Hello Gardner, You can use any cheap resin just to do a small test for learning the process (you could even use water to see vacuum infusion process ) but I would recomend Hydropel R015 for best results and shorten learning curve (It may be good to use regular resin first so you can see difference when you do get better resin).  I have had problems with outgassing and poor quality with regular (thicker) resins but it did work.  The Hydropel R015 is designated for resin infusion and is vary thin.   http://www.aoc-resins.com/web/site/productinfo/500/C18/   You can purchase it from LBI Fiberglass.   http://www.lbifiberglass.com/   There web sight has some problems which make it hard to read but they claim they are working on that.  I have ask them to send me a paper catalogue.   I will be ordering 10 or 15 gal. for the panels I am making and expect to have everything set up to make some full size  panels in a few weeks.  You can came and visit and see the process and setup.  There are a lot of details in how to set up that I can show you,  it is difficult to explain everything on line.  If you are in area and can visit bebore I am ready for full size panels I still have enough resin to do a small test panel so you can see process.   A few other companies that I have used for supplies;   http://www.noahsboatbuilding.com/noahusa/index.asp?FSCat=2&url=IND&iFromFeatured=1   http://www.airtechonline.com/   http://www.fibreglast.com/   http://www.fgci.com/   Good luck with your projects,   George Kuck, Chestertown, MD   phone, 410-810-2529     --- On Thu, 11/13/08, Gardner Pomper <gardner@networknow.org> wrote: From: Gardner Pomper <gardner@networknow.org> Subject: [harryproa] Vacuum infusion samples project To: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008, 9:44 AM Hi, Winter has set in here in Pennsylvania and my "3-day" plywood proa project has been packed up in my unheated barn for the winter with the hulls complete, but still needing rudders and beams.  I would like to continue building in my basement (if I can get the admiral's permission) and would like to learn vacuum infusion while I am at it. I have purchased misc pieces of what I think I need (peel ply, vacuum sheeting, the infusion cloth), and I think I might have sorted out the tubing, etc for the infusion supply and catch bucket. My questions are: 1) What resin should I infuse with? The West epoxy I normally use seems too viscous and I hear that vinyl ester smells (sure way for the admiral to shut down this project) 2) how/where can I get samples of various core materials? I would like to get familiar with what I need for harryproa building, which (last I heard) is polycore with some sort of flexible foam in the middle for bending the hull? Anyone have some contacts? The same with basalt (used instead of fiberglass on Rapscallion, I think). I assume I do this by contacting the manufacturers, so if someone could tell me the appropriate materials to get samples of, and who makes them, I will contact them. I still have one question when it comes to infusing both sides of a panel at once... is the resin supply tube run on the table next to the foam sandwich, or is it placed on top? I am not clear on how the resin is supposed to get to both sides of the sandwich, even if the foam has holes drilled every 4". Thanks for the info and the patience. Boat Building is far from my area of expertise and I often feel I am flailing around with simple questions. - Gardner York, PA

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