Proper Fastener Bonding for a stronger, more moisture resistant bond

Typically, when a fastener fails on a boat, it pulls out of the wood or fiberglass that it was screwed into. There are many causes for this failure: shock loading, fatigued from being pulled on one too many times, or moisture softening the wood.

-  Terry Monville

Let's take a look at how using WEST SYSTEM Epoxy can improve the holding power of a fastener in wood to give you fewer troubles on the water.

Saturating the Wood

Saturating the wood with epoxy is the simplest way to improve your fastener's holding power. You start by drilling a standard pilot hole, just as you would have to do even if you were not using epoxy. Using an 807 Syringe, fill the hole to the top with your chosen 105 Epoxy Resin and 200 series hardener combination. Allow the epoxy to saturate the wood. For 206 Slow Hardener at room temperature, I typically wait about 20 minutes. Then coat your fastener threads with epoxy and screw your fastener in by hand.

In warmer weather, the epoxy will cure faster, so do not wait too long. In cooler weather (40°F-60°F), use 205 Fast Hardener so it will cure in the cooler environment.

Saturating the wood is a very simple method to get some added moisture resistance and additional holding power without any additional drilling. This makes it a great technique for quickly replacing existing hardware. When the hole is drilled into a horizontal surface, this method works very well, but if you are coating a hole in a vertical surface, it can be tricky. Use a piece of packing tape or duct tape over the opening to prevent the epoxy from running out of the hole.

Oversizing the Hole