You can also use Bondo fiberglass resin (polyester) for 2-3 coats, to seal the wood and set your mesh in. Just sand really well, wipe down, then go over it with your epoxy resin for the final coats. This eliminates the Pond Armor from getting sucked up into the wood on the initial coat and greatly extends the coverage area from one kit, which also keeps you from having to buy multiple Pond Armor kits for larger projects. Poly resin is also half the cost of Epoxy resin and available at any hardware store. It's also important to note that you can not use polyester resin over epoxy resin but epoxy over poly is fine.
Boat builder here... is the pond shield capable of saturating the fiberglass? I know its an epoxy based material, but isn't it more of a thickened epoxy with additives? I'd just feel better using a thinned epoxy resin to saturate the wood and filet and then glass the seams before doing the pond shield...
Hi! It saturates the fiberglass very well. I don't know much about the additives or thickness relative to other epoxies, but I can attest to years of solid performance in other tanks. But I'm sure there's other methods that would work too! :)
1/2". But that's only possible due to the short length/width, and that the glass doesn't span the full 3' height. Most 3' tanks would require 3/4" glass or more.
I agree with being generous with the Pond Armor.. Im in the middle of my 7th plywood aquarium, right now.. I accept the extra cost for a 4-5 coat waterproofing. Your plywood tanks look good. I hit your sub.. Hope to see you pay me a visit and sub/comment.. Happy New Year !
You can also use Bondo fiberglass resin (polyester) for 2-3 coats, to seal the wood and set your mesh in. Just sand really well, wipe down, then go over it with your epoxy resin for the final coats. This eliminates the Pond Armor from getting sucked up into the wood on the initial coat and greatly extends the coverage area from one kit, which also keeps you from having to buy multiple Pond Armor kits for larger projects. Poly resin is also half the cost of Epoxy resin and available at any hardware store. It's also important to note that you can not use polyester resin over epoxy resin but epoxy over poly is fine.
Yea I've heard of that method! I'm partial to the Pond Shield, personally, but I'm sure both would work well. Each with it's own unique advantages.
Gotta love how kits are 2 to 1 ratio and cans are 1 to 1 haha.
Actually the cans are 32oz paint and 16oz hardener.. The dollar store measuring cups work well for making a proper ratio.
Very informative 👍👏🏼
Boat builder here... is the pond shield capable of saturating the fiberglass? I know its an epoxy based material, but isn't it more of a thickened epoxy with additives? I'd just feel better using a thinned epoxy resin to saturate the wood and filet and then glass the seams before doing the pond shield...
Hi! It saturates the fiberglass very well. I don't know much about the additives or thickness relative to other epoxies, but I can attest to years of solid performance in other tanks. But I'm sure there's other methods that would work too! :)
What thickness of glass did you use?
1/2". But that's only possible due to the short length/width, and that the glass doesn't span the full 3' height. Most 3' tanks would require 3/4" glass or more.
I agree with being generous with the Pond Armor.. Im in the middle of my 7th plywood aquarium, right now.. I accept the extra cost for a 4-5 coat waterproofing. Your plywood tanks look good. I hit your sub.. Hope to see you pay me a visit and sub/comment.. Happy New Year !
Hey thanks! And dang, looks like you have a lot of videos on DIY tank building. I went ahead and subbed. Gonna have to check them out! :)