I was wondering which speed of hardener to use on an 8’ balsa composite boards. I was planning on using the 2000 resin (not that this really matters). I am pretty new to glassing so I don’t want to be rushed too much, but the slow seems a little slow. I’m sure that I can handle the fast for between the foam and balsa, but I’m a little nervous about the exterior glass job. I’m aware that I can mix the fast with the slow but I’d prefer to not get into special mixtures at this point (but I will if its necessary).
Hey Dan - Depends on your glassing skill level and ambient temperature. I used slow when it was about 70 degrees(F). I’m not the fastest glasser but by the time I finished doing laps on a longboard, it was showing signs of getting thick.
I mixed up 12oz of RR resin(2001? the one for surfboards) and the fast hardener, which I thought would give me 15-20min pot time. And I think I had bunk info from someone, not Greg L., that I should stir for 3min, let set for 1-2 min- let the bubbles out, then stir agian… By the time I poured it out, it was so hot is was smokin’, and - thankfully I was only sealling a blank - it was a total bust. Well, live and learn. Greg L. said stir for just over a minute (very thuroghly, sides, bottom) then dump and spread real quick… Then I’ll get plenty of working time. he also recomends smaller batches, as you can keep adding to it with out problem. Back to the old drawing board. Good luck
My first glass job was a 10’6"x24" in 90+ deg weather using slow which appears to be about the same as the fast hardner at 70 deg. Lamming the bottom I felt a little rushed, but then had no problem with the deck.
b.t.w.
you can mix slow and fast to create a med. so depending on how much resin you are buying you might be able to buy some slow and fast and mix as needed depending on the temp.
ex:
you might lam with slow or med and hotcoat and gloss with fast
Its sounding like slow might be the hardener for me. I was all set to order it, but I started feeling like a wimp to not be using fast.
Correct me if I am wrong Greg, but I beleive you can mix the two hardeners. Try going 60% fast and 40% slow.
i use the fast hardener but it sets pretty slow in comparasion to seting up a fast poly resin. you have a bout a 25 minute pot life in 75 to 80 degree temps. the biggest thing i learned is that if you keep it in the pot it will start to gel a whole lot faster.
go with the hard its not as big of an issue as you might think.
i do fast for hot/gloss coats, and slow for my lam. if it’s a smaller board and i’m in a rush, i’ll go 50/50 or fast in the lam.
Taylor I mix my batch for about 2 min. Brush on logos and pour the rest on the board.The sooner it’s out of the bucket the longer it takes to go off.I use fast hardener and have plenty of time. Gordon