Epoxy and Polyester have different thermal expansion (and cure) rates.
Better to fill the holes with epoxy in the bottom for adhesion (if
needed), and then fill the 'upper' part of the holes with polyester.

Most of the gelcoat repair 'artists' I know NEVER use epoxy for blemish
repair for the above reason. If you keep the repair materials
composition as close to the original base materials, usually the more
mechanically stable outcome will be the result.

perhaps the wood plugs swelled with moisture??

"BCC" wrote in message
...
definitely was West additive


On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 18:51:13 -0700, "Steve" wrote:


"BCC" wrote in message
.. .
West epoxy and their easy sand additive powder - and sanded them flat.


Are you sure that sanding addiative/filler was a West product?? It sure
sounds like Talc and if it is Talc, then it is absorbing moisture..

Talc is what is used in auto body filler.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

perhaps the wood plugs swelled with moisture??

"BCC" wrote in message
...
definitely was West additive


On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 18:51:13 -0700, "Steve" wrote:


"BCC" wrote in message
.. .
West epoxy and their easy sand additive powder - and sanded them flat.


Are you sure that sanding addiative/filler was a West product?? It sure
sounds like Talc and if it is Talc, then it is absorbing moisture..

Talc is what is used in auto body filler.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

there is/was no wood "plugs" - there's 3/4" marine ply that's been in
there for 26 years - and why would a ring of 6 holes expand?

turns out West says their 410 additive can expand - they now say use
only 407.



On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 19:02:02 -0400, "Scott Downey"
wrote:

perhaps the wood plugs swelled with moisture??

"BCC" wrote in message
.. .
definitely was West additive


On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 18:51:13 -0700, "Steve" wrote:


"BCC" wrote in message
.. .
West epoxy and their easy sand additive powder - and sanded them flat.


Are you sure that sanding addiative/filler was a West product?? It sure
sounds like Talc and if it is Talc, then it is absorbing moisture..

Talc is what is used in auto body filler.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

there is/was no wood "plugs" - there's 3/4" marine ply that's been in
there for 26 years - and why would a ring of 6 holes expand?

turns out West says their 410 additive can expand - they now say use
only 407.



On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 19:02:02 -0400, "Scott Downey"
wrote:

perhaps the wood plugs swelled with moisture??

"BCC" wrote in message
.. .
definitely was West additive


On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 18:51:13 -0700, "Steve" wrote:


"BCC" wrote in message
.. .
West epoxy and their easy sand additive powder - and sanded them flat.


Are you sure that sanding addiative/filler was a West product?? It sure
sounds like Talc and if it is Talc, then it is absorbing moisture..

Talc is what is used in auto body filler.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 02:59:36 GMT, "Brian D"
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Not the same solution as mine. But I agree with the idea that the
surrounds go down faster than the filler, in almost all cases.

When I fill holes, I usually let them stay bumped up a little until
after curing, then I use a SurForm or scraper (or both) as appropriate to
bring it down flush. Sanding seems to remove material around the hole more
than it removes the filler in the hole, so I don't sand. I then coat the
whole section a couple of times (usually 3) prior to painting. Works for
me.

************************************************** **
I went on a guided tour not long ago.The guide got
us lost. He was a non-compass mentor.........sorry
.........no I'm not.

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 02:59:36 GMT, "Brian D"
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Not the same solution as mine. But I agree with the idea that the
surrounds go down faster than the filler, in almost all cases.

When I fill holes, I usually let them stay bumped up a little until
after curing, then I use a SurForm or scraper (or both) as appropriate to
bring it down flush. Sanding seems to remove material around the hole more
than it removes the filler in the hole, so I don't sand. I then coat the
whole section a couple of times (usually 3) prior to painting. Works for
me.

************************************************** **
I went on a guided tour not long ago.The guide got
us lost. He was a non-compass mentor.........sorry
.........no I'm not.

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 22:53:52 -0700, BCC vaguely
proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

there is/was no wood "plugs" - there's 3/4" marine ply that's been in
there for 26 years - and why would a ring of 6 holes expand?

turns out West says their 410 additive can expand - they now say use
only 407.

OK. I and one other posted saying that the sanding may be the problem.
OOI, can we hear back what happens with the non-expanding filler?

We may be wrong, but we tried to help.....
************************************************** **
I went on a guided tour not long ago.The guide got
us lost. He was a non-compass mentor.........sorry
.........no I'm not.

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 22:53:52 -0700, BCC vaguely
proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

there is/was no wood "plugs" - there's 3/4" marine ply that's been in
there for 26 years - and why would a ring of 6 holes expand?

turns out West says their 410 additive can expand - they now say use
only 407.

OK. I and one other posted saying that the sanding may be the problem.
OOI, can we hear back what happens with the non-expanding filler?

We may be wrong, but we tried to help.....
************************************************** **
I went on a guided tour not long ago.The guide got
us lost. He was a non-compass mentor.........sorry
.........no I'm not.

What's in the 407 and the 410? I know WEST has some fillers with cotton
fiber in them, others have plastic, but I can't remember which is which. My
favorite mix for hole filling is 75% silica, 25% microballoons (phenolic).
A separate post talked about my fill it, cure it, SurForm it way of making a
smooth fill with fewer passes, but here's a picture of how it turns out:

http://www.advantagecomposites.com/t...8-0869_img.jpg

Brian


--
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/tongass -- My 22' Tolman Skiff project
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/catalog -- Discounted System Three
Resins products


..
"Old Nick" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 22:53:52 -0700, BCC vaguely
proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

there is/was no wood "plugs" - there's 3/4" marine ply that's been in
there for 26 years - and why would a ring of 6 holes expand?

turns out West says their 410 additive can expand - they now say use
only 407.

OK. I and one other posted saying that the sanding may be the problem.
OOI, can we hear back what happens with the non-expanding filler?

We may be wrong, but we tried to help.....
************************************************** **
I went on a guided tour not long ago.The guide got
us lost. He was a non-compass mentor.........sorry
........no I'm not.