The temp in my unfinished basement workarea is around 64 and the FC lite I've been useing isn't proforming the way I think it should. I've tryed heating befor mixing but by the 2nd or 3rd guide its thickening up and not flowing well. Do any of the other finishes work better in cooler temps? I would rather not have space heaters on all night if I can help it. I build mainly fly rods (7 so far) so longer pot life would be nice to.

Thank You
Scott

Perma Gloss

Scott,
You may pre-heat your mixing surface and tools as well.
If your mixing container is cold it will remove heat from the finish as it flows against the surface.
I typically mix on a plastic tray and pre-heat with a hair dryer.
Once it's warm to my hands it won't pull heat as quickly from the finish.
If you use a rotary type mixer with a bowl pre-heat the bowl in warm water or with a blow dryer. May take some time.

Eugene Moore

Scott

Another possible reason for short pot life may be mixing you finish when the finish components are still too warm from heating. I heat mine and then either put the bottles in my shirt pocket or hold them in my hands for 20-20 minutes before mixing (to let them cool back down a little). My mixes work best at body temp. Any warmer and the pot life shortens.

Rog

I find warming the hardner will degrade the pot life. When I warm my epoxy in the syringe, I only warm up the resin. Mix it, then I pour it out on to warm foil.

I like the cold for finish
It tends to keep the pot life longer

Then again i thin the high build with lacquer thinner

The light finish may just work better It is already thinned

Works

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/2012 04:31PM by bill boettcher.

Scott,
Make your life simple.
When it comes time to finish the rod, take the rod upstairs and put it on the kitchen table.
If you do it after everything if finished in the kitchen for the evening, and take it off the table in the morning before anything starts, you have solved your temp problem.

I expect that your kitchen is much warmer than 64 degrees. Since you are not building a lot of rods, one drying in the kitchen should not be a big deal.

Take care
REW

I have experienced the same problems using FC Lite in a 60 degree basement. I would advise moving it upstairs to coat as well. However, I would advise waiting until the wife turns in for the night to begin. Good Luck.

Scott,
In addition to the advice on moving upstairs, it is pretty simple to make a drying oven.

All that you need is a box with about 3 light bulbs in it to keep the rod warmer while drying.

You can make a box out of any material including cardboard.
Then, about three light bulbs to keep the box warm and you have a drying oven.

If you do a search of the photo pages of this forum, you can find several very nice examples of ovens for drying.

Another nice thing that the oven does is to keep the air clear of dust and issues while drying.

Be safe
Roger

I have the same issue. I build rods in a spare bedroom that is a long way from the furnace and so stays about 55 degrees in the winter. Last winter I had some issues with finish that I thought might be temp and humidity related.

For this year I got one of those inexpensive space heaters. It has a thermostat, can keep the entire room at 75 degrees easily, and I can get two coats of finish on and turned, in 24 hours. I got the space heater at Target for $50 or so. I also prewarm the finish in warm tap water for 20 minutes.

Drew

Threadmaster high build, just appy it thinly to mimic the "lite" you are use to using. Plan on 2-3 coats to cover.

DR