Aeropoxy Laminating Resin? - Northern Colorado Rocketry

This topic has 14 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 11 months ago by mule.

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July 25, 2008 at 12:03 pm #40370
MikeS
Moderator
From what I have read and what I have listened to, Aeropoxy is the
best on the market.

Question: Haw far will one quart go?

Assuming one fallows the instructions.

I will be using it with easyglas socks.

Thanks Mike
July 25, 2008 at 1:27 pm #48715
Anonymous
I used AeroPoxy on my M1450 boost. I used convolute wound glass, so all I had to do was the tip-2-tip stuff. I did 5 layers of that. A quart (of mixed product?) should go quite a long way. The ratio of epoxy to hardener is ~3:1 if I remember correctly.

Bottom line, a quart should do several rockets. Your actual mileage may vary….
August 4, 2008 at 1:47 am #48716
Bruce R. Schaefer
Mike, I love the stuff. While I think it’s the best on the market (get it from Tim Thomas), others may say that West is best. I’ve built two rockets with a quart of the structural and laminating adhesives this year, and most likely will be able to get into a third… then buy next year’s supply from Tim at the annual meeting. It is truly wonderful epoxy.
September 24, 2008 at 3:55 am #48717
edward
Moderator
I just finished off my gallon of Aeropoxy I bought 3 years ago. Works really nice – just wish it would cure a little faster. I fiberglassed at least 8 x 98mm x 34″ tubes. 4 x 64mm x 34″ tubes. 6 x 75mm x 34″ tubes. 2 x 5.5″ x 48″ tubes. And probably more that I can’t think of. It is great for glassing. I just bought a gallon of Mr. Fiberglass mainly because I can’t justify the cost of the next gallon of Aeropoxy (was only $45/gal when I bought it) and I don’t use it to its full potential.

I also had better results when I heat cured it. When I fiberglass the tubes I put them in my shed which I heat to 125-150 degrees (depends on the weather) and they cure much nicer.

Edward
September 24, 2008 at 12:31 pm #48718
Warren B. Musselman
Moderator
Personally I’m a West Systems guy, but I do consider the Aeropoxy resin to be a superior product in terms of its characteristics. I use West largely because I have very long experience with it in boat building and like the pre-measuring pumps. No weighing or screwing around – just pump the same number of pumps from resin and hardener and away you go. It’s a shame Aeropoxy doesn’t do the same.

Waren
September 24, 2008 at 2:14 pm #48719
Jeffrey Joe Hinton
Moderator
I still prefer Elmer’s School Glue and wheat paste – tastes better and is less fattening.
October 15, 2009 at 2:38 am #48720
mule
Participant
You would Joe…. I like the glue sticks better myself, less of a mess….

Mike, if you want to use some mylar let me know, I have a roll I picked up from Conway last summer.

I bought Aero and wish I had the West – pump stuff, I hate measuring out things, I always get it too hot.
October 15, 2009 at 8:15 pm #48721
John A. Wilke
Participant
I used AeroPoxy a year ago on my minimum diameter “M” shot, and I used heat lamps to cure it. AeroPoxy is wunnerful stuff. This year, I used ProLine epoxy, as I had heard it was a bit better under higher temperature conditions and it does NOT need heat curing. The ProLine indeed worked great, and it held together great at Mach 2.6.

“ProLine” is the brand that Performance Rocketry uses on their Mongoose minimum diameter kits. There is a thick “paste” version and the thinner stuff that Warren and I used to v-bag “Rough Draft”. I used the thinner stuff on my entire build – both for laminating and for fillets. If anyone is interested in trying some, I can bring it in with my next shipment of 3 Dogs stuff.

Generally speaking, ProLine is a bit less cost per fl. oz. than West Systems. The two components are mixed by weight, so a cheap digital scale helps — they do not use the pump system like West. I found a postal scale for $8 that I used for measuring…
October 15, 2009 at 8:20 pm #48722
Jeremiah Johnson
Wildman carries a ProLine epoxy – is that the stuff you’re referring to John? He sent me some with an order and I’ve been afraid to try it because I have both Aeropoxy and West Systems.
October 15, 2009 at 8:51 pm #48723
John A. Wilke
Participant
Jeremiah, a bit of a complex answer – Mongoose and Blackbird kits come with a black “paste” epoxy. It is a ProLine product. I used the clear liquid in my build (also made by ProLine). Same brand, two totally different products.

They are both really terrific epoxies, though pastes are inherently tough to deal with…. at least with my ten thumbs.

The black paste will NOT work to laminate fabrics, as it does not wet out. The clear liquid is very low in viscosity, just like West Systems. I thought it wet better than West, and it definitely has a higher temp rating than West Systems – which is also a good product.
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