Around twenty hours ago I bonded cork rings with Rod Bond. The packaging states a 24 hour cure. The bonded rings have been setting at around 65 degrees, and the seams still feel a bit rubbery. What am I risking if I try to turn the grip before 24 hours?

Jeff Shafer

Hi Jeff,
Being you have stated the 65 degrees, the mixing temp could very well be an issue. From my experience you really want to make sure the mixing temps are a bit higher then the 64 ambient temperature I think that is stated on the package. If the mix looked a little grain or maybe sandy and not creamy smooth like, I would be sure to wait the 24 hours.


Tight wraps and lines,
Wylie

Thanks Wylie,
After writing the post, I pretty much resigned myself to not turn the grips until tomorrow. Our weather here in Eastern PA is really mild right now so it would have been a good day to get the turning gear out on the back patio and let the dust fly. But I raked leaves instead.... The English Oak in my front yard doesn't dump its leaves until mid-January.

Jeff Shafer

When you mix and apply Rod Bond it helps to save a bit of the mixture as one usually does with finish epoxies. This way you will have a reference to check curing conditions. I'm sure Wylie is giving good advice as Rod Bond takes some time to harden even in temperatures that optimum. It is still way ahead of anything else as a rod building bonding epoxy in my experience so it is worth waiting for.

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

Jeff,

When you say that the seams are still a little rubbery, what do you mean?? Possibly, you have to much Rod Bond on the rings. The best way to use Rod Bond on rings is to spread some on both ring faces, completely covering it and then, using a craft stick or even razor blade, scrape as much off as you can. The surfaces only need a THIN film to work.



Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Rod Bond does not get to a point where it feels as rock hard as many other epoxies. Not to worry, 24 to 48 hours at room temperature is usually sufficient to allow you turn the grip without any problems.

.................

Thanks Mike,
The procedure you described is exactly how I apply Rod Bond to my rings, scraping the ring's surface after application with a craft stick. The very small amount that oozed out at the seams was a bit spongy when poked with a fingernail as of this morning, so I decided to wait until tomorrow.

I mix my Rod Bond on duct tape applied to the surface of a portable workbench. In order to get it out of the way last evening I pulled up the duct tape and dropped it into my waste basket. The amount on the tape was very low and it appeared pretty flexible also this morning.

Thanks Guys,
Jeff

If you had ANY squeeze out at all -- you didn't scrape off enough before adding pressure. Any squeeze out at all will induce visible glue lines between the corks. Normally if rodbond has cured for 12 hours, it is safe to do any kind of maching, indeed it is always best to machine at this time because the resin is soft enough to machine equally with the cork. I have machined corks when the resin had cured for 12 hrs at 62 deg.
Ralph