Brief:

Since I've gotten many great tips for rocket construction from this site, I thought I'd give somethin' back. Ahoy! I wanted t' review a finishin' epoxy t' suggest t' other rocketeers for reinforcin' body tubes with fiberglass, instead I have some negative comments on this stuff and would suggest everyone stay away from it. Begad! T' product is NHP "Clear-n-Simple Epoxy Finishin' Resin".

First, me bucko, a disclaimer about me experiences with fiberglassing: I'm nay by any means an expert. Ahoy! When I be into R/C sailplanes, arrr, arrr, me bucko, I used t' fiberglass t' wings. They came out light and strong but any expert lookin' at them closely would see that it was a "homemade" job. After bein' into rockets for several years, I started gettin' into larger, shiver me timbers, arrr, more powerful rockets and havin' fiberglass reinforced body tubes became necessary. Avast! I have fiberglassed all o' me 4" rockets and some o' me 2" and 3" rockets that were designed for high altitudes. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I've used regular 30 minute epoxy on t' smaller ones with OK results. Begad! I've used 2 hour epoxy on t' larger ones with better results and used another brand o' finishin' epoxy on several 4" rockets and several 8" body tubes (which will become rockets shortly) with probably t' best results yet.

Construction:

When I saw this product listed on a website I be purchasin' some other rocket supplies from, me hearties, it seemed like an excellent choice. Arrr! Blimey! Let me quote some o' t' advertisin' copy:

"Use Clear-n-Simple for applyin' fiberglass cloth"

"thin consistency for easy application"

"workin' time: 20-30 minutes and sets in 3 hours (curin' times listed were determined at room temp o' 72 degrees F in a 4 ounce mass). At temps below 72 degrees t' curin' time is considerably longer."

I ordered several 8oz. packages and when they arrived, arrr, shiver me timbers, I setup for glassin' a short section o' 8" diameter body tube; put everythin' in me 68 degree workshop, ya bilge rat, set t' BT on a horizontal stand, cut t' cloth, arrr, put on me gloves, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and mix up 4 ounces o' t' epoxy. Well, blow me down! As I'm stirrin' it up, me hearties, it looks kind o' thick, about t' consistency o' honey, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, arrr, but maybe it will thin out as I work it. Ahoy! Nope. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, arrr, blow me down! It goes on thick, with all t' difficulties that follow: nay wettin' out t' cloth well, shiver me timbers, puddlin' in some places and still dry in others. Avast! Tryin' t' spread it out just creates wrinkles and bunchin' o' t' cloth. I try scrapin' with an old credit card that I use for just such situations but that doesn't help and within about 10 minutes after mixin' it up, it starts t' get t' t' "gluey" stage.

"Oh *^%&$# ", I think, "I've still got about a third o' t' body tube t' do". I grab some alcohol and try mixin' it in t' now jelly-like mixture, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but I can see that this isn't goin' t' work. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! So I throw that batch out and smartly mix up about an ounce o' new mixture, but this time I mix in t' alcohol right away--hopin' t' get it t' a thinner consistency from t' start. Again it pretty much stays at t' consistency o' honey but I'm able t' do t' rest o' t' BT with it before it starts gettin' t' t' jelly stage.

Finishing:

I tear off me gloves and check t' temp o' t' workshop; still at 68 degrees. Ahoy! I re-read t' instructions: equal parts o' resin and hardener, me bucko, just like I used. Avast, me proud beauty! Maybe those bottles were from a bilge-suckin' batch?

So I get a 4" coupler that needs t' be fiberglassed, arrr, me hearties, open up t' other package o' Clean-n-Simple, arrr, mix up a 2 oz batch, and it's t' same story: thick consistency and gets jelly-like within about 10 minutes..

Summary:

As far as I know thar's no way t' fix this stuff, like if I heat up t' components t' thin out t' mixture, matey, it sets up even faster.

So me recommendation is stay away from this product. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! If you've already bought some, just use it for small repairs where t' short workin' time won't be a problem.

I'm goin' t' write a letter t' t' company explainin' me experiences and if I hear anythin' back I'll let you know.

Overall Rating: 1 out o' 5