I want to use RR epoxy to glass some boards. I have a relatively cold garage to work with (inside temp ~50 this time of year). The garage is very big and would be impractical to heat for any extended period of time. I read in a post a long time ago Greg Loehr made a reference to possibly bumping up to the next quickest drying time catalyst when working in cooler climates/ seasons. Has anyone tried this with any success or failure? Any thoughts on working in my given environment?
try building a cure box theres tons of info in the archives
If I have to glass in cold, I put the resin cans inside for a day first and put an electric blanket on the board for at least 3 hours first. Cut out your glass and fold it up & bring it in too, so at least all your materials are high 60’s before you start. Work fast. It can actually be a good thing if the temperature is dropping as you laminate, because the foam will be ‘inhaling’ (Thanks,Kokua) slightly and will take resin better than if it was heating up and ‘exhaling’.
Epoxy can have problems with humidity too. The cold might be less of a problem than the damp, if your garage is anything like mine.
Bennys got some good tips there. If your using fast then that’s the fastest stuff we have. It works OK down into the 40’s but be careful about the temps at night while the things curing. Additive F helps with temperature too. Use that in all laminates and finish coats. It keeps the resin from cold weather blushing and eliminates other problems associated with cold temps. Your cure will be slow. If you do the laminate in the early afternoon so that it has enough time to get an initial kick you can then bring it inside overnight.