Thats likely. My garage has been in the 50s.
> 2. you didn't mix the hardener in thoroughly,
possible...
> 3. you didn't use the right amount of hardener,
possible, though I did measure into a cup designed for that purpose
> 4. the epoxy was contaminated (wax usually),
unlikely - used very clean tools and cups.
> 5. you tried to put a second coat over a fully-cured first coat without
> washing off the "amine blush" residue and sanding first.
nope, I was applying over bare wood.
> If it doesn't harden within a day using the heat lamp, you've got
> a bad batch
> of epoxy or the surface you coated was contaminated. I've never
> used Gluvit,
> but I have used West System extensively. A thicker layer cures
> faster than a
> thin layer because the polymerizing reaction gives off heat (exothermic),
> which speeds up the cure time. A thick layer gives off more
> heat. So your
> thick layer should have cured faster, all things being equal
> (like ambient
> temperature)
Thats what I thought too.
> >From your brief description, I'm not sure what went wrong, but maybe you
> didn't use enough hardener or mix it well enough. With epxoy
> resin, you have
> to mix the hardener in very, very thoroughly. It doesn't
> disperse by itself,
> like polyester resin.
Very possible. I'm hoping some more time with the heat will do the trick.
I'd hate to go buy yet another $35 piece of wood and take 90 minutes to get
to the marine wood place and back. Plus I'm liking the way the grain on the
upper piece flows into the grain on the lower piece and I was careful to get
a perfect joint between the two. Argh I hope this cures.
> I use tongue depressors for mixing sticks. I cut off the rounded
> edge to a
> square edge to get in the corners at the bottom of the container (use an
> unwaxed paper cup, polyethelene or tin can, please) and I scrape
> the sides
> very carefully while I'm mixiing. I never use the last drop left in the
> mixing pot, because it might contain uncatalyzed resin.
Do you still not want to marry me? :) If only I could get my wife to do ANY
of the maintenance on our boat I'd be in heaven. :) Your husband is a lucky
man :)
<snip>
> Also, epoxy requires that you get the proportions of the hardener:resin
> exact. Not like polyester.. That's why I switched to West
> System and I use
> their measuring pumps right on the can for small batches (under 8 oz). I
> haven't had a bad batch since I switched to West System.
I should use that. I really really hate that most products say "add this can
of hardener to that can of resin" - which is fine when I think I can use up
a quart of $30 resin in one fell swoop, but for small batches its
hit-and-miss. Even marine-tex is a pain in that respect - gotta mix a hard
putty with a liquid hardener in a 4:1 ratio. I'd never had marine-tex fail
to cure though.
> To remove the sticky epoxy- Try acetone first. Try heating to
> soften it and
> scraping with a putty knife. Sand. Wash with soap and water to
> remove the
> amine blush. Then start over with a new batch epoxy.
man, I hope I don't have to go through that... I think I'd start with a
fresh piece of wood before I went through all that.
> Hope this helps you sort out what went wrong.
it scares the heck out of me. I was hoping you'd tell me about some magic
viagra product for epoxy I can spray on and have it cure fast :)
I'm going up to the san juans (not by boat though) for the next few days for
my wedding anniversary so I'll see if it has cured by the time I get back.
The weather should be good, so hopefully the ambient temperatures will be
higher and the humidity lower and this stuff will cure.