Epoxy shelf life?

Merrily

Administrator
I've been buying the little packets of West epoxy--the ones where you just cut off the end and squeeze and the resin and hardener sploosh out in perfect ratio and you mix them.

I'm out of little packets and need to do yet another small repair. It would be more economical to buy the resin and hardener in cans and mix it myself, but does this stuff have a shelf life? If by some miracle I don't need to do another repair until next summer, will it still be good?
 
I have had the hardener go bad (two years old or more) but never the epoxy resin. You can buy the hardener seperate for only a few $$. Keep in mind this is just my experience, you might check the West Systems web page for better information.
 
I agree with Jimmy on the shelf life of the hardner... If you use old hardner, the batch will not kick off and cure..
 
I have used West epoxy that is about 3 or 4 years old with success and I have also had 1 year old epoxy that has been bad. Always test a small batch before applying it to the boat if you are in doubt. I usually buy the smallest amount that will fit the pumps. I use it for all kinds of stuff besides the boat...very handy. Use gloves and follow the directions, the hardener is very nasty health wise. White vinigar can be used for clean up instead of acetone.
 
Merrily,
also important to that whats has been said above, is the ratio to mix the epoxy-resin with its hardener correct. If you do it not correct, perhaps the surface of the repaired area feels a bit sticky forever. So, mix the resin with the hardener always in the correct ratio, please.

Greetings from the country in Europe, that is in a "state of Soccer-emergency" since yesterday 19:30 p.m. Berlin-Summertime ... ;)
 
In theory both resin and hardener should have a very long shelf life ( I had the same cans for three years now). This can change dramatically if these are exposed to heat for prolonged period (such as leaving it in the trunck of your car in the middle of summer ) or humidity (if you don't close the lid properly on the bigger containers). Contaminant such as dirt also play a role. Hardener is the most sensitive of the two.

Epoxy is by far the thoughest of the resin but remember that it doesn't like gelcoat very much so don't plan to put gelcoat on top as a cosmetic finnish. It won't adhere well.

Annie
 
Ninie said:
Epoxy is by far the thoughest of the resin but remember that it doesn't like gelcoat very much so don't plan to put gelcoat on top as a cosmetic finnish. It won't adhere well.

Annie

Hey, maybe this is the problem. I had the urge to put epoxy over the fiberglass before gel coating, but I can't remember whether I did it or not. Hmmm. Hmmmm.
 

Back
Top