Date: 12/31/2002, 12:28 pm
This topic is not covered in materials from boatbuilding epoxy formulators, but Sika (the world's largest mfr. of epoxy) says that using this method reduces the strength of the material by as much as 30%. So if your epoxy has lab compressive strength of 12,000 psi, this method may only reach 8,400. The number is still very impressive, and the safety margins built into stripbuilding are high enough that you should be OK. A hard freeze will stop the epoxy reaction temprorarily, but upon warming the reaction will continue. The reaction itself generates heat, which accelerates the rate of cure.
It is easy to heat the boat, even in a cold shop. Two or three 100-watt light bulbs generate enough heat that if you arrange them under the hull, the epoxy will cure out even in freezing temps. Some folks go a step farther and build a tent or plastic enclosure around the project.
: Greetings: Been reading through the archives, but have never seen an epoxy
: question posed quite like this as yet (unless I missed it): Will it work
: to apply epoxy in the cold outdoors, then bring the workpiece into the
: warm indoors to cure? Outdoor temps currently in the 40's...
: I am thinking it will be easiest to apply epoxy outdoors where there's plenty
: of room to work and drip, etc., then bring 'er indoors where the temps are
: more conducive to a timely cure, and the space requirement relatively
: small since I won't need to access it other than to set it down and pick
: it up. Maybe also extend my working time?
: Cheers,
: Kurt
Messages In This Thread
- Epoxy: Glue in the Great Outdoors *LINK*
Kurt Maurer -- 12/31/2002, 11:47 am- Re: Epoxy: Glue in the Great Outdoors
Mike Scarborough -- 12/31/2002, 5:02 pm- Warm to cool is better than cool to warm
Rick Allnutt -- 12/31/2002, 2:42 pm- Re: Warm to cool is better than cool to warm *LINK*
Kurt Maurer -- 12/31/2002, 4:12 pm- Re: Warm to cool is better than cool to warm
Rick Allnutt -- 12/31/2002, 5:30 pm
- Excellent Point Rick *NM*
Charles Leach -- 12/31/2002, 3:13 pm - Re: Warm to cool is better than cool to warm
- Re: Epoxy: Glue in the Great Outdoors
Charles Leach -- 12/31/2002, 1:25 pm- One word: CONDENSATION
Brian Nystrom -- 12/31/2002, 12:31 pm- Re: Epoxy: Glue in the Great Outdoors
Pete Rudie -- 12/31/2002, 12:28 pm - Warm to cool is better than cool to warm
- Re: Epoxy: Glue in the Great Outdoors