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Resin FAQ's

Resin, Catalyst & Laminating

Commonly asked questions on the different types of resins on offer at FibreGlassDirect. 

0 Clear Casting Resin

Unfortunately, our Chopped Strands or Choppies as they are often referred to are not Alkali Resistant.
Generally speaking, for Polyester Resins, the mixing ratio is 2% i.e. 20ml for every 1kg of Resin in working conditions at room temperature. For the Water Clear Casting Polyester Resin, this drops to 1.5% or 15ml for every 1kg. In colder working temperatures you may wish to increase the catalyst addition to 3% but definitely, no more than 4% to speed up the curing process. Similarly, in warmer temperatures, you may wish to reduce the amount of catalyst to extend the pot life of your resin. In this case, you should not go below 1%.  To ensure accuracy, please refer to the TDS of each resin which will detail cure times.  Epoxy resins are treated very differently and work on a ratio e.g. 1:1. Please refer to the TDS and MSDS attachments which are available on each product page as each Epoxy Resin will vary. If in doubt, don't hesitate to contact our team who would be happy to... Read more
This depends on the temperature of your working conditions and how much catalyst has been incorporated into the mix. Warmer temperatures will reduce your curing time and colder temperatures will increase the length of cure.  Likewise, adding extra catalyst will speed up the curing process - often necessary for colder temperatures and reducing catalyst will reduce curing - again often necessary during warmer temperatures. We would recommend mixing no more than 1.5 - 2kg at a time. Once the resin and catalyst are mixed, the curing process will begin and you are working against the clock to get the resin applied - usually no more than 20 minutes. Only mix as much as you need.  Epoxy Resin is mixed on a ratio basis and should not be altered. Room temperature is the ideal scenario for curing. Each resin type will differ so we would always recommend referring to the MSDS and TDS available on each product listing before use.  Although some resins may be hard to the touch after 24 hours, some may not be fully cured for up to 3 days. Again, this information will be available on the product Technical Data Sheet... Read more
We would recommend a clear epoxy resin for this purpose as the epoxy has less shrinkage than the polyester version.
There are a couple of different options and finishes that you can opt for when skinning a kayak like this. First of all, you could use a layer of 450g fibreglass matting and Lloyd's approved resin. Once cured you could then apply a standard polyester topcoat. All of these materials are included with our Universal Fibreglass Kit. If you wanted a smoother look (to avoid the look of the glass fibres coming through), you could apply a layer of surface tissue on top of the resin while it is still wet, prior to the topcoat application.  Alternatively, you could opt for a couple of layers of the Woven Glass Fibre Cloth instead of the Fibreglass Matting. This can also be used with Lloyd's Approved Resin, followed by Topcoat once... Read more
The second layer can be applied while the first layer is still wet. Not only will you complete your project a lot faster but you will use a lot less resin too!
The shelf life of Catalyst is approximately 6 months. It is important that the catalyst is stored in its original packaging in a cool, dry location away from sunlight. As Catalyst is an extremely flammable chemical, it is important to refer to MSDS and TDS sheets before use.
Unfortunately, Polyester Resin cannot be used on Polystyrene as it will eat into it! An Epoxy Resin would be better suited for this application.
None of our Polyester Resins / Topcoats on FibreGlassDirect require a wax additive to harden. Catalyst is the only thing required and this is supplied with all Resins.
We would recommend our Lloyd's Approved Resin, this would be a good general purpose resin suitable for this purpose.

We recommend that up to 10mm of Clear Resin should be poured at any one time before pouring the next layer. If doing multiple pours of clear casting resin, great care should be taken in regards to the heat that is generated with each pour. Before each pour, it is best to ensure the first pour has cooled (and is cool to the touch) before adding the next batch of resin.

Yes, all Resins, Topcoats and Gelcoats sold by FibreGlassDirect are supplied with sufficient catalyst. 

We would recommend priming the lead with a G4 Damp Seal first. G4 should be thinly applied with a brush or roller and allowed to tack before applying the resin and chopped strand matting. 

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When it first comes it is fully sealed so you snap off the top. The outside is threaded so if you flip the cap you will see the threads are on the opposite side. The cap will screw back on then to re-seal. 


Our Low-Cost General Purpose Resin is a re-blended resin which is suitable for non-critical DIY repairs (such as downpipe repairs etc.) Lloyds Approved Resin is a higher quality Polyester Resin which has been tested and approved by the Lloyds Register. It can be used for potable water storage projects, marine, pond and boat repairs. It is also WRAS Approved. Both are polyester resins.

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