Epoxy
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5555
Printed Date: 15 May 25 at 3:42am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Epoxy
Posted By: Jamie600
Subject: Epoxy
Date Posted: 29 May 09 at 4:55pm
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Ok, really dumb question coming up but is there a period of time you have to wait from when epoxy has dried until you put any load on it? I'm using Blue Gee fast hardener (not the 5 minute stuff), I know it will be touch dry in about an hour but does that mean it is at full strength? What I'm getting at is, can I go up to the club tomorrow, do a repair in the morning and sail the last race? Perfect conditions forecast! ------------- RS600 1001 |
Replies:
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 29 May 09 at 5:01pm
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Cure times vary wildly between brands and will be affected by the conditions you are working in (temperature, moisture etc) Depending on the application it may be sufficient to wait untill it is touch dry, but it will not have fully cured for some time after that. Your best option is to check with the manufacturer... but without knowing the full details id say 'no' on anything but a cosmetic repair. |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 29 May 09 at 6:20pm
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What Isis said.
Being careful with what I say here, but I've tested stuff that is "hard" to the touch in about two hours, hard (using a hardness guage- yes, such things exist) in five, but hasn't achieved full strength till about five-seven days later ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: Jamie600
Date Posted: 29 May 09 at 6:46pm
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Bugger, that's what I was afraid of. Looks like it's the club Laser or going home and returfing the lawn then ------------- RS600 1001 |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 29 May 09 at 9:07pm
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Of course, "less than full strength" may well be "strong enough". Your milage may vary. Literally, in this case. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 30 May 09 at 4:23am
It depends completely and utterly what the repair is... If something is marginal on strength anyway then I give it a week before use... Max strength might be as much as 28 days... If the main concern is keeping the water out then an hour and a half might do. And of course the curing regime is very very critical too. If you have the opportunity to cook it it helps enormously. I just checked the SP system spec sheet for SP106 and curing times to various states are between a third and a half at 30 degrees C compared to 15 degrees C. Unfortunately Blue Gee's website appears completely devoid of any useful information, so its impossible to be more specific. |
Posted By: Jamie600
Date Posted: 30 May 09 at 10:23pm
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Yes, I looked on the website myself and you're right, it's useless. It's a repair to the attachment point on the transom for the rudder gangtry so it's very highly loaded, sounds like I'd best fix it then leave it for the foreseeable future ------------- RS600 1001 |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 30 May 09 at 10:27pm
With the weather as it is I'd be very suprised if it wasn't fine by next weekend. |