Guys what is the pot life of Flex Coat thick? I have some i am going to try this weekend and was just wondering. Thanks for the help!

Kevin Gross
Many men will spend their whole life wondering if they made a difference. Marines dont have that problem - Ronald Regan

It depends on the temperature involved. At normal room temperature (70F) you can work with it for about 20 minutes. It should only take you 5 minutes to coat all the wraps, and that leaves plenty of time to come back and touch in any dry spots or fill in the tunnels.

A cooler temp extends working time, but means the mix will be a little thicker. Higher temps will thin the mix initially, but will set up more quickly.

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If you mix in small batches to keep the heat down, or mix and then spread thinly on a piece of aluminum to keep the heat down your pot life may be up to 10-15 minutes.
If not, i.e. mix in large concentrated batches- i.e. small mixing cup - the pot life may be as short as two or three minutes.

Roger

Hi,

I have found using an electric mixer for 7 minutes not only produces a fine mixture but one that heats up less and extends pot life. Many years ago I was taught that you had to beat a mixture for 3 minutes by hand to get an proper mix but this caused a big build up of heat. Heat decreases pot life.

Capt Neil Faulkner

I cant see how mixing it longer is going to increase pot life. In my mind you are just using up 4 minutes of your working time. I used to dump it out on a small disposable tray or aluminum foil, but now i am able to get it on the rod quick enough that i havent found it to be necessary. I also use the electric epoxy mixer, but only mix for 3 minutes and then apply. Everybody has method and there are many different ways to skin a cat. After reading about it on here and in the mag, i have found that the quicker i get the epoxy on the rod and the less i mess with it (ie. heating brushing etc) the better my results. Just apply it, turn it 180 degrees by hand when needed, never letting it "sag", the better my finished results have been.

Kevin,

I like your signature quote


Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

Except for a short period that I tried Treadmaster-and it is a good product-I have been using Flex Coat and Flex Coat Lite. My room temperature stays between 75 and 80 degrees. I mix 3cc portions of the resin and hardener for about 3 minutes and then pour onto an aluminum foil- covered pie plate. The product gives me time to coat a split area, the weave in front of the foregrip, and eight or nine guides plus the tip. It will start to set shortly afterwards. It takes me about 25 minutes to coat a rod.