Nuke it

[Reddiver]

When I talked to the guy from Raka he told me to Micro wave the epoxy for 15 to 20 seconds and it would make it flow better.. I scored a little Micro wave at a garage sale today for 20 bucks so I guess I could call him and ask but do you heat the components and then mix them or the mix??

[Juneaudave]

I've nuked the components before...but only because I was having problems wetting out some heavy 9 oz cloth. What's going on that makes you feel you need to make you want to lower the viscosity?

[Reddiver]

Nothing I havent even tried the stuff yet . The guy at Raka said that it would help it flow but it woud go off faster. But for 20 buck I can use the Micro Wave use it in the shop to rewarm my coffee. He is in Florida I am in the Bay Area (CA.) a lot cooler . Just asking if anybody else has heard of doing that

[Esteban]

Steve, if you nuke the epoxy do it before you mix it. Otherwise it may harden too fast. You can accomplish nearly the same result by letting the sun warm up the resin and hardener bottles before you mix up a batch. If you mix a batch with fast hardener I would not warm it too or you may end up with a smokey hockey puck. The reason to warm it AFAIK is to thin the viscosity so it soaks into your wood better. The pumps from Raka are a good investment. I've ruined way too much epoxy with bad mixes measured by eye in mixing cups. It's counter intuitive...using too much hardener ends up with a soft, gummy, epoxy. After you mix the epoxy spread it out on your wood surface or in a paint tray to help keep it from setting up too fast.

BTW, sure would like to see you and your new teardrop at the SLO Gathering Sept. 10-12.

Steve (from SLO).

[Reddiver]

Thanks Steve I dont know if its necessary, but guy at Raka knows alot more than me about this stuff.. I have never used it and am frankly a little nervous..
Steve is SLO going to be at the same place? Have you finished your trailer? I could have it done by Sept..

[Esteban]

Reddiver,

I was nervous using epoxy the first time too. It's easier than I expected. A good idea for your first time might be to mix a small batch only with slow hardener to give you plenty of working time. Test it in an out of the way place or on scrap wood. I started by sealing the bottom of the floor with epoxy. Figured it was out of sight and a good place to practice.

Where I later boo booed was on a wall when I mixed a batch with too much hardener. Not good. After a few days the epoxy was still gummy. I had to use a heat gun and sander to peel, sand and scrape it off. Not fun. At the time I didn't have pumps to measure batches of hardener and resin accurately enough.

I attached the walls to the floor permanently last week. Plan to have the teardrop done well enough to go camping on Sept. 10-12 for the SLO Gathering III and to go to Spamboree X near San Diego a couple of weeks later. The location of this years SLO Gathering will be at Lopez Lake Recreation Area near Arroyo Grande, CA. We'll be camping in the Beaver Campground overlooking the lake. Each camp site has electricity and bathrooms with hot showers are nearby. There's sign up information about it in the South West forum. Maybe you can set coming to the SLO Gathering as a goal to be done enough to be campable, or all done!, by then?

SLO Gathering III Sept 10-12, 2009

[Reddiver]

Thanks Steve
I bought the pumps the mixing cups have read the instructions, have tossed and turned. Have had it wake me in the middle of the night.. Have had nightmares about it . I have paid for a movie and cant get the Epoxy out of my head enough to follow the story. I guess I am ready .. Maybe I can get the lid on it by Sept that would be fun.

[madjack]

RD, the only way I would ever consider doing such would be if the epoxy itself was under 60*s, I was innna real hurry and the air temps were low as well..........
madjack

[Reddiver]

Madjack thanks It wont be cold when I do it.