Rubbermaid Water Trough repair

Arctic Cielo · Postby **Arctic Cielo** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:13 am

I have a few of those grey rubbermaid water troughs that have wholes burned through them from a heater. Is there any horse safe way to patch these?
Thanks

cewright · Postby **cewright** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:33 am

I have repaired my trough with marine epoxy resin inbedded with woven fiberglass mat. You can buy this at most boat stores or online from West Marine. Once the resin is cured it is safe for horses. Try to avoid the polyester resin because it is a little less durable in water.

I'm concerned that the heater melted the trough. This sounds like a MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. Please be sure your heaters have high temp shut offs and they are working. Not much can ruin my day quicker than reading about the loss of a barn full of horses. (BTW, I have my neighbor, a professional firefighter, inspect my barn yearly.)

Regards

Chuck

Arctic Cielo · Postby **Arctic Cielo** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:52 am

thanks for the reply Chuck it helps a bunch.

I didn't burn the hole through them. From what I understand the heater didn't have the metal guard around it to prevent this. I either use the heaters that go in the plug, or the ones with the guard. The troughs were free, so I took them in hopes of being able to repair them.

Thanks again
KC

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:29 am

I was a liveaboard sailor for ten years... so here are my two cents regarding your repair. I would use TWO layers. This would only work for SMALL holes; large ones you would need to have something like a scrap piece of formica to cut to fit the hole and then just use the fiberglass to join it.

1. You will want to finely sand the area around the hole to roughen - a fine 250 grit would do. Put a good solid board underneath the hole. Wipe where you sanded down with acetone.

2. Cut the fiberglass cloth to exactly fit the hole plus 1 inch all the way around. Patch on the inside. Mix your epoxy. Soak the fiberglass cloth. Work FAST. Once this starts to heat up it is going to set in less than a minute. Paint around the hole, spread out the patch and coat with another layer of resin. Let it set and harden.

Repeat #2 entirely, also putting a coat of epoxy between the layers of cloth, and cutting the next cloth on a different grain (turn the cloth).

DO NOT stir the epoxy too much, bubbles will affect the integrity of the result.

Arctic Cielo · Postby **Arctic Cielo** » Thu May 31, 2007 12:26 pm

thanks Madelyn. I don't like the "work FAST" statement. Sounds like I will be getting some fingers stuck to a water trough :lol:

I am NOT good at these kind of things. Super Glue is my enemy. :twisted:

Thanks!

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:09 pm

Well acetone WILL clean residue , just don't leave it on your skin for long. It is very doable, just be bright and fresh (not a late night project) I have done a lot of fiberglass patches. Also, don't inhale the fumes if you can avoid them.

I did a lot of patching on my boat. Damn whales.