Hey guys, Sorry for all the posts. I just have too many questions at one time.
I hear a lot about smooth on but its pretty expensive and I'm a broke college kid trying out a new hobby. I want to make a fiberglass laminated bow and i was curious if a regular 30 minute epoxy would work at all? I'm going for something like a 40# bow which i know is kind of light but i still don't want splinters in my face either.
and advice?

If the epoxy says it is for wood and fiberglass then it can work.
What you really need is flexability after it dries.

Have not heard of anyone using regular,epoxy.

Bottom linemis smooth on works well.

I wouldn't use anything but laminating epoxy. Too much in materials to risk the bow not turning out. I would wait until you have the money for the EA-40.

You can get 2, 1/2 pint cans of smooth on for $18.00 at Binghams.. Comes in a set of A and B. It's not "necessary" to have a heat box to cure it. It will dry fine in 24 hours at 70 degrees.

   http://www.binghamprojects.com/search.php?pg=1&stext=smooth+on&sprice=&stype=&scat=

Oz for oz I believe you will find smooth on cheaper than tubes of epoxy.

One thing you will find with building bows is that it doesn't pay you to skimp on materials.  You'll just end up breaking bows which will cost you in the end.  

Use smooth on.  There's a reason why it is the choice of the professionals.  If there was a cheaper alternative out there that would give the same quality, they would be using it to maximize profits.

Hi Suessti $18=R252 in my currency and is not that bad price! The glue here in SA (Not smooth on,its not available here) is +- R900 in our money, in dollars $65 to $75 per container so I think we in SA is sucking on the back tit and its dry    !! Use the smooth on and wait for some extra cash to get the correct glue

just my 2 cents

Martin

Martin have you tried amt composites in kempton park. They have smooth on EA 40  www.amtcomposites.co.za  South africa

Hi Willem no I will have a check after I used that "Super Expensive Epoxy" Thanks for the info much appreciated!!

Martin

I don't know if it will work as well as EA-40 but 30 minutes only gives you a pot life of 15-20 minutes and it will start hardening.  This is NOT long enough unless you are 3-5 times faster than me.  I know they make the tubes in 1 hour, which would give you maybe 40-45 minutes before it started hardening.  Still not enough time.  I'd look for 3 hr. if I were to try it.