Posted by Woodenboater on June 29, 2003 at 23:19:55:
In Reply to: Re: What's the difference between Biaxial cloth and E-glass? posted by JimM on June 26, 2003 at 05:52:23:
Sorry 'bout the "off-board" comment. I didn't realize this interested others, but I guess your right.
The difference in S vs E glass is only the weave and thickness of the strands. Ths strand thickness will gennerally make up the oz per yard info you see quoted (re: 6oz cloth means one square yard will weigh 6 ounces). The material is still glass strands.
As for epoxy penetration, I did a test panel using both Raka and WEST system. The wood was 3/16 mahogany plywood with a 1/64 veneer. The Raka seemed to get through all the mahogany, but stopped at the glue line where WEST went into the second layer of wood. (By the way, Raka seems to be a family owned operation and the only person I know that has any "tech" knowledge is the older gentlman.) This penetration is compaired to something like exterior latex paint. I have never used CPES (don't know what it is ??) but I'm sure if it is water proof and has good penetrating qualities and does'nt conflict with epoxy, I might look into it myself. The boats I build are not kept in the water, but on a trailer in my garage or boat shed covered from the elements. They only see H2O during use. I live in the high desert area of New Mexico and we rarely see a problem with wood rot in boats here unless they are kept in the water.
I have noticed that if your wood is exposed to the water with even two or three coats of epoxy and no fiberglass for abraision protecion, it doesn't take much for something to gouge the wood through the epoxy coating and expose your core wood. I dinged my first boat soading it up on the trailer and dind't notice it untill I got home and it was hanging in the garage over my head! Good thing I don't live in Florida!