Is my board Epoxy or Poly?

[jgill]

Hi,

I've a ding in my board and before I go ahead with anything I want to know if it is Epoxy or Poly. I've attached some photos of the board; if anyone can help i'd appreciate it alot so I can get back out there!

Have tried to find the shaper online but can't find anything. Board was bought in Bali down poppies.

Photos attached.

Thanks.

[Big H]

Pretty sure that it is PU; every one of those I've seen are.

[oldmansurfer]

In order to fix that you should cut out that cracked glass. There will be foam attached to it and you can test the polyester resin on the foam that comes off with it. Just mix a small batch of polyester resin and see if it melts the foam. If it melts then it is likely polystyrene foam and if not then go ahead and fix it as it is polyurethane foam.

[saltydog]

I think it's poly also, but just to make sure... sand the ding a little and give a sniff test. If it smells like some chemical it's poly. Epoxy doesn't smell much. Epoxy on poly is ok but poly on epoxy will melt the board so if in doubt ask someone to check before pouring a gob of resin.

[oldmansurfer]

most foam blanks are either polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam. Both are poly..... polystyrene foam is very light and a newer lighter version of it is called EPS for expanded polystyrene and the closed cell form of this is often called Styrofoam, yep just like the cheap coolers and disposable hot coffee cups etc (well not just like but quite similar). Open cell EPS foam soaks up water like a sponge. If you have a polystyrene blank then you have to use epoxy resin since polyester resin (another poly) will melt the foam. Epoxy can be used on either foam however if the construction is from polyester resin and you patch with epoxy it won't hold as well as the polyester resin but epoxy resin won't melt the polyurethane foam. Polyurethane boards might have epoxy resin however it's unlikely since polystyrene is much lighter so unless there is something about a heavier polyurethane foam blank that you want there is no point to it. What saltydog say about sanding it and smelling applies to the resin. If you sand polyester resin it has a strong sweet smell and epoxy will be much less so.

[billie_morini]

I think it's poly also, but just to make sure... sand the ding a little and give a sniff test. If it smells like some chemical it's poly. Epoxy doesn't smell much. Epoxy on poly is ok but poly on epoxy will melt the board so if in doubt ask someone to check before pouring a gob of resin.

Excellent recommendation, Salty!

Ripley's Believe It or Not Story: Mrs. Morini is allergic to polyurethane epoxy until cured. If billie has mixes and is using it their backyard (garten to Continent folks), then Mrs. Morini has massive coughing fits within our house and cannot breathe. If Mrs. Morini enters the garten, then she goes into fits. It's crazy. In contrast, epoxy resin produces no effect. Unfortunately for billie, his favorite boards and ancient canoe are polyurethane compositions. When he wants to make repairs, he waits for Mrs. Morini to visit her distant Mother. At other times, he takes repair work to remote locations.

In case my Surfing Waves Forum braddahs and tetas do not know who Ripley is, I copied this from Wikipedia:
"Ripley, was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, who is known for creating the Ripley's Believe It or Not! newspaper panel series, radio show, and television show which feature odd facts from around the world. Ripley's Believe It or Not stories and comic books were huge when I was a kid in the late 1950's through mid-1960's.

[oldmansurfer]

I just read something that said epoxy resin has 1/50 the volitile vapors that polyester resin has.

[billie_morini]

I just read something that said epoxy resin has 1/50 the volitile vapors that polyester resin has.

Only 2%, Ol' Man? That stuff will never work! ( )

[saltydog]

I think it's poly also, but just to make sure... sand the ding a little and give a sniff test. If it smells like some chemical it's poly. Epoxy doesn't smell much. Epoxy on poly is ok but poly on epoxy will melt the board so if in doubt ask someone to check before pouring a gob of resin.

Excellent recommendation, Salty!

Ripley's Believe It or Not Story: Mrs. Morini is allergic to polyurethane epoxy until cured. If billie has mixes and is using it their backyard (garten to Continent folks), then Mrs. Morini has massive coughing fits within our house and cannot breathe. If Mrs. Morini enters the garten, then she goes into fits. It's crazy. In contrast, epoxy resin produces no effect. Unfortunately for billie, his favorite boards and ancient canoe are polyurethane compositions. When he wants to make repairs, he waits for Mrs. Morini to visit her distant Mother. At other times, he takes repair work to remote locations.

In case my Surfing Waves Forum braddahs and tetas do not know who Ripley is, I copied this from Wikipedia:
"Ripley, was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, who is known for creating the Ripley's Believe It or Not! newspaper panel series, radio show, and television show which feature odd facts from around the world. Ripley's Believe It or Not stories and comic books were huge when I was a kid in the late 1950's through mid-1960's.

So sorry to hear about Mrs. Morini's allergy. Hope you don't need to repair your poly crafts that often.

[oldmansurfer]

When I quit surfing a while back and before I restarted, I started fishing a lot. Shoreline fishing using huge poles and 4-0 or 6-0 Penn Senator reels. Those huge poles would need a new set of eyes from time to time so I learned to do that. It involved using a product called "flex coat" and it must be similar to polyester board resin since it smells the same. My wife complained about me doing this in the house but really outside wasn't going to work so I bought her a chemical respirator with a filter for organic vapors (if I recall correctly) and she would wear that till it hardened