Fiberglass repair and temperature

[lvl]

I was planing on replaceing the transom on my boat this winter.I live in Massachusettes and it gets pretty cold in the winter.

I have a barn on a farm I can use but will it be to cold?

How long will I need to heat the barn in relation to the end of fiberglassing?

How warm should it be?

Is 60 to cold?

Thanks
Bryan

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

60 is OK.

The easiest thing to do is get some heat lamps and use them to keep the laminate warm so it will cure correctly. You need to keep them back from the laminate though, or it can cook it.

 

[lvl]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

Hmm heat lights good idea. How long would I need to leave them on before the new glass is fully dry and be left in close to freezing temps?

 

[RICHARD5]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

70F and 24 hours is my answer for everything. 70 is a better cure. 60 is marginal and something like a change in humidity could change that. Whatever it takes to keep it warm.

Pre-warming the resin and materials is a good idea.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

I did my boat outside last winter in Boston, I used halogens as heat lamps.
Covering the boat with a tarp held the heat in.
There are warm days even in mid winter.


I poured a composite transom in 50 degs F weather just after ice out and left the lamps on it for a couple of hrs.

 

[83vert]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

I just came in from the garage after my first coat of resin on the new transom and its about 60 degrees in there now, I hope it cures good over night . Trying to get it sealed up so I can install it in the boat on Saturday.

 

[Robert D]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

Epoxy or polyester? I would go with epoxy in the colder weather...

 

[lvl]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

I was going to go with polyester just for cost reasons. If the epoxy will be better in the cold maybe I should consider that.

Thanks
Bryan

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

Neither product is recommended for use at temps below 60F, while both will get hard at lower temps, the physical properties are much lower when they do.

Just use a couple of lights and you won't have any problems.

 

[scott11]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

I also plan on doing my transom, stringers, and deck this winter. Im thinking of buying a small cover all and using a couple propane heaters inside to keep the temperature up. I dont know yet if the tarp will hold the heat good enough to get it up to 60F so if not i might have to invest in a couple heat lamps.

 

[lvl]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

I think I'm gonna scrap the plan for the barn bcuz its just to big. My buddy has a garage I think I'm gonna use it is barley wide enough but more than deep enough. I think with some heat lamps and some plastic tarps it will work as long as its not like 0 out I'll be ok.

Well if it needs to 60 for both I think I'll be going with polyester for cost and health reasons. I heard the epoxy is some nasty stuff.

Thanks
Bryan

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

It has to be between 60 and 80 degrees. If it's lower, It will take forever to cure if it cures at. It also depends how many layers you want to do. If you want multiple layers, you have to let it get it dry and sticky before you apply the next layer. If it dries completely, you might have to sand it and prep it all over again. What this means is that if it's below 60, it will be hard to estimate the curing time.

 

[lvl]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

OK so does it need to get to that sticky state before I add another layer or can I just keep adding while its wet? I need to get a book on the basics of fiberglassing. Any recomendations?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

You can apply multiple layers at one time, normally 2 or 3 layers can is no problem, but it also depends on the glass being used. The thicker (heavier) the glass being used, the fewer layers at one time. Two 1708 layers isn't normally a problem, but three could be in hot weather.

 

[andgott]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

Well if it needs to 60 for both I think I'll be going with polyester for cost and health reasons. I heard the epoxy is some nasty stuff.

Whoever told you that Epoxy is nasty must have never worked with Polyester!!

While neither is 'healthy', Polyester is some Particularly nasty stuff to work with. Epoxies generally have a MUCH lower VOC content. Read the MSDS for most of the 'stuff' you are working with- Polys, and ESPECIALLY the catalysts used with polys, should only be used with proper respiratory protection, at the VERY least great ventilation. That is some TRULY nasty stuff there.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

Whoever told you that Epoxy is nasty must have never worked with Polyester!!

While neither is 'healthy', Polyester is some Particularly nasty stuff to work with. Epoxies generally have a MUCH lower VOC content. Read the MSDS for most of the 'stuff' you are working with- Polys, and ESPECIALLY the catalysts used with polys, should only be used with proper respiratory protection, at the VERY least great ventilation. That is some TRULY nasty stuff there.

I'm not sure where you get your information, but you should rethink your position.

While polyester can have a very strong odor, epoxy can be down right toxic with severe reactions to even incidental contact. Once you?ve become sensitized to epoxy there?s no return, you can have serious health problems from just being in the same room.

In the thousands of people I?ve met that work with polyesters I don?t know anyone with health issues related to contact with it, but even on this website there are people who have recently become sensitized to epoxy.

 

[andgott]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

I get my information from the MSDS sheets published, as required by law, By the manufacturers of the resins and catalysts.

This is not my position- It is fact. Look at the MSDS for MEKP.

That 'very strong odor' and the often accompanying feeling of euphoria isn't a good thing... Anyone who's ever been to (or even NEAR) a fiberglass boat factory or repair yard knows what I am talking about. The fumes can be overwhelming. Some have told me that you get used to it- I suppose you might get to where it doesn't bother you as much, but it's still doing damage.

Yes, Epoxies can cause sensitivity issues with contact, but all skin contact should be avoided as much as possible with polys and epoxies. Really, none of this stuff that we are working with is 'good' for us, and should be kept off us as much as possible.

I did not mean to suggest in any way that Epoxy was safe- You still need to use adequate PPE and safe work practices. It is just not as nasty as any of the 'esters, unless, of course, you develop a sensitivity to it.

I work in the chemical industry- On the shipping side of things- And deal with some pretty nasty stuff on a daily basis, and I am pretty well versed in how to protect yourself from exposure. I also see a LOT of people, on here and elsewhere, that are all too lapse and take far fewer precautions than they should when dealing with resins and other 'nasties'. Remember, a LOT of this stuff can kill you- If not instantly, then it'll certainly be shaving years off the end....

-Andrew

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

If you read MSDS's you will get the impression that virtually everything is toxic and should be avoided?and in a way they should be.

Since I've worked in the composites industry for about 40 years, I do have some experience with these products and right now I work for a company that manufactures polyesters.

Styrene odor, which is much of the "smell" that people complain about, is something you should limit your contact with, but it can be detected by your nose at very low concentrations. It can easily be detected at levels far below what's allowed in the workplace and these levels are based on what a person can be in contact with on a daily basis. So just because you can smell it, doesn't mean you're being exposed to harmful levels.

Styrene (polyesters), unlike other chemicals in the coatings industry don't have the problem of people becoming sensitized and then having serious health complications from brief or incidental contact at a later date like some types of paints and epoxies do.

As I said before, in 40+ years I?ve never met anyone that has had health related issues from polyesters and that covers thousands of people (there must be some people out there though). Yet I know many people that have problems related to paints and epoxy. So when someone puts polyesters in the same or worse class than some epoxies I feel it can be very misleading.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

I've burnt my throat with poly, like any of those bleachy things it goes away but epoxy goes to the liver and stays there.

Cumulative epoxy exposure will start to show up like poison ivy on the hands , thats what I saw yrs ago, maybe it has other symptoms too.
The guy who got it said he later tried to brush painted a lawnmower with epoxy paint and he still reacted, I guess fumes get him too. Weird stuff.

 

[lvl]

Re: Fiberglass repair and temperature

Well I do plan on taking all necesary precautions no matter what I work with. But man you guys are freaking me out!!!.....lol