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Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
By:JohnAbercrombie
Date: 11/23/2013, 1:12 pm
In Response To: Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier (Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks)

You don't ever use any solvents (such as vinegar) to clean epoxy off your skin. All it does is make it easier for the epoxy to penetrate your skin and may lead to sensitization. Waterless hand cleaner and friction are better ways to clean up. You may even be better off letting it cure and then peeling it off.

Vinegar is an option for cleaning tools, but don't use it to clean your skin. Obviously, the best idea is to wear gloves and along sleeves, maybe even a Tyvek suit and avoid the contact in the first place.

Keep epoxy off your skin! Agreed!
I suppose I'm the only person who has found, after a 'quick little job' with epoxy, that there's a smear of epoxy on my elbow....

This comes up from time to time here on kayak forum.
A search will turn up info from Kern @ SystemThree and also comments from others with chemistry knowledge.

Vinegar (unlike alcohol, acetone, and detergents like waterless cleaner ) acts by chemically reacting with the amine hardener and the epoxy, essentially inactivating the epoxy. So vinegar does not act as a solvent, but a reactant.
Do an experiment- mix a small batch of epoxy; divide it up; add vinegar, epoxy, alcohol to three different samples, mix, and then see which ones cure.

BTW, the reason they are called 'waterless cleaners' is because they are 'oily' as well as very strong detergents. Guess how they affect the oils in your skin!

Messages In This Thread

Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
john vanburen -- 11/23/2013, 9:01 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 11/23/2013, 9:39 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
aedie -- 11/23/2013, 1:03 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
JohnAbercrombie -- 11/23/2013, 1:12 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Mike Bielski -- 11/23/2013, 11:14 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Bill Hamm -- 11/24/2013, 1:30 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier *PIC*
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 11/24/2013, 9:36 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Bill Hamm -- 11/25/2013, 12:12 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Mike Bielski -- 11/24/2013, 10:26 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Bill Hamm -- 11/25/2013, 12:14 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
JohnAbercrombie -- 11/24/2013, 2:14 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Malcolm Schweizer -- 11/25/2013, 10:08 am
Re: Epoxy: Emulsifier vs Solvent
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 11/25/2013, 3:39 pm
best epoxy - hand cleaner
Jay Babina -- 11/25/2013, 9:21 am
Re: best epoxy - hand cleaner
ancient kayaker -- 11/25/2013, 10:06 am
Re: Barrier Creams
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 11/25/2013, 3:49 pm
Re: Barrier Creams
ancient kayaker -- 11/25/2013, 5:38 pm
Re: Barrier Creams
Etienne Muller -- 11/25/2013, 5:51 pm
Re: best epoxy - hand cleaner
Jay Babina -- 11/26/2013, 8:33 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Etienne Muller -- 11/25/2013, 5:24 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Bill Hamm -- 11/26/2013, 12:35 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Marc Upchurch -- 11/26/2013, 5:42 am
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Malcolm Schweizer -- 11/26/2013, 12:28 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Marc Upchurch -- 11/26/2013, 12:43 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Malcolm Schweizer -- 11/26/2013, 2:20 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Justin -- 11/26/2013, 12:45 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Malcolm Schweizer -- 11/26/2013, 2:15 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Marc Upchurch -- 11/26/2013, 2:48 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Etienne Muller -- 11/26/2013, 3:27 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Etienne Muller -- 11/26/2013, 1:36 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
Malcolm Schweizer -- 11/26/2013, 2:23 pm
Re: Epoxy: Epoxy Cleanup Made a Little Easier
john vanburen -- 11/27/2013, 3:32 pm