Bad Resin from West Marine

Fr. Frank · #1 07-05-2010, 08:06 PM

Two weeks ago, I mixed most of a new quart of Polyester Boaters Resin from West Marine to begin covering my diesel genset with a box. Using a new tube of MEK, I mixed it up and began applying it to the plywood box I had built. After several hours in 95* heat, the resin was still very sticky and had a gel-like consistency, both on the box and in the bucket in which I mixed it.

So when I went to glass over the lid, I used a different tube of MEK I had laying around, along with about a pint of resin from another quart I bought at the same time, with the same batch number, and mixed it in a cup. I got the same result. It never quite kicked.

I went to Home depot, and bought a gallon of Bondo brand #401 Polyester resin, and using the 1st tube of MEK, I mixed a bit in a cup to see if it would kick. Worked like a charm. SO I mixed a cup with the remains of the 1st quart of West Marine Polyester resin, and used the MEK that came with the Bondo resin. Again, it didn't kick. I mixed one last cup from the 2nd quart of West marine resin with the MEK from the Bondo purchase, and it, too, did not kick off.

I took the four sample cups back to West Marine to get my money refunded, and they refused, despite their guarantee of satisfaction with West System products.

Bottom line: don't buy from West Marine.

FTR: the West marine products are still sticky after two weeks.

workinpr0gress · #2 07-05-2010, 08:29 PM

West is my last resort for so many things, sometimes I chuckle at the misinformation on fairly simple tasks eagerly handed out by some of the employees. There are some very knowledgeable employees there but they usually aren't the ones I hear two isles over explaining a project with 80 percent of the info correct. Some areas they guys are much more knowledgeable as a whole, Annapolis and Lauderdale come to mind. Sometimes I bite the bullet and go in but I'd rather mail order first or pay a little more around the corner.

doug7488 · #3 07-05-2010, 09:57 PM

I,too have gotten bad resin from West Marine.
About 6 weeks ago, at the end of a project, I came up short on resin & had to get some last minute from West.
After 2 days it was still tacky & had to be recoated with a fresh coat from the distributor.
Seems to have cured ok in the end.

Entourage · #4 07-05-2010, 10:35 PM

Yeah West marine is not a good place to buy resin. They don't move enough of it cause it is so expensive. So that resin you got may have been on that shelf for years. A good friend that works there told me this.

BigLew · #5 07-06-2010, 12:09 AM

I worked for WM part time for 3-4 yrs. and don't remember ever selling any. Well, MAYBE once or twice.

strick · #6 07-06-2010, 10:09 AM

Quote:

They don't move enough of it cause it is so expensive. So that resin you got may have been on that shelf for years. A good friend that works there told me this.

Thats exactly what happens. Duratec in particular is notorious for a short shelf life. You have to be careful were you buy the stuff.

strick

JohnB · #7 07-07-2010, 09:12 AM

I have bought some boatyard glass in the past, and had no problems with it. I have had problems with the filler/glaze being old/chunky. Best bet is to buy it from someone who sells a lot of it. With the boat building industry being dead, there is probably a lot of old material laying around. I which they would put manufacture dates on this stuff.

bigeasy1 · #8 07-07-2010, 09:49 AM

I work for a friend in the marine fiberglass supply business,and hear all kinds of complaints about resin purchased from big box stores.
Polyester resin has a fairly short shelf life,especially when it's exposed to warm temps or sunlight.
Most of the big box type stores whether they be Home Depot,Lowes,or west marine don't sell as much as you'd think when it comes to resin.Also,the stock does not always get rotated as it should.
There is a big difference in quality between "cheap so called boatyard resin and higher priced resins.Beware of the el cheapo stuff.It's cheap for a reason,(it's junk).

In the case of Home Depot,Lowes,and other home center joints,the quality of the resin is also questionable.
You are far better off buying resin from a supplier who specializes in it,as most of us on the site do.

If you have to buy it in a pinch,I guess it would be best to get it from one of the boating stores.Even then,it's quality and freshness can be suspect.
Before you use it,try catalyzing a couple ounces of it,to be sure it kicks.

We get resin in bulk which is dated,and we repackage it in containers that move out of inventory very fast.We never have resin sitting on the shelf for longer than a few days or a week or so.
I've used some polyester resin when I actually had to strain it from the gallon because of lumps in it from sitting around,but it did cure ok.

In between uses,store it in a dark cool place out of the heat and sun,it will last much longer.

SBD · #9 07-09-2010, 10:22 AM

I have a love/hate with Worst Marine. They are expensive, and staffed with dummies, but they are there with stuff I need in stock...doh!

I have also had resin go sour and do the same thing. Undoing the mess is the worst part. I agree with everyone's comments about getting composite supplies from a composites vendor.

avian22 · #10 07-10-2010, 12:13 PM

Quote - "They are expensive, and staffed with dummies"

I guess we expect "experts" to work for minimum wage!

I do agree that there are some people that try to "B.S." you just to make a sale. That's not cool! Those people really give the rest of us a bad name. I personally try to be as honest as possible about my level of expertise, and seek out guidance when ever there are any doubts. As well as refer many cust.'s elsewhere if it is best for the cust.

Hope this opens your mind to a different perspective about stores like West Marine.