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Woodworking Tip From Shopsmith

Retarding Epoxy Set-Up Time

To extend the amount of time required for 2-part epoxies to set-up -- and give you more “open” time for mixing and application -- mix the parts in the concave bottom of an inverted soda pop can that's still full and fresh out of the refrigerator. The cool temperature of the can will slow down set-up time without affecting adhesion.

Do you think a cold brewski can would work too??

ERLover wrote:Woodworking Tip From Shopsmith

Retarding Epoxy Set-Up Time

To extend the amount of time required for 2-part epoxies to set-up -- and give you more “open” time for mixing and application -- mix the parts in the concave bottom of an inverted soda pop can that's still full and fresh out of the refrigerator. The cool temperature of the can will slow down set-up time without affecting adhesion.

Do you think a cold brewski can would work too??

Yeh, but don't set the can down on the table too long after you use the epoxy or you may have to drink the beer through a straw.

@John B> Yeh, but don't set the can down on the table too long after you use the epoxy or you may have to drink the beer through a straw.
Ya good point and I think Skio would agree, John I am nor a big drinker, and wine with a meal is it, a cold one once in a while, I take it you are pure, may I ask if you are a Mormon, just because in Utah? And non of my business, just curious.
OBTW, always looking for a mixing thing for epoxy, but dont drink soda, and after reading a study in the 80s about the link between aluminum concentrations in the brain of Alzheimer patients, body does not dissipate it, and a higher rate of Alzheimer in canned and aluminum cook ware users, I threw away all aluminum cook ware, and I dont drink much soda or beer, but when, it is out of a bottle.

ERLover wrote:Woodworking Tip From Shopsmith

Retarding Epoxy Set-Up Time

To extend the amount of time required for 2-part epoxies to set-up -- and give you more “open” time for mixing and application -- mix the parts in the concave bottom of an inverted soda pop can that's still full and fresh out of the refrigerator. The cool temperature of the can will slow down set-up time without affecting adhesion.

Do you think a cold brewski can would work too??

OMG!!!

Our beloved host has regrettably failed to adopt the linguistic sensitivity that society demands in this day and age. To wit, one should never "retard" the curing of epoxy. Proper protocol is to "temporally challenge" it, lest it become stigmatized by that inappropriate synonym, and thus fail to cure to it's full potential.

Interesting idea of mixing epoxy and keep it cool to extend the time to set up. I wonder how well that works.

I wonder because I have used 5 minute epoxy in my shop when the temperatures are near 40 and it seem to work like always. Now I think that would be about the temperature of a pop can that has been refrigerated. Now if it 6 minutes I guess I wouldn't notice but I think I would if it took 10 minutes.

I think this might work better on longer set time epoxy but the 1 minute or 5 minute might not make much of a difference.

Has anyone, that is you, seen a table on how much longer or I assume shorter time is when heating or cooling epoxy?

Ed

Rielble, I use the 5 minute stuff too, what I noticed is I use the twin tube/syringe type, if I dont get the mix just right it affects cure time, one way or the other. Epoxy is a chemical cure, but maybe temp affects it.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:[

OMG!!!

Our beloved host has regrettably failed to adopt the linguistic sensitivity that society demands in this day and age. To wit, one should never "retard" the curing of epoxy. Proper protocol is to "temporally challenge" it, lest it become stigmatized by that inappropriate synonym, and thus fail to cure to it's full potential.

Thanks Dennis!
Finally explains why the engine on my old 76 Datsun (Nissan to you youngsters) has stopped running very well. The manual said I should "retard" the timing.. I did and now it doesn't run as well! When the snow melts, I'll go back and change it back!!

Be well,
Ben

ERLover wrote:@John B> Yeh, but don't set the can down on the table too long after you use the epoxy or you may have to drink the beer through a straw.
Ya good point and I think Skio would agree, John I am nor a big drinker, and wine with a meal is it, a cold one once in a while, I take it you are pure, may I ask if you are a Mormon, just because in Utah? And non of my business, just curious.
OBTW, always looking for a mixing thing for epoxy, but dont drink soda, and after reading a study in the 80s about the link between aluminum concentrations in the brain of Alzheimer patients, body does not dissipate it, and a higher rate of Alzheimer in canned and aluminum cook ware users, I threw away all aluminum cook ware, and I dont drink much soda or beer, but when, it is out of a bottle.

A few things;

Aluminum cans are coated on the inside, so as to be non reactive with acids. Beer IS acidic.
do NOT ask me how I know, on account of "the rest of the story."

I used to be a home, and professional brewer.

Now, the "the rest of the story" info. Don't know if John is, even though I did ask, long ago.
But, (if the last name Skouson, {Skousen, another spelling for the same family surname} isn't
a hint) I am. Or, raised that way.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Cleon_Skousen
My father's cousin.

Oh, it seems that Cleon's views also have hit the national stage.

Scroll down.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carso ... on_Skousen

Yes, I'm voting for the "black guy" this time around. At least, he can pronounce my
last name!

steve

There is absolutely no doubt that raising or lowering temperature (either ambient or of the epoxy itself) has a direct impact on the viscosity and cure times of epoxy.

The literature that comes with West System epoxies makes this correlation explicit. The higher the temperature, the thinner and runnier the epoxy and the faster it will set up and cures. Cooler temperatures make for thicker and slower curing epoxy.

When working with epoxy in large quantities on the Slow Boat to Nowhere, I would raise temperature of the sun room in order to get the epoxy thin in order to more efficiently wet out the fiberglass cloth.

ERLover wrote:@John B> Yeh, but don't set the can down on the table too long after you use the epoxy or you may have to drink the beer through a straw.
Ya good point and I think Skio would agree, John I am nor a big drinker, and wine with a meal is it, a cold one once in a while, I take it you are pure, may I ask if you are a Mormon, just because in Utah? And non of my business, just curious.
OBTW, always looking for a mixing thing for epoxy, but dont drink soda, and after reading a study in the 80s about the link between aluminum concentrations in the brain of Alzheimer patients, body does not dissipate it, and a higher rate of Alzheimer in canned and aluminum cook ware users, I threw away all aluminum cook ware, and I dont drink much soda or beer, but when, it is out of a bottle.

No I am not Mormon. I got stationed here at Hill, AFB in 1984 when I was active duty and was here in 1996 when I retired. I stayed because it is a nice place to live.