A cheaper alternative to West Systems ?

[unbusted67]

I am just wondering if there is a cheaper alternative to West Systems epoxy that is readily available to a consumer? I am not really interested in Polyester resins, just epoxy. Thanks

[FSMike]

There are other suppliers out there. Try Systems Three for one. West probably has the best support system though.

[Sailmonkey]

System three, MAS, Evercoat, epiglass

[MichaelC]

There is an epoxy supplier in New Hampshire whose product comes highly recommended and is about half the price of West system. The supplier name is on another part of this computer. My stuff is in Washington State and I am right now in S Carolina so it is not readily to hand. I will find the name and post it here.

[MichaelC]

Progressive Epoxies in New Hampshire. 1.5 gallon kit for 89 dollars. In Bellingham West is 95 for the one gallon can plus the 45 dollars for the hardener. Progressive ships to your door.

[Pauls]

I've bought a bunch of epoxy from Progressive Epoxy Polymers. As noted above, they're much cheaper than West, etc. Good company to deal with, and a wide range of products.

[Celestialsailor]

I used Systems Three once to cover a teak sole. It never fully cured. I was trying to save a buck as usual. Now I have been through gallons of West Systems over the years and never a problem.

[minaret]

Having used most epoxies on the market today, all I can say is you get what you pay for. The cost of labor and other materials is so high that trying to save a few bucks in the resin department is generally a bad idea. I only use WEST and Proset.

[rebel heart]

west is amazing, especially since i barely know what i'm doing with it and it still works great.

[MacG]

West is OK, so is SP, you may use also industrial epoxies, the point is that I don' t know all those fancy brandnames. In Holland I buy straight from the mfr although for small quantities I use West. Nothing wrong with West. SP is for the bigger projects.

[Cormorant]

U.S. Composites in Florida sells a very good marine epoxy. Their spec sheet reads just as good as West's.

Epoxy :*Epoxy Resins and Hardeners

Price example: 3 gallon kit (2 gal. resin 1 gal. hardener) for $134. Shipping by UPS will get you though, unless you live nearby.

At least West can be bought off the shelf at most big chandleries.

[Bash]

The three major areas where I'm not tempted to go with the cheapest product:
1. cordage, especially halyards upon which I may be hoisted;
2. pumps, especially bilge pumps;
3. adhesives holding my boat together, especially epoxy.

[Celestialsailor]

...you can add sails to that list

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by Bash

The three major areas where I'm not tempted to go with the cheapest product:
1. cordage, especially halyards upon which I may be hoisted;
2. pumps, especially bilge pumps;
3. adhesives holding my boat together, especially epoxy.

Agreed and noted.

[gettinthere]

Progressive epoxy, or epoxyproducts.com is a very good product. I will say they are BETTER than west systems epoxy, all west epoxies are amine epoxies and require extra effort to prep to remove the amines before proceeding further. None of progressives have amines. I've had great results with several epoxies from progressive.

No connections to progressive except happy customer