What would you use???

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Which would you use?

  • Pond Armor

    Votes: 8 44.4%

  • Blue Max

    Votes: 3 16.7%

  • Pond Coat (Zavlar)

    Votes: 3 16.7%

  • West Systems Epoxy

    Votes: 4 22.2%
  • Total voters
    18
Conner

Conner

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Dec 27, 2008
4,461
25
68
Kentucky
I'm still in the planning stages for a large plywood tank build. I'm looking at an 8x3x2.5 (LxWxH) plywood tank with a front window and one side window. I'm pricing out waterproof coatings, and here is was I've found for the amounts I'll need:

Pond Armor - 3 quarts = $159.90
Blue Max - 5 gallons = $150.00
Pond Coat (Zavlar) - 5 gallons = $276.00
West System Epoxy - 1 gallon = $133.22 (plus about $15.00 for graphite/gray pigments, and not including any fiberglass matting)

SO it seems like the Blue Max is the most economical coating, but I hate the color blue that it is. Next up is the Pond Armor, which is a decent price and easy to apply. After that is WSE, which seems reasonably priced, but more difficult to apply. Last comes Pond Coat, which is the most expensive, but also fairly easy to apply, like Pond Armor.

I'm currently leaning towards Pond Armor, due to the best combination of price and color that I want. What do you guys think? I'm mostly looking for opinions on yours or others experience with each product and their pro's and con's.

Thanks,
conner
 
Never messed with any of them ,but I have read nothing but good things about pond armor.

Bump
 
greenterra;3598899; said:
I chose the West Systems Epoxy but I wouldn't build a tank without fiberglass reinforcing. The strength difference is uncomparable.
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Oh, I'd definitely use fiberglass if I used WSE. I just hadn't included it in the pricing. Cost shouldn't be too different from the others, since I can get WSE locally, and not have to pay shipping, but then I have to buy the fiberglass mat. Plus I've never done fiberglassing, so the other 3 automatically seem easier to apply.
 
I would vote for Blue Max. Brittle epoxy and plywood is not a good combination. Blue Max stays flexible.
 
I used Pond Armor on my plywood build and am happy with it. I especially like that it is non toxic and VERY low odor. I don't have any experience with the other products.

If you do go with Pond Armor here are a few tips:

1) Apply on warmer days for ease of spreading.
2) Butch at Pond Armor suggested that for wood do a first coat thinned with 25% denatured alcohol as a 'wash' (brush/roll on); this helps the epoxy soak into the wood as the alcohol evaporates.
3) Make sure your structure is solidly built - minimal sway, bowing, buckling, flexing, etc. - Any coating can split or crack under these circumstances.
4) Start with small batches until you get the hang of applying it.
5) Expect to use more Pond Armor than suggested. My experience is that you don't get the optimum coverage unless you are a pro at it or maybe if you go the spray on route (I did NOT do the spray on option).
6) Lay fiberglass strips into the wet epoxy for the seams between wood. (You MAY not need this step if your seams are VERY tight - like non existent.)
7) The epoxy will self heat (don't know the technical term) and cure way too fast if you keep it in a container and mess with it too much (like constantly dipping a brush in a paint bucket). The epoxy needs to lay spread out on a flat surface to stay cool. Pour each batch onto the floor of what you are coating and just work from the puddle.

Good luck and I hope this helps.
 
Ozkar;3601809; said:
I used Pond Armor on my plywood build and am happy with it. I especially like that it is non toxic and VERY low odor. I don't have any experience with the other products.

If you do go with Pond Armor here are a few tips:

1) Apply on warmer days for ease of spreading.
2) Butch at Pond Armor suggested that for wood do a first coat thinned with 25% denatured alcohol as a 'wash' (brush/roll on); this helps the epoxy soak into the wood as the alcohol evaporates.
3) Make sure your structure is solidly built - minimal sway, bowing, buckling, flexing, etc. - Any coating can split or crack under these circumstances.
4) Start with small batches until you get the hang of applying it.
5) Expect to use more Pond Armor than suggested. My experience is that you don't get the optimum coverage unless you are a pro at it or maybe if you go the spray on route (I did NOT do the spray on option).
6) Lay fiberglass strips into the wet epoxy for the seams between wood. (You MAY not need this step if your seams are VERY tight - like non existent.)
7) The epoxy will self heat (don't know the technical term) and cure way too fast if you keep it in a container and mess with it too much (like constantly dipping a brush in a paint bucket). The epoxy needs to lay spread out on a flat surface to stay cool. Pour each batch onto the floor of what you are coating and just work from the puddle.

Good luck and I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks, that will definitely help if I decide to go with Pond Armor.

On another note, once a tank is coated with Blue Max, can you then paint over it with either an acrylic or enamel paint? I just don't think I'd be at all happy with that blue color being the permanent color of the tank...
 
I doubt very much that you can paint over any of these coatings with acrylic or enamel paint. It will probably just flake off over time. (Especially over the rubberized coatings like blue max - not a good idea.)
 
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