What *doesn't* stick to epoxy?

[Kelpie]

I want to pass a bolt through an area of thickened epoxy and be able to remove it after the epoxy has set. Can I coat the bolt in something to ensure that it will come back out?

 

[superheat6k]

I want to pass a bolt through an area of thickened epoxy and be able to remove it after the epoxy has set. Can I coat the bolt in something to ensure that it will come back out?

Cling film perhaps

 

[TimBennet]

Brown parcel tape.

 

[single]

Spray on wax?

 

[TradewindSailor]

There's lots of things that won't stick to epoxy, but for your task either run the threads through an oily or greasy ray, or use a wax like a car wax.

Other materials that won't stick:
Polythene,
Water,

 

[VicS]

I want to pass a bolt through an area of thickened epoxy and be able to remove it after the epoxy has set. Can I coat the bolt in something to ensure that it will come back out?

You don't say if this is for the threaded part or the plain shank of the bolt.

In either case a mould release agent http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/c-819-release-agents.aspx or a similar domestic product eg wax polish, silicone polish or spraay if silicone will be acceptable ( note in this context PVA is polyvinyl alcohol , not polyvinyl acetate as in wood glue)

Alternatively would it be acceptable to drill ( and tap?) the hole afterwards

 

[raven]

I used Vaseline to stop rudder shaft sticking to an epoxy spacer that I set in the tube. Worked a treat.

 

[Kelpie]

It's the threaded part of the machine screw (yes I know I said bolt...)
Only about m4 so not going to wrap it in tape. Well, maybe.
Furniture polish? Think that has silicone in it.

 

[TradewindSailor]

Don't use cling film. It is too weak to separate easily from the epoxy.

 

[Poignard]

I've used FryLight cooking oil spray for preventing epoxy sticking to fasteners. May as well use it for that because it's not fit to eat.

 

[30boat]

Vaseline is perfect for that purpose.

 

[William_H]

I would use plumber's teflon thread sealing tape. That will pull deep into the thread of even a small bolt. The epoxy will mold into the thread however it should be possible to unscrew it after epoxy has hardened. Or as said wax or grease good luck olewill

 

[John the kiwi]

Get an M4 die nut and make a section of threaded rod out of wax.
do your epoxying with it in place and melt the wax out with a hair dryer when it has set....
At this size though, drilling and tapping after the fact is probably the way to go.
Good luck.

 

[cimo]

another advocate for vaseline. no end to its uses.

 

[Kelpie]

PTFE tape sounds perfect, why didn't I think of that

 

[ghostlymoron]

Our cleaner's dog ate a jar of vaseline last week. So it also doubles as dogfood. I wouldn't be without a jar!

another advocate for vaseline. no end to its uses.

 

[TimBennet]

I would never allow vaseline to be used in the composite shop. If you put it on too thickly it could be 'lifted off' when you puddle the epoxy around the bolt and contaminate the epoxy in the boundary area and weaken any threaded portions for fasteners. It might work, but it might compromise other things. Not good working practice. Stick to waxes or PVA.

The standard tape for all 'non-stick' work is brown parcel tape. It's thin and can be used to form super smooth mould surfaces.

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

You need to ask yourself whether you actually want the thread preserved in the set epoxy, i.e. are you using the part of the bolt that is screwed into this to clamp something else to it, or are you putting the bolt through it to clamp two parts together using a nut on the end? If the latter, the thread will be a disadvantage as you can clamp tighter if the hole is flush, in which case, wrap a piece of parcel tape around it without pushing it into the threads.

 

[alant]

I want to pass a bolt through an area of thickened epoxy and be able to remove it after the epoxy has set. Can I coat the bolt in something to ensure that it will come back out?

PVC.

 

[VicS]

PVC.

PVC ????