Epoxy filling in cold weather?

[Sovereign]

Hi,
I have a number of surface 'pin-holes' that I need to fill before priming and anti-fouling my 29' Legend which is out of the water at a friend's farm.
QUESTION: Is there an epoxy filler designed for use at cold temperatures? - I want to get back in the water for Easter AND I would like to avoid all the hassle of tenting to say nothing of abusing my friend's electricty supply!
Thanks.

 

[VicS]

I think you will find that using the correct hardener West epoxy can be used down to 5° C but the trouble at low temperatures can be condensation on the substrate.
If you are forced to work at low temperatures it would be advisable I think to locally warm the substrate so that it is several degrees above the dew-point.

I hope it will warm up well before Easter. I have small epoxying job to do for which I am hoping for daytime temps in excess of 10C.

You should be Ok by the middle of next week Unless you are going to apply an epoxy primer as well.

 

[Amulet]

The books quote success with the West System done to 7° C, which indeed has worked for me. I have tried when it was too cold - I would have thought about 5 - and it didn't set properly. What is worse, it stayed sticky even after the temperature rose again. Possible that I did something else wrong, but it scared me off risking very low temperature epoxying. It was still tacky a year later.

 

[Boathook]

If you can 'tent' of sections you might get away with a small radiant heater (400 watts) or even a tubular heater. I have used the radiant before but I would not leave it running when not there, so in a day you may be able to repair a small area. Big problem is possibly drying the surface correctly first. Hot air guns are good for small areas for this. I would also use a new batch of resin, not something from last year, even if in date.

 

[Lakesailor]

I have a number of surface 'pin-holes'

That's the clue. Paint stripper gun on half power. Get the holes warm before applying epoxy and waft the repair with the gun for 10 minutes or so.
It doesn't sound like deep holes or large areas so Spot Heating should work fine.
I've used this technique for filling quite large frame joints on dinghies and it seems good.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Though it never gets very cold in Central Queensland (Oz) I have done work inland inland and down south. I preheat the area after preparation and apply only after 10 AM and never mix more resin after 2 PM.

This method helps avoid the high humidity in the early part of the day and sudden drop at the end of day by giving the resin to 'skin' off.

Humidity for west system is 73% or less.

Good luck and fair winds.