Epoxy is really crap for homebuilding

On May 20, 3:34 pm, BobR wrote:
On May 20, 9:27 am, Sliker wrote:

Lately I've had to use the stuff to work with some pre-made parts that
were made from epoxy. Aeropoxy. Stinky!
Epoxy is more viscose, so it doesn't wet out the cloth as well. It is
more toxic, especially some of the older formulas. And smells
horrible. And why did so many homebuilders get stuck using that crap?
Rutan. Those hot wired, foam core wings and other parts to be exact.
The type of foam that can be hotwired, dissolves when in contact with
vinyl ester or polyester resin. So they had to use epoxy. What they
should have done is figured out another way to cut the foam cores with
something like a wire saw, and used polyurethane foam and vinyl ester
resin. Plus, epoxy is expensive, and much more flameable. So it's use
in aircraft has so many negatives, it should never have been used.
Rutan really put one on us with the epoxy legacy.

I can't quite figure out what the heck you are talking about. I have
worked with epoxy for the last 10 years including Aeropoxy, E-Z Poxy,
West and Hysol. I can not understand you comment about the "stinky"
part at all. I will totally agree with you that Vinyl Ester stinks to
the high heavens but have never experienced any such problem with
epoxy formulations. I can't even stand to work with completed parts
made using the Vinyl Ester but not so with epoxy parts.

I also can't agree with the Toxic comment regarding epoxy since it is
much less toxic than either Vinyl Ester or Polyester Resins.

Guess this is just another case of beauty being in the eye of the
beholder. I rather enjoy working with composites and prefer them to
working with metals.

For me health is a major issue. I am extremely allergic to it.

I would enjoy working on a plane, but now most all plans specify its
use.

bizguy wrote:

For me health is a major issue. I am extremely allergic to it.

I would enjoy working on a plane, but now most all plans specify its
use.

Plenty of metal planes out there that you don't have to use it.

On May 20, 4:42*pm, Gig 601Xl Builder
wrote:
bizguy wrote:
For me health is a major issue. *I am extremely allergic to it.

I would enjoy working on a plane, but now most all plans specify its
use.

Plenty of metal planes out there that you don't have to use it.

Or tube and fabric. Don't forget wooden plans such as the Falco.

On Tue, 20 May 2008 16:42:04 -0500, Gig 601Xl Builder
wrote:

bizguy wrote:

For me health is a major issue. I am extremely allergic to it.

I would enjoy working on a plane, but now most all plans specify its
use.

Plenty of metal planes out there that you don't have to use it.

Yes, and aluminum is a heck of a lot lighter when the part is
finished. I've read in a Glasair, if it were built in aluminum, it
would weigh 400 lbs lighter. That's a typical penalty for building in
regular glass/foam/resin.

On May 20, 4:39*pm, bizguy wrote:
On May 20, 3:34 pm, BobR wrote:





On May 20, 9:27 am, Sliker wrote:

Lately I've had to use the stuff to work with some pre-made parts that
were made from epoxy. Aeropoxy. Stinky!
Epoxy is more viscose, so it doesn't wet out the cloth as well. It is
more toxic, especially some of the older formulas. And smells
horrible. And why did so many homebuilders get stuck using that crap?
Rutan. Those hot wired, foam core wings and other parts to be exact.
The type of foam that can be hotwired, dissolves when in contact with
vinyl ester or polyester resin. So they had to use epoxy. What they
should have done is figured out another way to cut the foam cores with
something like a wire saw, and used polyurethane foam and vinyl ester
resin. Plus, epoxy is expensive, and much more flameable. So it's use
in aircraft has so many negatives, it should never have been used.
Rutan really put one on us *with the epoxy legacy.

I can't quite figure out what the heck you are talking about. *I have
worked with epoxy for the last 10 years including Aeropoxy, E-Z Poxy,
West and Hysol. *I can not understand you comment about the "stinky"
part at all. *I will totally agree with you that Vinyl Ester stinks to
the high heavens but have never experienced any such problem with
epoxy formulations. *I can't even stand to work with completed parts
made using the Vinyl Ester but not so with epoxy parts.

I also can't agree with the Toxic comment regarding epoxy since it is
much less toxic than either Vinyl Ester or Polyester Resins.

Guess this is just another case of beauty being in the eye of the
beholder. *I rather enjoy working with composites and prefer them to
working with metals.

For me health is a major issue. *I am extremely allergic to it.

I would enjoy working on a plane, but now most all plans specify its
use.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

To which one? Vinyl Ester has caused substantial alergic problems but
I haven't seen anyone experience the same with the epoxy
formulations. In any case, I can understand your problem. I have
received a couple of parts built with the Vinyl Ester and even sanding
it cause symptoms similar to asthma but I have never experienced any
problems with epoxy and I rarely use gloves when working with it.

For me health is a major issue. I am extremely allergic to it.


To which one?

Epoxy.

Allergic reactions to contact and also aromatics. Even 1-2% in paints
will cause reactions. Redness in skin, swelling in face and eyes to
point not able to see, extreme itching etc. It is the hardener, once
cured not a problem.

On May 21, 10:31*am, bizguy wrote:
For me health is a major issue. *I am extremely allergic to it.

To which one?

Epoxy.

Allergic reactions to contact and also aromatics. *Even 1-2% in paints
will cause reactions. *Redness in skin, swelling in face and eyes to
point not able to see, extreme itching etc. *It is the hardener, once
cured not a problem.

You are the first that I have heard of with an allergic reaction to
Epoxy. Met several with reactions to Vinyl Ester. Odd how different
people have totally differing reactions to different things. Vinyl
Ester causes me problems with the dust from any sanding on the parts
but no such reaction from Epoxy. I only had one exposure to Vinyl
Ester in the pre-cure aromatics and had a similar reaction.

On Tue, 20 May 2008 14:39:35 -0700 (PDT), bizguy
wrote:



For me health is a major issue. I am extremely allergic to it.

I would enjoy working on a plane, but now most all plans specify its
use.


Epoxy is the one with the allergy problem. You could probably work
with vinyl ester, and all the Glasairs are made from it, and some
other designs. They say they've not had one instance of anyone being
allergic to vinyl ester resin. Although I know of one builder who
claims to have become sensitized to it. But I suspect it's a lie to
cover up their getting burned out on the project very early and
wanting a good excuse as to why they got rid of it.