CPES question

dmairspotter · Post by **dmairspotter** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:34 am

Those of you have used CPES as a base for varnish, what is the basic plan?

So far I'm thinking

Sand/clean wood
Apply heavy coat CPES
Allow full cure time
De-blush
Sand
Apply varnish per usual

???

This is for my tiller, so it's previously varnished but badly weathered.

I have some Schooner varnish I'm planning on using but I'll take any suggestions on that also. Longevity/toughness more important here than fine finish.

Thanks in advance

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:58 am

That'll do.

And since it's just your tiller, you can let it cure in a nice warm room for a nice long time.

As I've probably posted in the past, the only problems I've ever seen with CPES can be attributed to an incomplete cure before moving on to the next steps.

Sailordave · Post by **Sailordave** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:42 pm

Hey FIGMENT.... imagine running into you here!

Well, at least you'll be able to back up MY recommendation...

Margo IE CONCORDIA...41 from the WBF has been using CPES and then starting her varnish w/in 24 hours so you get both a Primary and Secondary bond. No sanding, etc.

That's what I'd do....

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:51 am

Figment lives here on the Plastic Classic forum. He only ventures out for fresh air occasionally.

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:25 am

Well, the air here is rarely stale.

Sailordave · Post by **Sailordave** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:41 pm

bcooke wrote:Figment lives here on the Plastic Classic forum. He only ventures out for fresh air occasionally.

I don't know... He's got 1.38 posts/day over on the WBF.... More than here...

Post by **dasein668** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:49 pm

Sailordave wrote:
bcooke wrote:Figment lives here on the Plastic Classic forum. He only ventures out for fresh air occasionally.
I don't know... He's got 1.38 posts/day over on the WBF.... More than here...

And he doesn't even have a wooden boat. I think he ought to spend more time finishing up those cockpit locker gutters....

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:55 pm

Hey, my cedar canoe counts, even if it hasn't seen water in two years! It brings joy to all who see it.

It's hanging on the fence in the front yard. I have a very joyous UPS guy.

keelbolts · Post by **keelbolts** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:51 pm

I hate to display my ignorance, but I'm not sure of what CPES stands for. I'm assuming it's epoxy. If it is, then your plan works fine. West has a hardener specifically for bright finishes. I believe their literature says you don't have to worry about blush w/ it, but I rinse anyway. The good news is that, unlike poly varnishes, epoxy is easy to remove when the time comes. I strip with a heat gun so I despise plastic varnish as it turns into melted plastic the gets all over everything, but epoxy comes off as a powder. My mast was last finished w/ 4 coats of epoxy and numerous coats of varnish. It's time to do a strip and refinish, but it's probably been 10 years since I last did it.