Epoxy not set !!!!!

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have since done a couple of experiments....... I had kept the leftover pots of each mix. I had 4 epoxy & 2 epoxy & filler. These had been accurately measured out at 5:1 so I was happy with that. They felt that hadn't hadent hardened fully so at home I put these in the oven to just warm them up. They probably had an hour or so at 30 deg and still didn't feel right. I popped them in a bucket of water overnight an in the morning they had softened even more. Definite fail. So I started again and re read the instructions which state that 'best results are obtained undercover at temperatures above 15 deg. although I'd had previously read elsewhere that it would work at temperatures above 5 deg.
So at nice room temperature at home I started again. All resins etc at room temp. Accurately mixed up 2 separate resin pots at 5:1 and 2 seperate resin and filler mixes at 5:1. All set within an hour, solid well before 3 hrs. I popped these in a bucket of water where they have stayed for a couple of days now and show no signs of deteriorating. My conclusion is that everything was too cold. The epoxy resin and hardener itself, the surfaces, and the air temperature. I'm going to remove the small repair that I did and start again ensuring that I keep everything nice and warm and I'm certain I'll get a satisfactory cure.
 
I would say in relation to the course I did that they are probably not commenting on ratios in relation to a lump going hard, but to the mix achieving their defined strength. I am not sure putting a lump in a bucket of water is much of an integrity test ;)
 
Woodlouse said:
Start again and till it's warmer. A quick burst of heat isn't enough it needs to be at a moderate temp for the duration of the cure.

How did you measure it out? The ratios have to be pretty precise. Of needs be it's also better to err with a bit too much hardener than a bit too little.
Click to expand...
Warming the resin & filler prior to mixing with catylist will also help
 
gjgm said:
I would say in relation to the course I did that they are probably not commenting on ratios in relation to a lump going hard, but to the mix achieving their defined strength. I am not sure putting a lump in a bucket of water is much of an integrity test ;)
Click to expand...

Agreed. However, it did confirm to me that it had not set sufficiently to survive being immersed in water for any length of time.
 
Woodlouse said:
Yes. West system certainly used to provide plans for a box to store your resin and hardener in that is kept warm by the heat from a 40W lightbulb to ensure the best temperature to start mixing.
Click to expand...

You cant get the bulbs now... The LED ones dont work
 
VicS said:
You cant get the bulbs now... The LED ones dont work
Click to expand...

Take a look on Google, I believe they are still available. I have a cupboard with a 10pack for 40's 60' 100's.

Now that LED's are very much improved, even in the last 5 years it seems, with light being far more pleasant and me not having to feel i'm sitting in a room filled with old fashioned fluorescents, I am changing most of my house lights over to LED.

Understanding the specifications of an LED is not as I originally assumed it would be in relation to the standard light bulb of yesteryear.
For instance we need to look at the Lumens, the Colour Temp and the Wattage.

The one I have on my desk at present reads.... Lumens620Lm, Colour Temp 3000K warm white, Wattage 6W and is marked on the box as equivalent to a standard bulb of 55W.
There are websites that explain more such as...... http://www.ledsmagazine.com/article.../features/how-to-interpret-led-lamp-data.html

S.
 
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