces start chalking up long before the coating looses its protective ability. That might actually add a nice patina to the wheels over time. Cracking and flaking would be a problem though. In your case marine plywood might be overkill. The main advantage of marine grade over a good A/B exterior grade is that it has thinner plys and (theoretically) no voids. It will bend more evenly and if it soaks in water it will not develop pockets of moisture that can cause interior rotting. Your designs don't seem to use many bent shapes and as they are largely ornamental, don't seem to be constantly immersed and won't have the long term soaking problem. One thing you might consider is trying solid cypress. It is relatively cheap, very durable, requires no finish and weathers to a beautiful silver. Definitely will look more authentic for the real traditionalist. -- Glenn Ashmore I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com |
#8
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Thanks Glenn, excellent answer with more than enough detail!!
Thanks also for the suggestion of trying the solid cypress although I would preferably like to finish my Water Wheels with a stained design so should I apply the stain after the epoxy and primer? Finally (I promise, last question), I give customers the option of a wooden (Marine Plywood treated with epoxy) or galvanised steel stand although the stainless stell stand is very expensive, time consuming and difficult to manufacture. In your own opinion, do you think I can use Marine plywood extensively for the Water Wheel stand even though it will be permanently partly-immersed in water? I also want the option of being able to secure the Wheel at a specific height on the stand which I reckon I can master. |
#9
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You were talking about paint not stain. Stains (aniline or other water
based) go on the bare wood before encapsulation and the whole thing is clear coated. If you are talking about an opaque stain over a white base primer encapsulate first and use a UV resistant sealer coat over the stain to slow pigment fading. As long as the epoxy encapsulation remains in good condition almost any good quality exterior plywood will last a very long time. -- Glenn Ashmore I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com wrote in message oups.com... Thanks Glenn, excellent answer with more than enough detail!! Thanks also for the suggestion of trying the solid cypress although I would preferably like to finish my Water Wheels with a stained design so should I apply the stain after the epoxy and primer? Finally (I promise, last question), I give customers the option of a wooden (Marine Plywood treated with epoxy) or galvanised steel stand although the stainless stell stand is very expensive, time consuming and difficult to manufacture. In your own opinion, do you think I can use Marine plywood extensively for the Water Wheel stand even though it will be permanently partly-immersed in water? I also want the option of being able to secure the Wheel at a specific height on the stand which I reckon I can master. |
#10
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Thanks, that's everything I need to know for now ;-)
Yes, I was originally speaking about paint but I have some celtic templates which I may use to stain a celtic design into the WaterWheel itself. So yes, this will be a dark stain over a white base primer. You answers have been extremely prompt and really helpful, thanks for everything. |
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