It's been unusually warm in Portland (see multiple other threads) however yesterday it 'cooled down' to the point that the high at 5pm was only 94 degrees Fahrenheit.
I attempted to apply some west system 105/205 epoxy to a red cedar strip amp cabinet that I have built to rehome my blues jr. I've worked with west systems product for quite a long time (boats, canoes, kayaks) and have always paid attention to the lower temp limits (where it just won't set) but had not given much thought to the upper threshold.
I mixed 1oz hardener with 5oz resin, in a disposable 16oz cup just as I've done dozens of times before. However yesterday I experienced what West describes as an "uncontrolled cure".
Y'all probably already know that warmer epoxy cures faster. It's also true that faster curing epoxy generates more heat. Under ideal conditions this heat dissipates as you are working with it, and doesn't rise to a point to be a problem.
But if your ambient temperature is high enough, that cycle of heat -> cure faster -> more heat -> cure faster -> more heat will run out of control, hot enough to melt a cup and potentially start a fire. Also the fumes that come off of hot epoxy are incredibly toxic.
Fortunately I was in the middle of my backyard, the wind was blowing, and as soon as I felt the heat through my latex gloves I realized what was happening - so I sat the cup down on a flat rock and pulled up a chair 10' away while I watched it melt (garden hose at the ready).
This could have gone sideways and I consider myself lucky. Stay safe folks.
Nate
https://www.westsystem.com/safety/u...rolled cure, mixed resin,you heat it too much.
I attempted to apply some west system 105/205 epoxy to a red cedar strip amp cabinet that I have built to rehome my blues jr. I've worked with west systems product for quite a long time (boats, canoes, kayaks) and have always paid attention to the lower temp limits (where it just won't set) but had not given much thought to the upper threshold.
I mixed 1oz hardener with 5oz resin, in a disposable 16oz cup just as I've done dozens of times before. However yesterday I experienced what West describes as an "uncontrolled cure".
Y'all probably already know that warmer epoxy cures faster. It's also true that faster curing epoxy generates more heat. Under ideal conditions this heat dissipates as you are working with it, and doesn't rise to a point to be a problem.
But if your ambient temperature is high enough, that cycle of heat -> cure faster -> more heat -> cure faster -> more heat will run out of control, hot enough to melt a cup and potentially start a fire. Also the fumes that come off of hot epoxy are incredibly toxic.
Fortunately I was in the middle of my backyard, the wind was blowing, and as soon as I felt the heat through my latex gloves I realized what was happening - so I sat the cup down on a flat rock and pulled up a chair 10' away while I watched it melt (garden hose at the ready).
This could have gone sideways and I consider myself lucky. Stay safe folks.
Nate
https://www.westsystem.com/safety/u...rolled cure, mixed resin,you heat it too much.
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