Folks.
First real cold spell has just arrived in Ireland as I get ready to glass an EPS board. Ambient conditions are about 32 F in the evenings and it’s real damp as well. I have an electric heater in the work shop that can get the temp up to maybe 56F.
Is this warm enough or should I hold on glassing this board till ambient conditions are warmer.
Thanks
Brian
If I were you I would try to get my workshop up to at least 65 degrees F. All of the bad things I have encountered with RR epoxy have happened as a result of low temps, and high humidity.
If I were you I would try to get my workshop up to at least 65 degrees F. All of the bad things I have encountered with RR epoxy have happened as a result of low temps, and high humidity.
i second that…and all of my multiple personalities are in agreement, as well
Brian, you could try making a heat box out of 2" Polystyrene floor insulation (6’X4’ sheets) I have some if you want. Put everything in the box and heat it up. Then glass the board and pop it back in the box. Use an electric blanket as the heat source. I have also used Incubating infra red lamps when working with epoxy, available from Farm Co-op shops.
I had a disaster recently with PE last week, I warmed the resing first but it kicked while I was in the middle of laminating, managed to save it, but Its one ugly glass job!
In this cold weather, there are several options available. One option is to heat the resin in a microwave which will allow it to flow much better. DO NOT HEAT THE HARDNER! The other option is the “Hot Box” heater arrangement. Epoxy will not cure when much below that 50 degree mark. It will cure, but will take forever. In aerospace, they use fabric which is coated with catilized resin, and keep it in a freezer until ready for use. This prepreg material is then cut to the desired dimentions and vacuum bagged or debulked before curing in an autoclave or oven. Too much info…
I think you get the idea…
Good luck and STAY WARM!!!
Ken