Like many of you I use Flex Coat High/Lite build epoxy for finnishing my wraps. Lately I have been having a problem with the bottles setting up on me. I do drill a hole in caps of the bottles and mount the syringes in them. Last night I went to grab a new bottle of hardener (black) and it had also begun to set up.

Am I doing something wrong? Does the epoxy need to be stored in some manner? I was of the impression that short of mixing and or contamination the seperate components have a very long shelf life. Is there a way to save what I have remaining?

Thanks,

Jim

What do you mean by "setting up?" Is it just getting really stiff? If that's the case, just zap it in the microwave for about 6 seconds. I often need to do this during the winter because there aren't any heat outlets in my workroom. Just be sure to let it cool down a bit after you do this or the epoxy, after being mixed, will set up really fast.

A friend gave me flexcoat that he did not want. It's at least 5 years old and it works fine. It will crystalize if left in a cold area but warming will bring it back to it's condition.

Normally the hardener will not crystalize. Exactly what is happening to yours? Is it becoming solid or just getting a bit thick?

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In reply to Tom K., the hardener is setting up into a rubbery paste (crystalizing?) way to thick to pour or extract with a syringe.

Heat it in a pan of very hot water or pop it in the microwave for about 6 to 8 seconds (cap off) and see if that doesn't fix things. Cool temps generally make both parts a bit thick. Epoxy should be stored in a dark but fairly room temperature envinronment. Some, like LS Supreme, do best with the hardener in the refrigerator, but most only require that keep them out of extreme cold or heat. Neither will ruin the epoxy, but you have to take steps to get it back in useable shape before you can finish with it.

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Jim
If your hardener in the bottle is setting up into a rubbery paste -- there is one thing and one thing only that could cause this -- you must have initiated some epoxide into the amine -- probably by switching syringes and thereby effectively contaminating the hardener. There is nothing you can do to save the remainder, don't even think about using it, trash it and both syringes that you have been using, Hardeners (Amine types) will ordinarily barely thicken even in extreme cold weather-but never under any circumstances will they set up into a rubbery paste as will the epoxies.
Ralph