Cleaning up epoxy resin (without hardener) spill

[Yngmar]

Previous owner had a pack of Epoxy and some glass mats on board. Prudent of him. Unfortunately they suffered a containment failure and sticky resin ended up in a locker. This is just the unmixed resin, no hardener. It is very sticky and difficult to clean up. Things I've tried unsuccessfully include:

• Mechanical action (rub with a rag - just spreads it around)
• White spirit (doesn't do a thing to it)
• Hot soapy water (worked to some degree, but had to be scalding hot and didn't get the last sticky layer off)
• Acetone (rapidly dissolves the flowcoat in the locker along with the spill - no good)
• White vinegar (tip from another sailor - now it's smelly in addition to being sticky)
• Citric acid (getting desperate)

What works? Should i just spill some hardener on top of it and stir it around (only half joking)?

 

[Pye_End]

Meths?

 

[JimBrown]

Acetone is best, but if the collateral damage is unacceptable, then a modern zero VOC, 'acetone replacement' might be worth a try.

I've used Biosolve with some success from Peter Johnson at ChinaWind Yachts: ( http://www.blackbearboatingandleisure.com/product/bio-solv/ )

 

[Poignard]

My pumps are cleaned with warm soapy water. Worth trying that?

 

[Yngmar]

My pumps are cleaned with warm soapy water. Worth trying that?

Ah, I forgot to mention that attempt. This worked to some degree, but had to be scalding hot, and still didn't get the last layer of sticky off.

 

[Yngmar]

Meths?

Before I add more smells to the cocktail, is that a guess, an educated guess or something you know to be working?

 

[Poignard]

Telephone Wessex Resins Ltd (WEST UK agents ) and ask for advice. I've found them very helpful

 

[Pye_End]

Before I add more smells to the cocktail, is that a guess, an educated guess or something you know to be working?

Pretty sure it is what I have used in the past.

 

[lw395]

Jif.
Orange Swarfega.

 

[William_H]

Methylated spirits is the best solovent for epoxy. Still a horrible job to clean up. good luck olewill

 

[Avocet]

I've successfully thinned it with meths, so it might remove it?

 

[Daydream believer]

The brush cleaner they supply with epoxy
Or the hand cleaner for epoxy


I bought the above from Wessex when I epoxy coated a boat

 

[VicS]

International thinner 7 for epoxy products

 

[ShinyShoe]

International thinner 7 for epoxy products

And LOTS of ventilation if I recall correctly.

If acetone dissolves the flow on the locker floor I suspect its actually the resin that has dissolved it - flow is usually sound with acetaone. Unless its not really flow, but then whatever it is, is probably soluble in the resin too..

Hardner!

 

[Iliade]

AKA Xylene.
It is horrible stuff so do use with care (gloves & air supply in a confined environment.)

 

[SAMYL]

Cellulose thinners, but check it doesn't dissolve everything else in the neighbourhood.

 

[Yngmar]

Thanks for all the advice. I've now tried:

• Builders Wipes (worked, but not that well)
• Xylene (worked)
• Isopropyl alcohol (worked best and didn't stink quite as bad as the Xylene)

So I've cleaned the rest of it with the isopropanol, which worked well. Luckily there's a gale blowing through, so ventilation was easy to come by. Didn't have any methylated spirits around, so I did not try that. The locker is clean and the experiment concluded. Cheers :encouragement: