Remove or Not Remove Partially Cured Epoxy?

Thanks for reminding me that the epoxy will not reach full strength for
months to come. I will go easy on the area. From the slow pace that I
have been working on the boat, I doubt there will be a lot of people
standing on the deck any time soon. Oh well...

Jay Chan


Brian D wrote:
> You're a patient man, Jay! I've been following along as things have
> progressed and am very glad to hear that your epoxy finally made the mark.
> Note that even properly mixed epoxy takes something like 2 months or longer
> to reach full strength, approaching the mark in an asymptotic way ...90% of
> the strength within a few days, 100% of the strength in a couple of months.
> But either way, glad to hear of your good results!
>
> Brian
>
>
>
> wrote in message
>
> > After 45 days since I put the epoxy in place, the epoxy has _finally_
> > cured completely. Seem like those two very hot days in the beginning
> > of this week really helped the curing process. The outdoor temperature
> > of those two days was 97 degree+, and the temperatur inside the boat
> > cover probably was above 110 degree.
> >
> > Just try to let people know in case someone runs into the same
> > situation as I was. Then he can decide whether he really wants to wait
> > that long for the epoxy to cure, whether he should expect his local
> > weather will help or hurt the curing process, and whether he should
> > work on something else while he is waiting for the epoxy to cure.
> >
> > Jay Chan
> >
> >
> > wrote:
> >> Actually, I counted the number of days wrong. I should have said that
> >> now is 32 days (instead of 22 days) after I put the epoxy in place.
> >>
> >> Jay Chan
> >>
> >> wrote:
> >> > Now, this is 22 days after I put the epoxy in place. The epoxy is
> >> > definitely more solid than on late June. I feel safe to have my hope
> >> > high. The epoxy is curing very slowly. Luckily, I am working on
> >> > mounting an air conditioner next to my boat; therefore, time is not
> >> > wasted.
> >> >
> >> > Jay Chan
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > wrote:
> >> > > Yesterday, I checked the epoxy, and I found that it was noticably
> >> > > more
> >> > > solid than two or three days ago. I have a feeling that it will
> >> > > eventually cure completely -- just very slowly.
> >> > >
> >> > > I have contacted the tech support of the epoxy manufacturer. He said
> >> > > that the epoxy mostly likely will eventually cure because of the fact
> >> > > that the curing is progressing. More importantly, he also said that
> >> > > the cured epoxy will have a good bond despite the fact that the epoxy
> >> > > will take much longer time to cure than normal. Therefore, I will
> >> > > wait
> >> > > a couple weeks for epoxy to cure completely.
> >> > >
> >> > > Jay Chan
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > Mik wrote:
> >> > > > If I was you, I'd wait a couple of weeks til it seems to harden as
> >> > > > much
> >> > > > as possible. Then, I'd start scraping. Sicne it hasn't cured
> >> > > > properly,
> >> > > > you can try a heat gun to soften up the epoxy before scraping.
> >> > > > Paint
> >> > > > scrapers, window scrapers, utility knives, 40 grit sandpaper. Try
> >> > > > everything, except a garden rake....
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Seriously. Especially since this is structural, I'd be removing
> >> > > > all of
> >> > > > the epoxy, down to bare wood, and starting over. cured epoxy is
> >> > > > fantastic, but partially cured is a disaster waiting to happen.
> >> > > > Why
> >> > > > ruin a good boat over some bad epoxy??
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Mike
> >> > > > Saskatoon, SK
> >> > > >
> >> > > > wrote:
> >> > > > > Thanks for pointing this out. Sound like I have a hopeless case
> >> > > > > on my
> >> > > > > hand. OK, I just have to treat it as a learning experience.
> >> > > > >
> >> > > > > Jay Chan
> >> > > > >
> >> > > > >
> >> > > > > derbyrm wrote:
> >> > > > >
> >> > > > >>I think there's some confusion between polyester resin and epoxy.
> >> > > > >>
> >> > > > >>As someone else pointed out, with polyester, the hardener is a
> >> > > > >>catalyst/accelerator and the resin will eventually cure.
> >> > > > >>
> >> > > > >>As I understand epoxy, it is the combination of the chemicals in
> >> > > > >>the resin
> >> > > > >>and those in the hardener. Too few of the hardener molecules and
> >> > > > >>you'll
> >> > > > >>never end up with actual epoxy, only with a slurry of cured epoxy
> >> > > > >>and
> >> > > > >>uncured resin molecules looking for their mates. It will not be
> >> > > > >>very
> >> > > > >>strong.
> >> > > > >>
> >> > > > >>I'd suggest you start scraping.
> >> > > > >>
> >> > > > >>Roger (sorry)
> >> > > > >>derbyrm@NOSPAMinsightbbNOSPAM.com
> >> > > > >>http://home.insightbb.com/~derbyrm
> >> > > > >>
> >> > > > >> wrote in message
> >> > > > >>
> >> > > > >>
> >> > > > >>>Glad to hear that there is some hope. OK, I will wait a week or
> >> > > > >>>two to
> >> > > > >>>give it a chance. Meanwhile, I can always work on something
> >> > > > >>>else or go
> >> > > > >>>fishing on a rental boat. If after two weeks my finger nail
> >> > > > >>>still can
> >> > > > >>>make a dent on the epoxy, I will remove it.
> >