tacky flow coat

[two stroke mick]

48 hrs ago i flow coated the deck of clewless. air temp circa 12 degrees. i used 1 % mek. 48 hrs later the deck is tacky waxy to the touch. i believe this is due to the lack of mek for the given temp. I tried heating the deck with fan heaters for several hrs at about hr 38 but it did not improve matters. I have since taken a chance and brushed in some extra mek onto the deck of the boat. when I did this I could feel the heat come off the flow coat. the waxy/tackey fell appears to have gone. bets on this working? or am I destined to scrape off the new flow coat and go again. I will wash off the surplus mek if any still exists in a few hrs time.

TSM

[A1an]

Maybe I'm picking you up wrong, you used MEK instead of catalyst?

[Tim&Linda]

well if it was me I will remove it and start again do your mixture 2.5% on warm days above 15 degrees and 4.5 % -5% on days above 10 degrees,

[two stroke mick]

sorry I thought they were the same for flow coat?

[A1an]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

sorry I thought they were the same for flow coat?

I wasn't aware they were the same, I was under the impression MEK was a cleaning solvent?

[Tim&Linda]

sorry not sure about this one but I always used catalyst dont know much about Mek but just done my searider hull in flow coat and catalyst

[A1an]

Originally Posted by Tim&Linda

well if it was me I will remove it and start again do your mixture 2.5% on warm days above 15 degrees and 4.5 % -5% on days above 10 degrees,

Blimey, you must work like lightening, I use 2% regardless of temp.

[Tim&Linda]

Originally Posted by A1an

I wasn't aware they were the same, I was under the impression MEK was a cleaning solvent?

Mek is what they used to clean hypalon

[Tim&Linda]

Originally Posted by A1an

Blimey, you must work like lightening, I use 2% regardless of temp.

No I JUST TELL HER TO WORK FASTER

[A1an]

Originally Posted by Tim&Linda

No I JUST TELL HER TO WORK FASTER

I take it you wear the trousers




























Because she lets you

[Tim&Linda]

yes I got her permission to say that I did ask

[ncp]

There's a difference between methyl ethyl ketone and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. You used the wrong one. Now, I'm not a chemist, but maybe straight MEK did cause a reaction. But, to be sure, you'd probably want to scrape and use the correct catalyst - methyl ethyl ketone PEROXIDE.

[butty]

Ncp has hit the nail on the head there.

And your mixing ratio is correct, 1% is fine! Average recommends 2%, if you use too much catalyst you will cause the resin/gel to exotherme which will lead to other issues such as weakness or de lamination.

If you are mixing up a large quantity use 1% and put I a container that is shallow , this will reduce the overall temp in the pot and stop it from heating itself up too quickly.

I laminated 3 large mouldings last week in my unheated work shop all resin was mixed at 1% and it's all gone off fine.

[two stroke mick]

I used the cataylist that was provided however i believe that temps were too low. I think I will have to scrape off and go again or is there another way can i flow coat over flow coat?

[A1an]

I once applied the flowcoat too thin and it never went off, I believe it was so thin that the wax never sealed the surface hence it staying tacky.


I mixed up another batch the next day and applied it on top of the tacky layer, it all went off with no problems.

Maybe try a test patch?

[whisper]

Mick, call me if you need to. Alex 07778 555884

[two stroke mick]

alan

I note that where the flow coat is thick, it set fine the problem is were it was applied thin/ light

tsm

[A1an]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

alan

I note that where the flow coat is thick, it set fine the problem is were it was applied thin/ light

tsm

Personally, Id lightly wipe down acetone/cellulose then recoat with flowcoat and the correct catalyst.

[two stroke mick]

alan

I take that to mean scape off the flow coat grind back down and go again.

[biffer]

Sounds like not enough wax additive in the Gell