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