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Thread: Epoxy Hasn't Set Up Yet

  1. #1
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    Epoxy Hasn't Set Up Yet

    So I mixed up some West Systems, 4 squirts, but ran out of the catalyst, probably only used three squirts or a little less.

    it's been 4 days of fairly hot weather here in San Diego and it's still tacky! Any solution for this? How about going back over it with some properly mixed epoxy?

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Wood View Post
    So I mixed up some West Systems, 4 squirts, but ran out of the catalyst, probably only used three squirts or a little less.

    it's been 4 days of fairly hot weather here in San Diego and it's still tacky! Any solution for this? How about going back over it with some properly mixed epoxy?
    Seems that stuff has to be mixed at perfect ratio at the right temp when the moon is full.
    I would apply it as you suggest. I don't see how it can hurt.

  3. #3
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    I just emailed them asking, we'll see what they say
    WoodsShop

  4. #4
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    I forgot to say I was using this epoxy as a thin coating over wood, like varnish.

    if it hasn't set up by now with these temperatures it never will, so he said to just remove it with denatured alcohol which I did, then recoated it.

    going over the tacky stuff with properly catalyzed mix wouldn't have kicked off the softer coat underneath.

    I didn't know epoxies and resins could be cut with D alcohol, thought it was only acetone, learned something new :-)
    WoodsShop

  5. #5
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    FYI
    With a polyester resin, the curing agent is a true catalyst and Joe would have gotten away with it. There is a ferry deck somewhere in the world that proves this (enough said lest I incriminate myself...). That's why with fibreglassing you can speed or slow the reaction by varying the rate of catalysis. Epoxy on the other hand needs the curing agent fully incorporated in the correct ratio to make it work. I can think of 2 sizeable structures where the epoxy coating was not fully incorporated. It dried with a crocodile skin pattern. Again, say no more. Cheers

  6. #6
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    JW--you learned a valuable lesson.
    "Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're doing."

  7. #7
    It likely would not have been effective on your partially cured coating, but vinegar works for cleaning up uncured material.

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Wood View Post
    I forgot to say I was using this epoxy as a thin coating over wood, like varnish.

    if it hasn't set up by now with these temperatures it never will, so he said to just remove it with denatured alcohol which I did, then recoated it.

    going over the tacky stuff with properly catalyzed mix wouldn't have kicked off the softer coat underneath.

    I didn't know epoxies and resins could be cut with D alcohol, thought it was only acetone, learned something new :-)
    I had no idea DNA would take that off either! The first real table I made for my kids ended up in the exact situation that you had. I hand carved their names into it and spent many hours getting everything just right and then decided to pour that epoxy as a top coat thinking it would be a durable shell for the kids to abuse and just like you I must have made the mix just a little off. After 3 days the top was still sticky and it never set up. I ended up reusing everything except the top and building a new one and using about 10 coats of water based polycrylic. It was certainly a learning experience but perhaps if I didn't have that wonderful male trait, you know the one about asking for directions/help maybe I would have called the company like you did

  9. #9
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    I've always assumed epoxy and resin were almost the same. Can you use DA to clean up resin also?
    WoodsShop

  10. #10
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    Yes, alcohol can clean epoxy resin and hardener, at least the ones I have used.

  11. #11
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    Acetone has long been my favorite solvent when working with epoxy.
    "Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're doing."

  12. #12
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    No I mean fiberglass resin, does DA cut that as well as epoxy resin??
    WoodsShop

  13. #13
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    For years, turners have used an "epoxy cocktail" to harden punky wood. They mix epoxy as directed and then thin it with denatured alcohol.
    Ken

    So much to learn, so little time.....

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Wood View Post
    No I mean fiberglass resin, does DA cut that as well as epoxy resin??

    we used MethelEthelKetone and Acetone with polyester resin in a factory that built all manner of things out of fiberglass ex: hoods for Caterpillar machinery and tractors and MRI machine covers.

  15. #15
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    Common fibreglass resin is polyester and as Adam says, cleans up with acetone or MEK. With all resins, they have a solvent that works best. Look up the tech data sheet for the product and it will tell you. Not all epoxies are the same as far as solvent is concerned. Many thin with one solvent and clean up with another. This is why there are mixed messages out there as to what does or doesn't work. ALWAYS read the manufacturer's tech data sheet for the product you are using. They are readily available on line. Cheers

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