Surfboards are very fragile and can be easily damaged. However, they can also be easily repaired, and there are suitable products available for you to repair your surfboard yourself, saving money and time. Here you will find everything you need to repair your board: resin, fiberglass, plugs, repair kits, etc
If your surfboard is made of epoxy with an EPS core, you must use epoxy resin, or an epoxy resin-based repairer. If you use polyester resin on a board with an EPS (polystyrene) core, you will see how the polyester resin melts the core of the board, and you will get a large hole in your board.
If your board is made of polyester, with PU foam (polyurethane), it is preferable to use polyester resin. However, it is not wrong if you use epoxy resin or an epoxy-based repairer; it will work as well.
No, the UV resin already contains the necessary additive to catalyze when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Therefore, it is not necessary to mix it with a catalyst; it will cure like any other sun-drying product. However, if you need to do an urgent repair at night, you can add the PMEC catalyst.
To catalyze the polyester resin, a mixture of resin with PMEC catalyst should be between 1% and 3%. Never exceed this ratio, as it could "burn" the resin and cause the board to develop a yellowish hue. The higher the outside temperature, the less catalyst you should use. We do not recommend working with polyester resin and catalyst above 25 degrees Celsius. We explain this in more detail in our blog article on how to laminate a surfboard.
To allow sanding of the resin, a mixture of polyester resin with 5% waxed styrene is necessary. Waxed styrene prevents the resin from being sticky to the touch, making it easier to sand without clogging the sandpaper. Waxed styrene is only used in the final layer of resin, known as the gel coat or hot coat. It is never used for lamination, which is the process of impregnating the fiberglass with resin. We explain this in more detail in our blog article on how to glaze a surfboard.
