Sys3 Mirror Coat and E-tex

[GattaFish]

No matter what you use as a top coat it will not be able to withstand hook rash forever....

[Diggin Jiggin]

Mirror coat is harder, but it is brittle and can crack if it hits a rock.

If your plug is not very well sealed and it absorbs any water, the expansion/contraction of the wood will make mirror coat lift. I've had this happen with plugs that I take out of the current rotation. They were fine when I used them, but hang em on the rack and a few weeks later the epoxy is lifted off. When the wood dries out it shrinks and pops the finish.

I like sys 3 clear coat a lot and would recommend it over mirror coat. It goes on thinner. Just make sure you keep the plugs clean and use a soft brush to put it on. (ie if you have any oil from your fingers on it it will pull away from that spot and leave a void). On the plus side I have not had any issues with it lifting like I have w/ mirror coat.

[a4scoot]

Try the thumnail test on the olug you just received. It has Etex on it.

[wrikerjr]

etex is a little more flexible than mirror coat and i like that very much.

Mirror coat is rigid and will crack easier and cracking eventually leads to pealing.

[numbskull]

System three clear coat is the best epoxy I've found, and by far the worst to work with.....so fussy and variable batch to batch that I'm hesitant to recommend it unless you are willing to suffer a long arduous learning curve.

[Eric Roach]

Originally Posted by Diggin Jiggin

...If your plug is not very well sealed and it absorbs any water, the expansion/contraction of the wood will make mirror coat lift. I've had this happen with plugs that I take out of the current rotation. They were fine when I used them, but hang em on the rack and a few weeks later the epoxy is lifted off. When the wood dries out it shrinks and pops the finish.

I'm going to share this with a friend of mine -- this is exactly what happens to some of his plugs and he has been perplexed as to why -- thank you.

Originally Posted by a4scoot

Try the thumnail test on the plug you just received. It has Etex on it.

It does leave a mark -- I'm sure that's due to E-Tex's flexibility.

Originally Posted by wrikerjr

etex is a little more flexible than mirror coat and i like that very much.

Does it hold-up over time? I know that question has a ton of variables...

Originally Posted by numbskull

...so fussy and variable batch to batch that I'm hesitant to recommend it unless you are willing to suffer a long arduous learning curve.

I've read quite a bit about your headaches -- especially when mixing in small amounts...I think I'll leave Sys-3 alone for now.

[Eric Roach]

I think the most durable finish on a plug that I've fished is Afterhours'. I'd guess some of the commercial builders probably use chemicals beyond the scope of the average basement builder.