After a couple of discussions with a few members of the “Old Canard Guard,” including one of my building mentors, Dale Martin, I decided to pull the trigger and switch from MGS 335 to MGS 285. While the epoxy itself isn’t that much more expensive, the slow hardener incurs a hazardous shipping penalty usually on the order of $45 per quart. Yes, that’s on top of the cost of the hardener and the normal shipping fee!
So why did I switch? Well, primarily safety. After reviewing Gary Hunter’s Do’s & Don’ts of Epoxy Resin, I decided I should go after an epoxy that gives me the highest Tg. I was already using the MGS system, so I was familiar with the system. Plus, I’m moving to Germany in late July for a couple of years, so after a bit of research I’m fairly certain I can buy the MGS where it’s actually made and pick it up in bulk quantity ala Sam’s Club style.
Also, for the remainder of my build tasks here, I was also able to find a company in California to sell me two quarts of the fast hardener for the $45 hazardous shipping fee.