Drill/fill gel magic?

[finalfront]

Hi, I'm finishing up an Fs14 & I'm over-drilling holes & filling & re-drilling for each piece of hardware (particularly thru hull). Can I use gel magic to fill hole? It seems like perfect nonsagging option.
If not, what mix is best?

[Jeff]

Finalfront, you can use GelMagic but it is cheaper to just fill with a thickened epoxy and re-drill. Jeff

[Dougster]

By mixing your own you can also vary the viscosity, making it easy to pour into a vertical hole or cake frosting thick to squeeze into a horizontal hole.

Dougster

[finalfront]

Finalfront, you can use GelMagic but it is cheaper to just fill with a thickened epoxy and re-drill. Jeff

Thanks Jeff. At this point cheaper is a non-issue. Haha. I have extra gel magic & felt it was good easy way to use it up. Thanks.

[joe2700]

Hi, I'm finishing up an Fs14 & I'm over-drilling holes & filling & re-drilling for each piece of hardware (particularly thru hull). Can I use gel magic to fill hole? It seems like perfect nonsagging option.
If not, what mix is best?

I'm a big fan of gel magic but have found it does not work well for this purpose. When ever I drill/fill/redrill with gel magic it cracks significantly when I install a screw, so pieces fall out and the hole strips with minimal torque. It will probably be fine for anything thru-bolted, but I would suggest an alternative for anywhere you will put a screw. Adding a little additional filler to gel magic might work but I haven't tried it.

[finalfront]

Hi, I'm finishing up an Fs14 & I'm over-drilling holes & filling & re-drilling for each piece of hardware (particularly thru hull). Can I use gel magic to fill hole? It seems like perfect nonsagging option.
If not, what mix is best?

I'm a big fan of gel magic but have found it does not work well for this purpose. When ever I drill/fill/redrill with gel magic it cracks significantly when I install a screw, so pieces fall out and the hole strips with minimal torque. It will probably be fine for anything thru-bolted, but I would suggest an alternative for anywhere you will put a screw. Adding a little additional filler to gel magic might work but I haven't tried it.

Thanks Joe. I did have that kind of issue with a wf/epoxy fill in a screw hole. What thickener do you recommend for epoxy? Maybe I went too thick?

[OrangeQuest]

Less filler and more epoxy. For vertical holes that need filling, make a tape scoop/funnel that you fill by pouring a runny mix with the tape funnel directing the mix into the hole.. Less chance of air getting trapped in the hole and you can over fill the hole. Once cured sand smooth.

Remember epoxy has it's strongest bond with gaps, to much filler and there are no gaps between the particles of filler mix. If you make a wood flour epoxy blend that doesn't sag then it's a lot of flour and doesn't hold together very well and has no strength.

[finalfront]

Finalfront, you can use GelMagic but it is cheaper to just fill with a thickened epoxy and re-drill. Jeff

Hey jeff.
Whats ur opinion on drill/fill hole thickener? Just wood flour?

[joe2700]

Thanks Joe. I did have that kind of issue with a wf/epoxy fill in a screw hole. What thickener do you recommend for epoxy? Maybe I went too thick?

I'll probably try west system 404 or colloidal silica(406) since I have them left over from when I used to use west system epoxy. I think you want a structural adhesive filler.