Making allowances for seasonal temperature differences, typically I prefer to apply the second coat of finish well before twenty-four hours have elapsed since the first coat. I use a craft stick to stir the epoxy mixure and I use it to judge how well the finish has set. Presently, I am working under some time contraints and I am curious just how tacky the first coat can be before the second is applied. Am I okay if the finish is tacky enough to retain a thumb print but firm enough not to stick to my fingers? Are ten to twelve hours enough when temps are in the mid 70's? Thanks for the help!
Slainte,
Hunter

From ghoulies and ghosties,
and long leggedy beasties,
and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord deliver us!

When it is cured enough that you can apply a second coat without the brush sticking, your fine.

10 to 12 hours in 70 degree plus temps, you should be fine, and I'll second what Phil stated above.

Thanks for the responses. Of course, waiting until you've loaded the brush, however lightly, with fresh epoxy to determine whether it should be applied seems a bit problematic, but maybe that's just me.:) At any rate, I'm hoping the ten to twelve hours of elapsed time will be sufficient. Again, thanks
Tight lines,
Hunter

From ghoulies and ghosties,
and long leggedy beasties,
and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord deliver us!

Pour your left over epoxy on a piece of tin foil that way you can test how well It is set up. I add the date and time with a marker to the foil.

______________________________________
Super Tight Lines......Don

Hunter,
As long as the brush does not stick to the current finish, I believe that it has cured enough for the next coat - when I am rushed for time.

I have put a 2nd coat on rods in as few as two hours and it has worked out just fine.

I do keep the rods warm - about 80 degrees - when the rods are on the dryer. So, the heat of the dryer, does tend to let the finish cure more quickly.

Roger

I read an article talked about wait 48 hours, scuffing and then apply another coat. Do you still think if sticky after 10-12 you are better off than the 48 hour idea?

This totally depends on the specific epoxy being used, the temperature of the epoxy at mix time (and if heat was added) and the temperature the rod is in during curing.

My shop is in my finished basement where it stays around 65ish. I don’t usually heat the epoxy though right now the temps are a bit lower and I’ll hit it with a few seconds of heat while mixing. The rod then goes into a temperature controlled dryer set to 78.

I normally recoat using Gen4 regular build at 4 hours. If pushed I may bump the temp up in the dryer just a bit and I’ll recoat at 3. Just make sure to keep your brush well covered in epoxy so that the curing epoxy on the rod that may be still tacky does or grab the brush bristles.

If I'm going to apply a 2nd, I will wait until the 1st one won't "grab" the brush. At room temp this often means I can apply a 1st in the morning and a 2nd that evening.

.........

Just parroting what I've read many times on this forum. When you no longer leave a finger print in the excess epoxy in the cup/foil, a second coat can be applied.

When i apply the epoxy from the mix from a foil scrap that is on the lid from a spool from electrical tape i let use to hold the mixture on the foil when i am done the fishing rod is still rotating to dry i will test the foil left over to check for dry or tacky same for handle that i mix on a small card board flap and let that set this way i dont leave the finger print on the thread finish or that the handle and reel seat epoxy is cured

When first coat stops flowing. Have second coat well loaded on your brush so tacky first coat doesn't grab your brush.

Don Morse Wrote:
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> Pour your left over epoxy on a piece of tin foil
> that way you can test how well It is set up. I add
> the date and time with a marker to the foil.


What Don Morse said above. Put foil in your cup and use that as your guide to confirm it's set enough.

I do the same thing when using epoxy wrap finish as well as epoxy adhesive for reel seats and grips. That's usually mixed on a scrap piece of cardboard that gets moved to the back of the bench and I confirm it's set before I throw it away. I do that I think more to confirm I didn't botch the mix and ended up with a soft setting epoxy under a reel seat.

Until the first coat is not tacky. I generally wait 24 hours between coats.

However, most of the time, I only apply one coat of flex coat high build finish and have no reason to add any more finish.

If the finish is perfect with one coat; no need to add more.

Best wishes

would you be able to put a third code onafter 3 weeks or so just wondering.

You can put a 3rd application on after a few hours if you wish. If 3 weeks have gone by you can do that as well. But the longer you wait the greater the risk of having an issue.

...........

I'm with Don. I leave my epoxy in a cup or on foil off to the side while the rod is in the dryer. This allows me to test the batch without having to touh the wraps on the rod.