At what temperature is good to epoxy rod guides.the temperature in my garage is between 55* and 60*

That's a bit low and you'll find the epoxy a bit thick to easily work with, not to mention that it'll take a long time to set and cure. If you can get the temp above 65F you'll be better off.

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Ok thanks for the info I'll have bring in the house then make the wife happy

Larry

If you really want to make the wife happy, tell her you will be happy to dust, clean floors, etc. AFTER the epoxy cures. That is always good for mega points with She Who Must Be Obeyed and helps keep the dust off fresh epoxy in the bargain.

in my years of using epoxies I have found that temp of 65 - 70 is prefect and medium to low humidity for curing.
you can get a ceramic heater at the home improvement store and you have to remember that heat rises so heater on the floor and the project at the edge of the bench some guys have made a tent like enclosure around their work area out of a plastic tarp. it also helps with keeping the dust down.

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/2017 04:35PM by Matthew Paul.

Humidity has no effect on the setting and curing of epoxy.

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true it doesn't affect the cure but it does affect the thread

Humidity has no effect on the setting and curing of epoxy.

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

Larry

My advice is to follow the instructions from the manufacturer, because if one has issues with the product the first question that is asked is “did you follow the instructions”.
If you deviate from the MFG recommendations and the results exceeds expectation all well and good if it does not then resort back to the manufacturer’s requirements.

To answer your question, I personally do not apply epoxy below 65 degrees F.

John

Matthew, how is it that humidity effects nylon thread, I'm curious? Seems to me it would take a huge amount of humidity to have any effect on applying epoxy to thread wraps.

Nylon has a tendency to absorb moisture, whether submersed in water or taking the humidity out of the air. When it absorbs, it expands, when it “dries out”, it shrinks
Tom is correct in that humidity has virtually no effect on epoxy’s ability to cure, other than higher relative humidity may promote “amine-blush” or a thin waxy film on the surface. The amine blush is formed when the surfaces of most 4-to-1 structural epoxies are exposed to oxygen, and after all, water is composed of oxygen. I have not experienced any amine blush with any or the 1-to-1 epoxies within the rod building epoxies. So go ahead and build your rod while floating on the pool.
Most common epoxies are designed to optimally cure at 72*F. Above that the cure rate is accelerated, and below that they are decelerated, both on a geometric, not linear scale. Any catalyzed epoxy (basically thermo-plastic) will eventually cure at low temperatures (given above 0*K) but the time required may not be practical. Excessive temperatures while the epoxy is curing risk compromising the ultimate qualities and integrity of the epoxy. As I have previously mentioned, virtually any epoxy will benefit from a post heat cure of =<150*F.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

I agree with Mark and recommend a post cure for this application.

The post cure process will improve the mechanical properties as well as the temperature resistance of most epoxies. Therefore post curing the epoxy at a temperature higher than the material will see in use is recommended. I guess the analogy could be the same as tempering of steel.

Depending on the epoxy used post curing should be initiated between 12 hours and before full cure at room temperature, this is important because after the epoxy FULLY cures at room temperature post curing will have no effect on the materials properties.

GENERALLY recommended cure temperature for RIGID materials is 175 degrees F for 8 to 24 hours.
GENERALLY recommended cure temperature for FLEXIBLE materials is 140 degrees F for 8 to 24 hours.

These are GENERAL recommendations NOT GOSPEL and varies for different materials and epoxies..

John

90% OF MY MONEY IS SPENT ON FISHING THE OTHER 10% I JUST WASTE!

My recommendation for keeping the wife happy. Put a sheet of foil (Reynolds wrap) on the table the length of your rod. Any epoxy spills/drips will be of no worry.

I do all of my epoxy work inside the house. My dryer is set up in a small utility room where I can close the door and turn on a small space heater. No worries about cool temperatures.