Fiberglass resin shelf life

[09TNRT]

I've read numerous posts about resin and hardner having a limited shelf life. My question to those who know is, would it be ok for me to buy all my materials for a restore that will take place this winter now while I have the extra money? I figure it would be 3-4 months before it started to get used. It will be kept inside in the cool. I would just like to buy everything I'm going to need now while I've got some squirreled away the admiral doesnt know about. We all know she would find a "better" use for it.

 

[jbcurt00]

No good answer to that, other then, maybe..... how old is the resin when you buy it?

1 of the reasons most recommend not buying resin at auto parts places or wally world. They dont sell a lot of it, so it may be 3+mo old already...

Polyester or epoxy?

Often the catalyst looses effectiveness 1st

 

[09TNRT]

Oops, my bad. It'll be polyester and I'll be getting it from a fiberglass distributor here in Memphis.

 

[09TNRT]

I'm hoping I can buy EVERYTHING now, if not I may have to hold off on the resin if it's a definite no no. I can go ahead and buy my wood, fabrics, foam, paint, and all the misc pieces I'll need. I'm currently doing a lot of side jobs so I can easily justify where it all came from lol.

 

[fhhuber]

I've seen well stored resin that was still useful 5 years after labeled use by date...
(I was arranging disposal of waste materials in the Navy and our shop made some cosmetic repairs to equipment with this stuff. I wouldn't have trusted it to a boat hull)

I've seen poorly stored resin that was a rubbery solid mass with lots of time left before expiration.

Both unopened, sealed containers.

 

[09TNRT]

They will be stored inside my house which stays between 69-72 depending on the season. I wouldn't even think of storing something like that in my shed here in Memphis were its currently 95 with a heat index of 104 along with what feels like 10,000% humidity lol.

 

[gm280]

They will be stored inside my house which stays between 69-72 depending on the season. I wouldn't even think of storing something like that in my shed here in Memphis were its currently 95 with a heat index of 104 along with what feels like 10,000% humidity lol.

The first thing I will tell you is DON'T store it in the house! I don't care if it is hermetically sealed, it will smell the house up so bad, you will wish you never seen polyester resin ever. I know, I thought the same thing using a back room totally on the other side of the house. But the stink permeated the house in less then one day. It had to go out in the shop.

As for shelf life. That is as iffy as the question; how do you know when sour cream is spoiled? Polyester does have a limited self life. But determining that time is very questionable at best. I has some go bad way quicker then others. I will say others had problems with the MEKP going bad. I never ever experience that with MEKP.

If you are worried that you will spend the fund before the winter, you could pre-order your polyester and tell them you will pay for it now and then request shipment closer to the time you want to start using it. I believe that could be set up. JMHO

 

[09TNRT]

Sounds like you tried the exact same thing I was going to. I'll talk to the supply house and see what they say about me paying in advance. I wouldn't think it would be an issue, money is money.

 

[Woodonglass]

A general rule for shelf life of Poly is 90-180 days depending on temps, etc.. Distributors by resin from the MFG and then sell it under their name. From the time it leaves the factory and then goes to the Distributor and then to you can't really ever know what its age is.

 

[09TNRT]

I think I'm going to but everything minus the resin and just buy it when I'm ready for it. Id rather not take the chance on it going bad.