Hi there,

I'm trying to set up my fourth rod, and for the first time i'm experiencing troubles with the coating.
I'm using a 2 components varnish.
The 2 first coats reacted as usual, drying up overnight.
Then the third one looked like it didn't want to harden, and remained tacky after the first night. I decided to let it dry for a few more days. Yet it remained the same.
So I decided to put another coat, with a little bit more of hardener in the mix. No result with this 4th coating, it's still sticky.
Then I tried another varnish, a one component varnish a friend of mine uses for rodbuilding. This 5th coatind is still trying to dry up and I laid the varnish 2 days ago.

Do someone figure out what suddenly happened, and how to correct it.

Thanks,

bernard

sounds a lot like a mixing issue. are you trying to mix too small a quantity? i use flexcoat and i always mix a minimum of 3cc of each of parts A and B. i use the suringes in the kit. if you mix it in smaller quantities one drop has a disproportionate influence than if you mix a larger amount.
so far i have never had a failure using this formula. when mixing i mix until the fluid is water clear. you will notice when you first start to mix it there
are streaks in the mix. once completely mixed it will go perfectly clear. this is my indication that it is done. i then pore it onto a flat piece of foil.
if you take it right out of the cup there is a chance you will pick up some unmixed material from the side of the cup that will NEVER dry. by poreing onto foil you will never get this unmixed material onto your applicator.

Thanks Larry,

Usually I try to use the right amount of varnish, which could be to few to corectly get mixed, you're right it's a possibility.

But the question is: What next ? Do you think that the next good coating will be enough to harden the whole thing, or do I have to do something special to avoid the tacky coating to 'corrupt" the following one ?

Bernard

If you are talking about epoxy coating, mix the correct 1:1 proportion and apply over the tacky coat. This should set up. You made a mistake in the second attempt by adding extra hardener. That upset the 1:1 proportion. A properly proportioned mixture will correct the tacky one.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

And never mix less than 3cc of each component. Epoxy is cheap compared to the blank, guides, reel seat, etc and it just isn't worth it to try to save a tiny bit of money by only mixing a "little" epoxy.

Thanks to you all guys,

I've tried to do as you adviced. We'll see if you pointed to right mistake.

Thanks again,

Bernard

Always mix 50/50. Adding extra hardener is sure to keep the mix sticky - extra hardener will not cause it to cure harder or faster. It may not cure at all.

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