RAKA epoxy question

[Herschel Payne]

Has anyone used RAKA epoxy and does it work well? Is the three gallon kit and 20 yards of 38" wide 6oz cloth enough for the weekender?

The price is unbelievably low compared to west system. Thanks and Happy New year

[Kudzu]

I use RAKA and it works just like any other epoxy I have used. It's a good product.

It is thinner than any epoxy I have used. But that means easier wet outs easier (for me anyway).  Be sure to have some thickening agent/filler on hand for fillets.

[Steve Day]

Herschel,

The Rescue Minor we are building right now is the 5th boat I have built using RAKA epoxy. I highly recommend it.

As Kudzu says, some fumed silica for a thickener is highy recommended to make structural joints and fillets.

Steve

[Bud_Wilson]

I have used RAKA  for years.It is the best fit for me.Good folks good prices good service and and good product. It may br a littler thiner but it goes further. Something left unsead is they may care about the small boat builder.  Go for it. Bud

[Frank Hagan]

I use RAKA also, although its been a while since I actually built a boat!  I just used some 4-year old RAKA tonight (epoxying 2 1" square tubes into a shelf with 3/4 ply on either side ... it needs to span 82" without sagging ... the thing weighs a ton, but it won't sag!)

I prefer wood flour to fumed silica; silica is so fine it gets everywhere.  But Larry at RAKA can sell you either the wood flour or fumed silica.

[Hirilonde]

I prefer wood flour to fumed silica; silica is so fine it gets everywhere. 

There are many possible fillers for epoxy, and each has different characteristics and each creates an epoxy with different characteristics.  Colloidal silica is considered by many to be the best for bonding wood.  Micro-ballooons and wood flour are favorites for filets and fairing compounds as they result in a reasonably sandable product.  I personally like to mix fillers to yield a result that I think will be best for the application.

[Herschel Payne]

Many thanks for all the great feedback. Will the 3 gallon kit be enough to do the Weekender?

[Charlie Jones]

I also have used RAKA quite a bit and it's good stuff.

But-

for the last few years (and boats) I've been using and am quite happy with the epoxy from Graham Byrnes, over at the companion forum for B and B Yacht Design. It's every but as good as RAKA (or MAS) and is cheaper to boot. What more would you want?

And Graham is a contributor to these forums.

Give 'em a call.

[Frank Hagan]

Many thanks for all the great feedback. Will the 3 gallon kit be enough to do the Weekender?

Almost, at least in my case.  I ended up using it in more places as I became familiar with it, but if all you are going to use the epoxy for is glassing the hull, three gallons should do it.  I started with three gallons, and then added another gallon (part of which I'm still using). 

I had forgotten Graham had epoxy over at B&B Yacht Designs.  I'll buy from him next time (you couldn't find a nicer guy to support).

[Herschel Payne]

I found Graham's site and I will give him a call. Thank you.

[GWB]

This is a little down the road since you posted so the info might be a moot point for now.  I've used both RAKA and the stuff from BandB.  I have found the RAKA to be the most agreeable epoxy I've used yet.  No blush and nice and thin.  I always use the slow stuff.  BandB's is the only epoxy I've ever had chrystalize on me in the bottle.  It's a simple matter of heating it in hot water to resolubalize(sic) the stuff and then it is fine to use.  It is also the worst blushing epoxy I've ever used.  I close second for my use is USComposites.  They are inexpensive and will blush, but typically the blush occurs weeks down the road.  This does make me raise my eyebrows as I am concerned with long term effects on finish if the blush were to come in after finishing, but I've had no ill effects.