West Systems G/Flex 650

[SlushSeason]

Ok nerds. Memes aside, why does everyone always recommend this product? There are hundreds of other marine epoxies available for much cheaper. What's so special about G/Flex 650 to warrant paying 2-3x as much for epoxy that isn't even ski specific?

I really doubt ski manufacturers are using anything this pricey to layup the skis

 

[PartyBullshiit]

Because

 

[snowfinder]

Because

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View attachment 1088755

 

[mikem]

Because

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G/flex® 650 is a toughened, versatile, liquid epoxy for permanent waterproof bonding of fiberglass, ceramics, metals, plastics, and damp and difficult-to-bond woods. It is a bit more flexible than standard epoxies and polyester but much stiffer than adhesive sealants. This gives it the ability to make structural bonds that can absorb the stress of expansion, contraction, shock, and vibration. It is ideal for bonding dissimilar materials.

My friend is a career woodworker and teacher of woodworking. He suggests West Systems Gflex Epoxy.

 

[SlushSeason]

Memes aside

Thanks guys

 

[Non_State_Actor]

Ok nerds. Memes aside, why does everyone always recommend this product? There are hundreds of other marine epoxies available for much cheaper. What's so special about G/Flex 650 to warrant paying 2-3x as much for epoxy that isn't even ski specific?

I really doubt ski manufacturers are using anything this pricey to layup the skis

It has really good adhesion to different surfaces, remains flexible in varied temperatures, is strong as hell. You spend like $30 and have epoxy for three years right?

 

[FaunaSkis]

Some things others haven't mentioned which make it a good repair epoxy:

its easily available in small, easily dosed quantities

Its an easy 1:1 by volume mix ratio,

its a good gel consistency that runs a bit but not too much,

its got a good pot life,

it cures quickly at ambient temperature,

it cures see through

and it has a good long shelf life.

 

[TOAST.]

ON3P recommended it to me and it's worked better than anything ive tried from the hardware store. Still on the bottles i bought 6 years ago, doesn't seem that expensive to me.

 

[ryanmccloskey]

Some things others haven't mentioned which make it a good repair epoxy:

its easily available in small, easily dosed quantities

Its an easy 1:1 by volume mix ratio,

its a good gel consistency that runs a bit but not too much,

its got a good pot life,

it cures quickly at ambient temperature,

it cures see through

and it has a good long shelf life.

…its so good, the price point isnt even crazy.

 

[mrk127]

Would love to hear a chemistry focused answer, but is just so much more flexible than every other epoxy. Gflex is the shit

 

[SlushSeason]

I like that the stress allowables for GFlex are easy to find, even included on their amazon page. They don't include strain allowables though which is pretty important when analyzing composites. (They say how strong it is, but not how much it can stretch)

Would love to hear a chemistry focused answer, but is just so much more flexible than every other epoxy. Gflex is the shit

 

[No-Skill-Phil]

Some things others haven't mentioned which make it a good repair epoxy:

its easily available in small, easily dosed quantities

Its an easy 1:1 by volume mix ratio,

its a good gel consistency that runs a bit but not too much,

its got a good pot life,

it cures quickly at ambient temperature,

it cures see through

and it has a good long shelf life.

Interested in what you guys use for repairs and layup?

The base has started lifting from an edge ding on my soft snow skis

 

[supremeblientele]

It’s also great for butt sex lube

 

[FaunaSkis]

Interested in what you guys use for repairs and layup?

The base has started lifting from an edge ding on my soft snow skis

The answer to which resin the factory is using is kind of interesting but something I'll have to come back to.

For quick, small repairs my go-to is g-flex

I've built some prototypes using the slow cure version of this resin : Entropy CLR Resin

The first resin I used that I got from the homebuild ski shop in Germany was: HP Textiles E45KL

This was also the generic coating/finishing resin I used for prototypes: Coating Resin

I guess you can have a look across those and see how the g-flex characteristics lines up.

 

[YorkOxmall]

 

[IsaacNW82]

I agree with Fauna that what you want to build a ski isn't necessarily what you want to repair a ski. G-Flex has a much longer elongation limit than laminating epoxies, but its also not nearly as strong or as stiff.

To build a ski you are building the overall structure of the composite with epoxy. IMO repair is more about limiting the compromised section from spreading or getting worse, plus the aforementioned considerations for usability in small quantities. So a flexier, more durable epoxy makes sense here to help better absorb the stress concentrations brought on by the damage

 

[IsaacNW82]

Also you could probably just ask West Systems this directly, most material suppliers have either a dedicated email or web form for technical questions. If you do def keep us posted, I'd be interested in hearing what they say

 

[SlushSeason]

I agree with Fauna that what you want to build a ski isn't necessarily what you want to repair a ski. G-Flex has a much longer elongation limit than laminating epoxies, but its also not nearly as strong or as stiff.

To build a ski you are building the overall structure of the composite with epoxy. IMO repair is more about limiting the compromised section from spreading or getting worse, plus the aforementioned considerations for usability in small quantities. So a flexier, more durable epoxy makes sense here to help better absorb the stress concentrations brought on by the damage

You're definitely right. I bought some G-Flex yesterday and post-cure it's much less stiff and weaker than I expected. the tradeoff is it stretches a good amount. I work in aircraft production and repair and we use similar stuff for filling holes and bonding on secondary structures (like brackets that hold electrical cables in place). It's probably too weak and flexible for any primary structure repairs on a plane, but great for skis where vibration and crack growth are more of a concern than catastrophic failure.

 

[Corey_O132]

Ok nerds. Memes aside, why does everyone always recommend this product? There are hundreds of other marine epoxies available for much cheaper. What's so special about G/Flex 650 to warrant paying 2-3x as much for epoxy that isn't even ski specific?

I really doubt ski manufacturers are using anything this pricey to layup the skis

The G/Flex is some good stuff. I’ve been using it for about three years on tons of repairs. It all about what exactly you’re repairing on the ski.

Ive used it for everything from base patches to edge and delamination repairs. It’s just that sometimes it doesn’t like to bond very well, regardless of prep sanding the area or not (I’ve tried both and even took extra care to remove any dust after sanding.) I’ve found if you put it under a hairdryer or heat gun, it becomes a bit less viscous and with wood and fiberglass it adhears well. It still cures to roughly the same strength too as long as you don’t get it too hot.

In my experience, gflex tends to work the best with lamination repairs because it’s so flexible and it’s typically bonding into wood and fiberglass.

Ive found with edge repairs and base patches, if you mix some regular old JBweld at 1/4 and 3/4 G/flex it still retains its flexibility, but bonds better to metal and base material. I’d say it tends to work the best of the repair area is small to medium sized. Too much of an edge ripped out is just not worth fixing.