Customer support for WEST SYSTEM users

WEST SYSTEM® epoxy is a versatile product, suitable for a wide range of repair, maintenance and construction applications. Our online guide outlines basic and advanced epoxy techniques to help support your project. It provides guidance on many techniques from mixing ingredients to applying the final coat.

• Dispensing and mixing

To achieve a high-strength epoxy solid, it is essential to measure the quantities of resin and hardener carefully and mix the components thoroughly together.

• Understanding epoxy cure time

Three factors determine the open and cure time of an epoxy mix: the hardener cure speed, the temperature of the epoxy and the volume of the epoxy mixed.

• Adding fillers and additives

Once you have correctly metered and mixed your epoxy resin and hardener, add fillers and additives to adapt the mixture for many more applications.

• Surface preparation

Whether you are bonding, fairing or applying fabrics, thorough surface preparation is key to the success of the application and end result.

• Bonding and clamping

After preparing the surfaces and mixing the epoxy, the vital bonding stage is where your project will really start to come together.

• Bonding fasteners and hardware

Screws and other threaded fasteners can be installed with WEST SYSTEM epoxy to dramatically improve the load carrying capacity of the fastener and, effectively, the strength of a joint.

• Barrier coating

Once you have assembled your components and bonded them together, it is time to apply a protective barrier coat to prepare the structure for final finishing.

• Applying cloth and tape

The WEST SYSTEM range includes a number of reinforcing fabrics suitable for further strengthening and protecting the structure.

• Fairing

After major structural assembly has been completed, final fairing can be accomplished easily with WEST SYSTEM epoxy and low-density fillers.

• Final surface preparation

Once the final coat has cured overnight, it is time to wash and abrade the surface to prepare for the final finish.

• Finish coatings

Add final finish coatings to your structure to provide UV protection, extra moisture resistance and more durability.

• Cold temperature bonding

Epoxy can be used under cold weather conditions. However, a few special application techniques and simple precautions should be employed to ensure that the epoxy performs well in cold weather in the long-term.

• Techniques for Six10

Six10 is a WEST SYSTEM speciality epoxy that is sold in cartridges for easy ‘point and shoot’ convenience. It has its own unique handling characteristics users should be aware of.