Sticky Flowcoat

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wilkinsonsails

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Some weeks ago I re flowcoated my stern locker.This weekend I touched it and found it was still tacky when applying pressure to it.
Any ideas on how to cure it fully ,?
I don't want to strip it all off again ?
Cindy
 
Sounds like not enough wax in the the flow... You need to exclude the air - I've heard of mould release wax in a spray bottle being used to coat the surface.

I'm assuming you did add the right amount of catalyst.
 
You don't need to exclude the air with flowcoat, that's for gelcoat. Flowcoat has wax added to it that means it doesn't need the air excluded.

Cindy, are you sure you used flowcoat, not gelcoat ? If it was flowcoat, did you forget the catalyst ? If it was gelcoat, get some wax in styrene and add some to a new mix and put another thin coat over the sticky one.
 
When I used flowcoat on the interior of the project boat I put some of it over some incompletely removed paint (looked like masonry paint). This discoloured the flowcoat and increased the time taken to cure. Perhaps that's why your flowcoat hasn't cured completely. Time resolved the problem for me but if it persists then perhaps a second thin coat might do the trick, possibly with some extra catalyst?
 
I installed a 'wet room' in Rhoda Rose back in the winter. The flowcoat (not gelcoat) is still soft and slightly tacky. Our local expert tells me I did not mix the catalyst properly. He explained that it needs a lot more mixing then regular polyester resin.

The only solution is to wet and dry the surface, wash with acetone and reapply. A job for wenigetroundtoit I think :-)
 
Why not try covering a patch in Cling flilm to see if excluding the air enables it to go off. That will tell you if it is a problem with the wax not excluding air or if there was just ineffective action from the hardner.

Yoda
 
Rhoda Rose said:
I installed a 'wet room' in Rhoda Rose back in the winter. The flowcoat (not gelcoat) is still soft and slightly tacky. Our local expert tells me I did not mix the catalyst properly. He explained that it needs a lot more mixing then regular polyester resin.

The only solution is to wet and dry the surface, wash with acetone and reapply. A job for wenigetroundtoit I think :-)
Click to expand...

Be a barsteward to wet and dry. Can't see why it can't just be overcoated.
 
Rhoda Rose said:
Ah, well, the finish is not quite up to the guvnors exacting standard. Flowcoat is odd stuff to paint, it does not 'level' as paint does so I have a (ahem) brush marks and runs. I think it adds character but...
Click to expand...

Ah, just noticed yours is in a wetroom, not a locker. I think rather than trying to sand it i'd still overcoat it, then sand it.
 
PaulRainbow said:
Be a barsteward to wet and dry. Can't see why it can't just be overcoated.
Click to expand...

I used some flowcoat on a dinghy repair and found it tacky and soft 24 hours later (near Aberdeen mind you!) I left it alone for a week and came back to find as slippy and smooth-surfaced as required, I suspect slightly inadequate catalyst , but time cured that (excuse any pun).
I had no desire for the whole pot to go off in 20 minutes!
 
Thanks all .The tin was sold to me as flow coat .
I thought I put slightly more catalyst than it said in the info.
Might not have mixed it enough ,as used to stiring epoxy ?
Will try cling film test ,then another well stired coat .
Will report back in a couple of weeks .
Sailing getting in the way of maintenance next week .?
 
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