Epoxy pigment

I have a very small chip that I need to fix.

Can I add white paint to epoxy? The West Systems white pigment is expensive for a small repair.

Anyother white pigment ideas?

I have used the gel coat repair kits that are available at West Marine with success for small chips. It comes in white that matches the gel coat on my infusion very well.

I've used these in the past with success - but in dark colors. I've never tried the white...I would be a little concerned that the epoxy might still yellow after some time in the sun with a white pigment. However, I don't have any specific experience with that. Try here for cost effective resin pigments.

http://www.uscomposites.com/pigments.html

If it is a chip, just use gel coat. Takes some getting used to the process but if you learn how, you are way ahead in repair costs.

The down side of epoxy is, as mentioned, it will yellow in sunlight, and it can also be very cranky to cover that repair with polyester gelcoat (the amines in epoxy blush out, causing the gelcoat to not to polymerize evenly, or at all.) That said, with some prep, it can be made to polymerize okay.

FYI, It is also not advisable to use epoxy on a polyester-made boat where the repair is perpetually underwater (i.e. a cruiser repair under the waterline), as it will eventually blister. This is not a problem on a beach cat, though.

http://www.michiganfiberglass.com/products.html

This outfit sells a bright white, high quality gelcoat and pigments that can be blended in to match aging gelcoat. It's a bit of an art but if you do it right, you will have a great match. Their supplies are better than stuff available from 'other retailers' (trust me on this...).

why hasn't anyone recommended Marine-Tex yet? It is, I guess, rather expensive, but it won't yellow. That's the first thing that came to my mind. Great stuff. easy to sand, easy to mold (use a glove, wet the finger with a little water when the stuff is putty)

Thanks for the replies guys, I forgot to mention that this boat is painted. Its carbon/epoxy/paint as an outer skin.

So, I dont think gel coat is the right answer, right?

Also, its two small chips on the bottom of the hull, so they wont see much if any sunlight, and its drysailed.

What paint? If it's just about anything but awlgrip you repair as normal Fill and paint. Are you just trying to save a step?

Gel coat is definitely NOT the answer.
PTP, Marine tex is more of a temporary patch not a permanent repair.

yes, trying to save a step. I wasnt planning on mixing up epoxy with pigment as the chip/ding is less than an 1/8th of an inch.

Any bondo type putty will work fine. You can use a single sided razor as the spreader for something that small.

I like evercoat glazing putty. It's almost white so it will be hard to see the repair.

If you have gel coat w/wax you can thicken that and use it like bondo. Pretty much all these bondo type putty's are polyester based.

It is easy to work with and will last as well as anything, however Gel coat will never cure over it.

Only West System can be Gel coated with no problems. My experience anyway.

Doesn't matter in this case as the boat is painted.

If it's that small, why not just paint? Pool it up or lots of thinner coats and skip the epoxy.
I second catmans choice of fillers also. Love the evercoat glazing putty.

I spoke to West System you can use unbound pigment. I has a been awhile since I spoke with them if you call their help line they can guide you in the correct pigment to buy. Sounds like you can go to any place that mixes house paint and get the pigment. Hopes that helps.

I ended up just buying their stuff because I needed a larger quantity.

Check these guys out for Poly resins and carbon stuff.
http://www.fiberglasssupply.com/Product_Catalog/Polyester_Resins/polyester_resins.html

Also an easy fix to small problems is Formula 27, marine Bondo. dries white and sands easy and is less H2O permeable. dont know about gelcoating over it...sorry!

I've had good luck with these guys:

http://www.fgci.com/

I have used their white pigment in epoxy and it worked fine (is marketed as suitable for epoxies, polyester, etc.). Formula 27 is quite grey next to my boat's white gelcoat.

Thanks.