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At the August 2014 Port Townsend Scamp Camp, we used a fillet mix that was purple and combined colloidal silica with filler mix and another ingredient.

Does anyone remember the mixture?
If not, I'll just mix up my own.

1 part 404
2 parts 406
2 parts 407

Put the three ingredients in a container with a tight lid, throw in a couple of bolts or metal parts and shake the ingredients together. The metal parts work as a sort of mixer. I use a covered plastic juice type pitcher, easy to store the mix and easy to pour.
Hope this helps.

Does anybody have any photographs or a video of this technique?

Thanks.

Regards, Mike

Here you are. The three WEST System fillers and the mix pitcher. I keep a batch mixed up that lasts through big jobs. Having pre mix ready is always handy for small jobs.

There are other fillet mixes based on other epoxy brands that work just fine. Sorry I don't know much about these as I have used some only a few times. For my boats I only use WEST epoxy and fillers.

Throw a couple of metal parts in the pitcher after you have added the ingredients, tape tightly around the top and shake the container for about a minute. When done remove the tape and you can pour from the spout as needed.

Be sure to wear a respirator during this process and any time when using epoxy/fillers.

Thank you for the reply, Howard. I am using West System expoxy and products. I'm used to the idea of mixing up Expoxy and Hardener, then adding the silica until it's the peanut butter thickness . After that, it's a race to get it onto the joint as a fillet before it goes hard. With this technique, is the fillet mix going to go off in the jug?

Sounds like another good reason for going on Scamp Camp to pick up help like this! I envy the people who did go!

Mike -

As you have probably found out, a fillet mixture of just epoxy and colloidal silica is incredibly strong and very difficult to sand. The mixture Howard posted results in a very strong fillet that resists sagging and yet is easier to sand smooth.

Just thoroughly mix up the epoxy and hardener in the correct proportions as you are used to, then add in the mixture of dry ingredients (from the fillet mix container), a tablespoon or so at a time, until you get the right consistency; maybe not quite as thick as peanut butter, but close. If it is too loose, the fillet will sag; too stiff and it won't flow smoothly.

Keep track of the ratio of "epoxy pumps" to spoons of the powder mix and use that as a reference for future fillet mix-ups

Ok. So this 'fillet mix' is just the 'stiffeners' to add to the expoxy and hardener. I get it now. Thanks, Simeonii.

I have found not to mix too big of a batch at one time. I use plastic water glasses( the short ones ) I used pumps for measuring the resin and hardener. At times to make just a small batch I put a piece of plastic tube on the pump so I could only press it down half way. I put one on both the resin and hardener pump. I cut the plastic tube length wise so it could be put on and taken off quickly.

I used Popsicle sticks for stirring and fillets. Tongue depressors work for larger fillets. One article I read the author used different size round balls on sticks for his fillets. I didn't try that but it made sense. He got the balls in a toy store.

I used a lot of blue tape on each side of the fillets for nice clean lines. Use alcohol on your glove finger too smooth any rough spots before the fillets get too hard. Your finger also works best in corners.

Once you get your feet wet you will like the water. Good luck