Discovered something by accident today. I needed to get the finish on a 14' spey rod today and did not want it taking up space in my kitchen so I put the finish on out on the deck. No wind, bright sun, 80 degrees. The expoxy dried to the touch in about 5 hours instead of the normal 24 hours!

I can't always rely on the lack of wind but it is nice to know.

Quinn

I do mine in my garage (here in South FL a garage can get pretty warm, over 100 degrees this time of year) finish is always dry to the touch in about 4.5-5 hours.

Rufus
Port Saint Lucie, FL

You can also put a rod into a vehicle and bake it in the sun. Hard as a rock within a 1/2 day ... enough to ship it the next morning.

Dang Rufus my problem is getting long enough pot life to get all the guides done in one shot.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

I assume you are using epoxy. When epoxy cures, a polymerization reaction between the resin and the hardener occurs. In general a 10 degree Celsius or an 18 degree Fahrenheit ( used is USA) increase in temperature will double the speed of the reaction thereby cutting the curing time in half. If you want your finish to cure more quickly, then increase the temperature. Just make sure that the temperature is not high enough to boil the finish. Have fun.

Mike Blomme

A drying box or cabinet can achieve the same result in any weather conditions. The downside is the room necessary for the cabinet.

@ Russell, thats true. Have to work quickly. No taking your sweet time around here.

Rufus
Port Saint Lucie, FL

If wanting to rush things (and using the old Aftcote formula rushing isn't such a bad thing), I always use a space heater in my small finishing room. The temps get nice & toasty.

Tip: if you're just doing a repair and have swing arm lighting, setting it shining onto the repair fairly close where the bulb warms the repair as the dryer turns and it cures FAST.

DR

I find most all finishes dry to the touch even in cool temps in 5 - 6 hours where you can take it off the dryer

What takes 24

Bill - willierods.com

Bill,

Aftcote can take 24+ when the temps are cool.

DR

+1 Duane. I love Aftcote, but found out early on that I wanted to speed up the process (at times).