cooler weather epoxy catalyst

[rebars1]

I missed getting the transom installed by one day before our first rain and temperature drop here. I'm using the West System 105 epoxy resin with the 206 hardener because the temps were in the high 70's-80's when I bought it. With projected temps in the 65 degree range for this weekend, should I switch to the 205 hardener, which will go off quicker, or will the 206 be OK, but take longer to go off?

 

[crab bait]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

those bitter cold days in santa 'B' are a killer.. feel sorry for you.. .. <br /><br />really ,, how bad can it be..<br /><br />put both parts in WARM not hot water untill use.. hot will set-up tooo fast..

 

[Rudderman]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

After you mix it, you can leave it in the mixing container for longer than usual, this gives the epoxy a chance to get the chemical reaction off to a good start. After you have it mixed, go over the area you want to glue with a heat gun. 65 degrees is about our average summer temperature in Ireland, I've always used the 205 hardener from 77 degrees down to 36 degrees with no problems.

 

[prockvoan]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

You should be fine.You can put some heat lamps or 150 watt spot lights on after you do your glass job.<br />If you can,face the boat in the sun before you glass,store your glass inside at room temp for a day are too.

 

[BillP]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

Be aware that when you heat epoxy it will thin out and run easier. On vertical surfaces it may run down and puddle. On horizontal surfaces it may soak into the wood and give a dry (weak) layup. Just watch and be ready for it.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

Originally posted by BillP:<br /> Be aware that when you heat epoxy it will thin out and run easier. On vertical surfaces it may run down and puddle. On horizontal surfaces it may soak into the wood and give a dry (weak) layup. Just watch and be ready for it.

That is, unless you have pre-treated with CPES. The stuff not only penetrates farther for better protection, it reduces absorbtion of epoxy and creates a better bond.<br /><br />Another good way to deal with the cool temps is to leave your piece in a small enclosed area and use a little space heater. Even a tarp braced over it, with a heater inside the enclosed space.

 

[rebars1]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

crab bait: Yeah, it's pretty rough. Had to put on the long-sleeved Hawaiian shirt for work today.<br /><br />Thanks all for the input. I just was not sure how sensitive the epxoy resins/ catalyst type combinations were.<br /><br />What is CPES?

 

[Rudderman]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer.<br /><br />Its basically a very thin epoxy that can soak into the wood better.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

You can also warm the resin and hardener before mixing to speed up the cure. I wouldn't get carried away, just bring it in out of the cold and warm it up to say 85-90 degrees in warm water in the sink or something.

 

[BillP]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

Originally posted by Boomyal:<br />

Originally posted by BillP:<br /> Be aware that when you heat epoxy it will thin out and run easier. On vertical surfaces it may run down and puddle. On horizontal surfaces it may soak into the wood and give a dry (weak) layup. Just watch and be ready for it.

That is, unless you have pre-treated with CPES. The stuff not only penetrates farther for better protection, it reduces absorbtion of epoxy and creates a better bond.<br /><br />Another good way to deal with the cool temps is to leave your piece in a small enclosed area and use a little space heater. Even a tarp braced over it, with a heater inside the enclosed space.

Pretreating with any resin prevents absorbtion but you still have to watch for run off when heating epoxy. <br /><br />The advertising of CEPS is highly optimistic for penetration depth. Do some cut tests on sample pieces you use it on and see how far it really penetrates. Use good dry wood. Don't believe me or debate it, just do the samples.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

I don’t think he idea is to totally embalm the wood as much as it is to encase it. CPES does really well for that. I was recently told CPES will not penetrate much past the first layer of plywood due to the laminating glue inside the wood being a barrier, but it does ok on the sides. Doesn’t matter…it will still encase the wood and create a better bonding surface for laminating epoxy that Boomyal mentions.<br /><br />Rebars1 – here’s the web site for the stuff: http://www.rotdoctor.com And, fwiw, I won’t trade you places because you have Michael Jackson in your backyard. <br /><br />BillP – the wood used in those pictures for testing the penetration of CPES is balsa, highly absorbent, and I’m presuming it was done under ideal conditions. Somewhere I saw a chart of CPES penetration depth for different kinds of woods with whatever % of moisture is appropriate for newly purchased wood, not totally dried out stuff. The denser the wood, the significantly less penetration there was.

 

[Realgun]

Re: cooler weather epoxy catalyst

I saw a chart once where thy had blocks of pine that were weighed to the gram. They coated 1 block with cpes 1 with poly 1 and 2 coats and then with a 2 part 2:1 mix of epoxy 1 and 2 coats. They found that the cpes and poly absorbed water and so did the 1 coat of epoxy. The 2 coat absorbed about half the amount of any other block. I wish I could find that website but cannot. I for 1 am just using two coats of epoxy.