Does anyone out there in RYPN land have any experience with wood hardeners or fillers?

We have one end of a wooden truck bolster on our Lawndale boxcar that is weathered/rotted just enough to be borderline as far as replacing it or repairing it. One of our newer volunteers suggested that we inject some sort of filler or epoxy to strengthen the end and thereby avoid the necessary hassle of replacing the bolster.

Any constructive comments/suggestions/pointers are sought.

Thanks in advance

Matt Bumgarner

Two possibilities come to mind. Abatron offers several grades of epoxies for wood form clear syrupy, almost waterlike, to two part putty fillers.

West Systems also offers several mixes with variable setting times and cabosil filler which can be blended in.

We have used these a LOT but mostly for filling rotted and missing wood in NON STRUCTURAL applications. Anything requiring to stand up to significant loads or flexing (as in a truck frame) would be suspect in my mind.

I am sure others will offer good experience based stories and opinions, but I would be wary.

Bob Kutella

Matt - check the briefs archives. PM me if you want to know more.

dave

You might also read through this thread:

http://rypn.sunserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23396&highlight=epoxy


Lots of good discussion there. I hope the link works, if not search on "epoxy" and my name to find it.

If I understand correctly this boxcar restoration is for a static display, not for operation... If so, the epoxy is a win win... I would take the time to jack the body straight before applying the epoxy, and I would take care not to lock body joints, but use epoxy.

Also use any rot treatment you can.

A product called "Git Rot" is sold for use in boats. It is an extremely thin very slow drying epoxy. Since it is so thin, capillary attraction moves it through rotten wood up to solid wood. The slow drying allows it plenty of time to move through the rotten area before it solidifies. It seems to do a good job of salvaging wood that contains rot. It is very hard when it sets.

You might try some boat restoration web sites for more information and comments.

The abatron product is very much like this. They suggest the epoxy first which is thin and slow drying to move through the wood fibers. Then the structural filler is mixed and set in place while the first epoxy is still wet. This makes a bond between the epoxy and the filler.

Abatron also has free workshops in different cities at different times of the year. You may want to inquire through their website.

You can check out Jamestown Distributors. Their website is www.jamestowndistributors.com. They are a good source for many materials. I use them both for trolley restoration and for mahogany speedboat restoration. They also are starting sections for how to on their site.