I'm sure this has been asked before, but it just came up on another board. is one stronger than the other?
thx

I have never noticed a difference, but then again, I use it for reelseats and handles only~!

Terry

Jim,

Any good 5, 10 or 30 min epoxy designed for rod building will be just fine.

DR

Jeff,
The other answers are right on.
i.e. any good brand epoxy will be just fine for rod building.

However, there is a difference in the strength and flexibility of epoxy.
Generally speaking - the longer the cure, the more flexible the joint, as well as the stronger the joint.
i.e. 5 minute epoxy is a bit more brittle than 1 hour epoxy. Also, 5 minute epoxy is a bit weaker than 1 hour epoxy.

Another thing that happens with glue is that if the glue takes longer to set, it can also penetrate the surface a bit better for a better bond. If the finish is non porus as some of the things that we like to bond - we will find little difference in the bond strength of the glues.

Again - any good 5,10, 15, 30, 1 hour, or 2 hour cure strength is more than strong enough for any thing we do with rod building.

Take care
Roger

The time to set and cure has very little to do with the strength of the final epoxy bond. It has to do with the type of epoxy system involved. There are 5 minute systems that are much stronger and more flexible than much longer curing epoxies.

As it happens, most hardware store 5 minute varieties are based on very inexpensive hardener types and thus they aren't as strong as longer curing epoxies, but it's not the cure time at fault - it's the cheap formulation. There are, in fact, 5 minute formulations that are terribly strong and very flexible - you just won't find them at the hardware store.

There is a long standing myth that the longer it takes an epoxy to cure, "more cross linking of molecules" can take place." But alas, it is a myth, pure and simple.

The adhesive bond strength, (not the same as the cohesive strength) has to do with the formulation of the epoxy and how well it "wets" the surface, not the time it remains liquid or uncured upon the surface. Read more on "water break free" surface prep in the online library here.

Do a search under Ralph O'Quinn's name on this form and you'll turn up a ton of information on epoxies and related systems. No one is going to know more about epoxies here than Ralph.

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As for me I use Rod Bond. It may take a longer time to cure, But if I screw up an alignment I can correct the problem. As for the 5 min or 10 min stuff you are screwed.
Good Wraps Bob

Tom
Thanks for the update.
Roger