The issue stated by System Three Epoxy when I called their tech support
number is/was the ability of the (phenolic) microballoons or (glass)
microspheres to absorb water and to hang onto it. It's better to seal it up
with a coat of epoxy after applying it, noting that at least one person here
DID skip the seal coat and had good success. I tend to run conservative and
follow instructions however.

Also note that if the fairing that you are doing is pretty fine, like
filling something the size of 80-grit sandpaper grooves for example, that
you can use plastic minifibers from WEST (Ultralight Fairing Compound) and
it does NOT require a seal coat. And even then, you'd be best off only
using this stuff under a light-colored top coat since it does expand and
contract with temperature. Larger fills risk becoming visible as time
passes by.

As far as durability of the microballoon-filled epoxy goes, don't worry
about it. It's pretty tough stuff and is fine on a deck. Microspheres
produce a finished product that's also tough, but maybe not 'quite' as tough
as what you get with microballoons. Keep in mind that I have not tried
performing accurate hardness tests, but have used both products many times.
I was surprised at how tough the fairing compounds were for normal use.

Good luck,
Brian


wrote in message
oups.com...
I would like to ask a similar question as another thread called "Epoxy
over fairing compound?". But he was asking about putting a layer of
epoxy on the hull. I would like to ask whether I need to put a coat of
epoxy over the fairing compound (that is epoxy mixed with light density
micoballoons) on a deck surface. I am asking this because I am
wondering whether the light density fairing compound can handle normal
foot traffic. I would prefer not to do any extra work if this is not
necessary.

By the way, I intend to put a layer of non-skid paint over the faired
surface. I mention this just in case this makes any difference.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Jay Chan