I am using a lite coat epoxy with several applications and am having trouble getting it to dry. I have had it drying for 4 days. Currently , I have it in front of a glass enclosed gas fireplace for periods of time (1 hour) at a time.

What can I do to speed the process or can it be fixed? I have a heat gun but there are decals in the area which would be ruined

Any ideas?

How are you mixing your epoxy? Some epoxies will not cure well if they are not mixed very precisely or if they are mixed in small quantities. Flex Coat for example doesn't set well if mixed in less than 3ML for each part and especially if it is not measured precisely with oral syringes.

Chances are that your resin/hardener ratio is off or you didn't thoroughly mix your epoxy prior to application - You can apply another coat, just make sure your ratio is correct and THOROUGHLY mixed

Epoxy will dry to a tack in 4-6 hours when mixed correctly. I would think that you have mis mixed your epoxy. Since it is not dry i would wipe of the uncured epoxy and redo the epoxy just making sure that the epoxy is mixed correctly. You may want to check the levels in your bottles as you may have mixed the hardner or the resin twice.

Rolly Beenen
Rovic Custom Rods

David,
Years ago, when just starting I had some issues with non drying epoxy. I chatted with a few fellows and one of them pointed out the need to mix for at least 120 seconds or 2 minutes.

I was mixing for a much shorter amount of time.

I now mix by the clock and always measure the part A and B exactly equal and mix for at least 120 seconds or 2 minutes.

Be safe

It is not mixed right
Try ( if you want to save the decals ) some heat with rod on the dryer rollers Don't turn It should soften and hang or drip to the bottom of the blank Then a soft brush or paper towel carefully you can whip it off
I put news paper under to drip on

next coat mixed right should harden Hope ya got some more decals in case ya need them

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2014 01:05PM by bill boettcher.

it is possible that when you mixed you measured twice out of the same bottle (don't ask me how I know this). Ain't never going to cure. Wipe it off and try again.

i mix while watching TV Not good If I am unsure of what I have mixed --- I send the cup to the trash and remix to be sure It is better to have wasted a littel then be where you are at

Bill - willierods.com

David,
If you applied too much epoxy it would cure faster than if less.

By now you must realize that you dispensed from the same bottle twice - resin and resin OR hardener and hardener.

Not enough to wipe off soft epoxy. You have to re-wrap the whole rod - unless the first coat cured properly and the last coat is sitting on top of cured epoxy. If the whole thing is uncured you have to remove the wraps because the uncured epoxy is in and around the guide feet and that will not cure causing the guides to be unstable.
Herb

X10 On Herb's comment.
If you have a spot of bad uncured finish on the rod, strip the rod of guides and epoxy and start from the beginning.

A soft foundation of epoxy - does not a good total package make!