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Using a pocket knife to "see"
below the
surface of the wood to determine
the extent of the repair |
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Estimating a
Repair Project
"How much material do I
need
for my project?"
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A common question asked by our new customers is: " How much
material is needed for my project?"
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Since epoxy repairs are 3 dimensional ( width by length by depth
) they are more difficult to estimate. Unlike paint
coatings, which are always calculated in square feet, epoxy
repairs are calculated in cubic inches.
Cubic Inches
If this sounds complicated, well, it is a little complicated.
The first thing: determine the extent of the damage to the wood
you're repairing. The ideal solution is to remove all decayed
wood to sound wood before you even begin your repair. A chisel
or a Dremel tool works well. The pros use a die-grinder with a
hemisphere shaped router-bit known as a "box- core" bit.
If you are not able to remove all the decay, the next best thing
is to use an awl or a pocket knife to "see" below the surface of
the wood to determine the extent of the repair. (See Photo Above
)
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Once you have a visual idea of the size
needed, the next step is to visualize "baseballs and
grapefruits" No kidding, unless your an engineer , the best
approach is to imagine how many grapefruits or baseballs will it
take to fill the cavity.
The Flex "Mini" 5.3 ounce cartridge is equal to a baseball size
or 8 cubic inches.
The Flex-Tec in the dual-cartridge is equal to a grapefruit size
or 24 cubic inches. |
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What about
Prime-A-Trate?
What is
Prime-A-Trate?
Do I need to use it?
How much do I need for
my repair?
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Prime-A-Trate is a 2 part epoxy
bonding agent. Some call it a "consolidant" or "wood
hardener". It's purpose is to penetrate deep into the wood
fiber and enhance the bonding strength of the Flex-Tec
repair compound.
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Prime-A-Trate being applied
to damaged wood |
Wood is
a very dynamic building material, expanding and contracting with
moisture and heat. This movement requires a
strong, flexible bond. Because the Flex-Tec Repair Compound is a
thick-gel like material, it's ability to penetrate wood fiber is
limited. Prime-A- Trate is a thin brushable material designed to
penetrate deeply into the wood.
Mix 2 parts of "A" to 1 part "B" with a disposable cup and
brush. Apply liberally to the surface area to be filled. Allow
approximately 10 minutes for penetration before mixing and
applying the Flex-Tec repair compound. Apply the wet Flex-Tec
onto the wet ( uncured ) Prime- A-Trate. The Prime-A-Trate can
be left on the surface for up to 2 hours prior to the Flex-Tec.
To determine how much Prime-A-Trate is needed a simple formula
of 12 to 1 or 4 to 1 works well. 1 12 ounce set of Prime-A-Trate
is equal to about 12 Flex Mini's or 4 dual-tubes of the Flex-Tec
Repair Compound.
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Installation of Easy-Stop Weather-Stripping
System |
Easy-Stop Weather-Stripping System
is designed to dramatically reduce air-infiltration and improves
the operation of double and single hung windows.
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For glazing windows, Glaze-Ease
Elastomeric Glazing Compound is ideal for new work or spot
repair on existing sash. Water clean-up and paint- able in 2
hours.
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Glazing a window with Glaze-Ease
Elastomeric Glazing Compound |
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Remember to ask your retailer to stock ART's products! |
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Cheers,
John Stahl
Advanced Repair Technology, Inc. |
