Tools – West System – 809 Notched Spreader

Epoxy Spreaders or “squeegees”

The WEST SYSTEM® 808 Plastic Spreader, sometimes referred to as a “squeegee,” is a great all-around tool for most epoxy applications. This is a thin, flexible, yellow plastic rectangle used to spread mixed epoxy, force epoxy into glass fabric, remove excess epoxy, and extract air bubbles trapped under fiberglass fabric. This simple tool is indispensable for removing excess epoxy to save weight. It’s also the most widely used tool for applying thickened epoxy putties for fairing and filleting operations.

The WEST SYSTEM 809 Notched Spreader is best for applying thickened epoxy mixtures. This is a rigid plastic square with three notched edges and one smooth beveled edge. The notched edges, each with a different notch size, are used to apply a controlled and consistent amount of thickened epoxy to a surface. The deeper notches apply more material than the shallower notches. The smooth edge can be used as a rigid to force excess resin and air out of a laminate, much like the more pliable 808 Plastic Spreader.—From Fiberglass Application Tools by Joe Parker, Epoxyworks #12
Turn an 808 Plastic Spreader into a nifty filleting tool

Epoxy fillets are important for reinforcing the long joints between bulkheads and hulls or decks. Here’s how to modify one of our inexpensive 808 Plastic Spreaders make to apply neat fillets in one quick pass.

Trim one end of a squeegee to form a 75° angle. Trim the 75° angle corner to the desired fillet radius. Make both cuts clean and smooth.
How to make fast, smooth fillets with a modified spreader

Apply a generous amount of thickened epoxy to the joint—enough so you don’t have to re-apply it.
Place the modified spreader into the epoxy at the beginning of the joint. Lean it forward until one edge touches the hull and the other touches the bulkhead.
Pull the tool forward along the joint, keeping both edges in contact. This scrapes the excess epoxy ahead of the spreader much the same as a snowplow pushes snow in front of it. Pull the tool along the entire joint until your fillet is complete. If there are gaps along the fillet, apply more thickened epoxy to those areas and again draw the tool along the joint. If you’ve applied enough epoxy, your fillet will look smooth and uniform in one pass.

—From Jack’s Fast Filleting Tool by Tom Pawlak, Epoxyworks #10