Epoxy won't dry

I used the instant mix syringe, so I know I didn't make a goof there. Epoxy is tacky still for 2 days now. It was in my garage so it was cold.

What to do? Would heat from a hair dryer help? If so how long do I use it for?

 

Is it hard drying epoxy? I've used stuff that wasn't suppose to harden like others, but stay pliable.

 

Epoxy can use heat to help it cure. As epoxy cures it gets warm and can even smoke. I learned that real quick doing seamless epoxy floors for awhile. I would say put it in your bathroom with heat on it whether its a space heater or a blow dryer. Some of the epoxies out there do still seem a little tacky when cured, but wont smudge or get on your finger when touched, like the stuff we use at work for bumper splits. I ran into your issue when fiberglassing my satoshi and it would not cure in the garage. Put it in my bathroom for 2 days with my space heater and the fan going with the door closed and it cured up nice

 

Just ran a blow dryer on it for about 10 minutes and if anything it seems to have made it more liquid. Prior to that it was tacky and getting on my fingers.

 

What kind of epoxy? If its a two part then it sounds like the hardener wasnt mixing with the epoxy

 

What brand and model is the epoxy? Some types don't cure properly when cold, and hair dryer may not help unless you hold it on low heat for 3-4 hours.

Did you stir the mixture after it came out of the syringe?

 

I'm guessing it's the cold. It took JB Weld about 3x as long to fully cure when I left it in my basement, just below the recommended temperature.

 

Epoxy will ALWAYS cure if mixed properly over time. It isn't heat that makes them cure its the chemical reaction. But the chemical reaction is based off of 70 degree temps with controlled humidity. Weather will effect the dry time due to the substrate temp, outside, humidity, amount of material applied and so on. I would imagine the chemical reaction is happening but just at a much slower rate because of the temps. Just like our cars starting up it takes a lot longer for everything to get going. Just give it time or move it to a stable temp area.

 

It is the two stage (resin and hardener)..Loctite brand. It is the type that comes in a syringe and mixes the 2 chambers equally as it empties.

 

Sounds like the hardener didnt come out. It shouldnt be wet after 3 days

 

Did you mix it after you pushed out of the tube what you wanted? Definitely sounds like the hardener did not mix right with the resin.

 

Possible it was a bad batch?

Any left? You could try squeezing some out onto a piece of cardboard and see what happens.

 

So this is so wierd that I see this on here tonite. I tried doing the blinker relocation mod on my 01 yesterday, and the stupid epoxy that I used didn't dry at all. I used VersaChem brand "plastic welder" that also came in a two stage type syringe. It says it sets up in 15 minutes and is completely cured in 24 hours. Well it sat for approximately 30 hours and was still as wet as it was when I applied it. Both the hardener and resin came out and I thoroughly mixed them. Wtf?

 

If you guys want good shit, I highly recommend maxim epoxy. 2 part epoxy that mixes in the tip. You need a pretty nice caulking gun for it though. I use this on satoshis and havent had one problem. This stuff is awesome.

 

That's just it..the chambers are separate and mix in the tip. If the hardener didn't come out I'd not have been able to get the resin out either.

http://www.quill.com/loctite-instant-mix-epoxy/cbs/575430.html?cm_mmc=SEM_PLA_OS_575430