Epoxy Resin Boo-Boo

[JasonB]

I'm betting someone has done this before. In my haste to get some epoxy down (brushing on bare wood to protect it), I had a brain lapse ond only poured in 1/2 the hardener needed. Will it ever harden?

 

[lark2004]

Re: Epoxy Resin Boo-Boo

it depends, some resins are forgiving enough to cure, even if you stuff up the ratio, some aren't.<br /><br />I had some once that if not measured out exactly, would not cure. I don't get that one anymore.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Epoxy Resin Boo-Boo

You need help now. Post what brand and type or part # you used. How much you you made up. And over what parts of the boat it was spread. How long has it sat there? I would call the manufacturer NOW and ask them for options of getting it off. And cleaning the wood pores, or grain out as much as possible. They should know the best way. Post back on what you find out. We all do things like that. -----That is almost how I got a larger motor in lawn mower. BSing with a friend during a oil change.

 

[Eggkr8]

Re: Epoxy Resin Boo-Boo

Hi Jason,<br /><br />It's a tough call. The way the chemistry works is that the hardener is part of a chemical reaction. If you were to mix hardener and resin in a chemically balanced ratio, then it will eventually cure. Adding more hardener speeds up the reaction by having a surplus amount of hardener to have more chances of a molecular reaction (speed comes from this reaction happening all over the place). <br /><br />I would say to call the supplier and ask<br /><br />FYI, just yesterday I installed my woven roving on my new floor. Instead of mixing a 1/2 ounce hardener to 1/2 gall of resin. I mixed like 3/8ths ounce to 5/8ths gallon. The remainder in the bucket hardened nicely over night, but my floor is still a little tacky this morning. I wanted it to be a cold reaction in order to penetrate the wood better, but maybe I went a little too slow

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Epoxy Resin Boo-Boo

Epoxy resin to hardener ratios are not very forgiving. More or less than the required amount of hardener will be a problem. There is a little room for error, but I'm sure that using only 1/2 the required amount of hardener is outside the acceptable range. <br /><br />My bet is that it will never harden. Scrape off what you can and then use acetone to remove as much as possible. Then try it again.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Epoxy Resin Boo-Boo

The resin in Q is teh 3:1 medium Epoxy from US Composites. I have sent them an e-mail.<br /><br />The mix was spread on the inside floor of the wood boat I am building (11' skiff). I was hoping to leave the floor clear to let the wood show, but worst case, I can paint it. The resin gelled a bit overnight, but still reminds me of oil soaking into the ood. If I don't hear from the mfgy, I'll probably wipe the excess out and put a fresh batch down. We're talking about 16-20oz of mix used as the initial laminating coat.<br /><br /><br />Ahhh..... Poly is so much more forgiving......

 

[crab bait]

Re: Epoxy Resin Boo-Boo

i doubt if'n it will ever harden..<br /><br /><br />the BEST/SAFEST/EASIST way to remove un-cured epoxy is regular white/clear vinegar.. hands-down..

 

[Realgun]

Re: Epoxy Resin Boo-Boo

I was hoping to leave the floor clear to let the wood show, but worst case, I can paint it.

You cannot leave the epoxy open like that the UV rays from the sun will destroy it. If the epoxy hardened in the bucket it will harden on the wood eventuallly. Give it some heat.

 

[BillP]

Re: Epoxy Resin Boo-Boo

It may get tack free in time but it will never get to full hardness. Like already posted, epoxy isn't forgiving like poly.