Ding repair, Q-cell

[Fog City Rider]

Saw this ding repair vid from Starboard:

http://supzero.com/news.php?idd=3107675379601

Seems like he uses Q-cell powder to thicken the resin before glassing - anyone have experience with that?  Wondering if there is an advantage other than making it easier to work with.

He also glasses first then fills out after.  I've only done a couple repairs, but was taught to fill ding first then glass.  Or glass, fill, then glass over one more time. 

Just dinged a board & this looked like a very efficient way to fix.

[JayInSoCal]

I just finished several repairs on my board.  I didn't mix any filler in for glassing, but for the final/hot coat I used resin mixed with West Systems 410 ultra light filler.  It was much easier to sand and it got a shot of paint and clear coat afterward so I wasn't concerned about it not being clear.  It seems solid, but only time will tell if it is as durable as it seems.  I'm not sure about the glassing before filling, seems like trouble, but I'm no expert. 

[Dwight (DW)]

Seems like he uses Q-cell powder to thicken the resin before glassing - anyone have experience with that?  Wondering if there is an advantage other than making it easier to work with.

It's done because he can. Meaning the board is painted, so he can do shortcuts, not available to clear epoxy boards. The filler avoids resin drain on the rail. No drips. One shot faster repair. I'd do it too, if the board I was repairing was painted.

The only thing I do different, is make each patch a different size. This feathers the lumpy edge better. Less work on the next step.

[createinquiry]

Maybe someone with a larger variety of experience can clarify this for me...

In the video, he spreads the epoxy/filler mixture onto the rails and it essentially sets up without sloughing off. I was under the impression and have had issues with qcell running in this situation, but was thinking that aerosil filler will act in a similar manner as qcell, but not slide off vertical surfaces.

Any chance that others might be able to weigh in on whether aerosil would be a more suitable filler for this sort of repair?

[Dwight (DW)]

.....have had issues with qcell running

It can be as thick or thin as needed. Just add more Q-cell.

Having said that, I use micro balloons (3M glass bubbles, not phenolic) instead of Q-cell. Never tried Q-cell because it's not rated for use under the waterline. Even though everybody uses it there, I could see no reason to mess with it.

Here is a handy resource and description of fillers. http://www.uscomposites.com/fillers.html   FYI, they are also the lowest cost source I know of.

[aranysup]

I like to glass firest so the new glass as good touch with the old one

[Bean]

DW, I didn't know that about Q cell.  It's funny though, even the paints used in production SUPs are not rated for below the waterline.  And also ( marine) expanding foam, as I found recently.