Posted by JimM on November 01, 2002 at 08:19:20:
In Reply to: Re: Epoxy inside and outside? posted by Jim on October 31, 2002 at 11:49:09:
I disagree, but only with qualifications!
Encapsulating a boat which has already been wet is gonna be a problem, as you found out. However, think about the meaning of the word, "encapsulate". Compare with the word, "saturate". Encapsulation puts an impervious coating on all sides. Any moisture inside is forever sealed in. And if there's damage to the coating, water WILL get in but not out again!
Now, saturation is another matter. If you had used CPES or similarly thinned epoxy, then the wood would have been saturated with epoxy and the moisture would have been largely displaced. More important, every wood fiber would have been coated with epoxy, and rot spore don't like epoxy! You get vastly better bonding, and the wood is protected from the inside out.
Check these links:
http://www.smithandcompany.org/ (Mfr of CPES)
http://www.epoxyproducts.com/penetrating4u.html (advocates thinning your own)
http://home.att.net/~DaveCarnell (Uses antifreeze to protect wood)
http://www.rotdoctor.com/ (Lots of info, sells CPES at high prices)
Best bet is to saturate, let volatiles evaporate (sveral days), then encapsulate with normal epoxy.