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Working With Epoxy - Part 1 of 3

Often messy and sometimes complicated, time. You can even get extra-slow
working with epoxy can be one of the most hardeners so you can work with epoxy in
difficult parts of bringing your boat temperatures as high as 110 F (43°C). In
plans into reality. Especially for cooler conditions, use a faster hardener
beginners, learning a few basics of or a heat lamp to speed up curing. NOTE:
working with epoxy can help avoid many If you use a heat source, do so
struggles and mistakes. In the first of carefully, as too much heat can melt the
this three-part series, we'll discuss epoxy causing it to run or in the worst
cautions you need to be aware of, as well case spontaneously combust.
as the three stages of epoxy. In part From the time epoxy is mixed until it
two, we'll cover epoxy techniques and in hardens fast, epoxy goes through three
part three we'll do some epoxy stages.
troubleshooting.
Take Caution 1. Liquid (Open Time) - During the open
The first rule of working the epoxy is to time (also called working time), epoxy is
avoid skin contact with uncured material. suitable for application. All assembly
If you've ever seen hardened epoxy, you should take place during the liquid phase
can just imagine how dangerous this to achieve the strongest bond.
substance can be if it touches and/or 2. Gel - As the epoxy begins to cure (the
hardens on your skin. This hazard is "green phase" or "cure phase") it becomes
greatly reduced as the epoxy cures, but no longer pliable. If the epoxy is still
is still present when sanding partially tacky, you can still bond additional
cured epoxy. Wear protective gloves, epoxy to it. At this phase dry sanding
clothing and glasses. Never use solvents is not possible.
to remove epoxy from your skin. You'll
want to have on hand a special 3. Solid - During the final cure phase,
resin-removing cream for this purpose. the epoxy becomes a hard solid. It can
Always use ample ventilation when working now be dry sanded and shaped.
with epoxy. You don't want to breathe The process can go quickly depending on
vapors or sanding dust. temperature and other factors, so you'll
One trick is to use sand or clay cat want to have everything you need readily
litter to absorb spilled epoxy. However, available. It is also wise to have
take note to never use sawdust or similar conducted a test run or to have mentally
materials for spills as spontaneous reviewed the process you'll follow before
combustion can occur. Also, according to beginning to mix your epoxy. This is
West Systems, manufacturers of epoxy especially true for first-time users.
products, "Large volumes of curing epoxy It is advisable to have the following
can become hot enough to ignite available:
surrounding combustible materials and - Protective gloves, clothing and glasses
produce hazardous fumes. Place containers - Epoxy (Resin)
of mixed epoxy in a safe and ventilated - Hardener
area away from workers and combustible - Fillers (Thickeners)
materials. Dispose of the solid mass when - Plastic or metal cups or containers (do
the cure is complete and the mass has not use paper or Styrofoam)
cooled." - Wooden or plastic spoons or spatulas
Three Stages of Epoxy Understanding the basics always helps to
Hardener cure speed, epoxy temperature ensure a smoother start to any project
and the volume of epoxy mixed will all involving boat plans. Practice with scrap
contribute to the overall open time (time materials until you are confident in your
available for mixing, applying, smoothing ability to carefully and quickly work
and shaping) and cure time. In warmer with epoxy. When you're ready, you can
conditions, use a slower hardener mixed move forward in developing proper epoxy
in smaller batches to increase your open techniques.




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