What are your practices when applying a final (2nd) coat of epoxy, do you thin with acetone or what???

For me the second verse is the same as the first. I don't thin epoxy (think it's akin to playing chemist without a degree) though others do. The second coat might be the tiniest bit heavier than the first, but it's a very close call. If I want or need to be certain the second coat is the final coat I'll use a high build formulation over a medium or light viscosity first coat. Don't mix and match different epoxy brands over one another.

Darrel,
The very very very best thing to do with epoxy rod finish is to NEVER EVER thin it.

The epoxy is chemically designed to have the best cure and the greatest strength to be used in the mixing ratios specified by the manufacturer.

You may read in various literature that you can thin the epoxy with Acetone or other Solvents. But, the fact remains that the epoxy will be at its best - with out ever adding a thinner of any sort.

The danger that one runs when adding a thinner is that the epoxy encapsulates the thinner without ever being part of the chemical cure process. As a result, a person may end up with droplets of solvent suspended in the cured epoxy. A less than perfect finish.

If you need to get the finish to flow out a bit more - as you are finishing a rod, simply apply a bit of GENTLE heat. The heat will thin the epoxy and will let if flow out like water.

Good luck



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2017 01:59PM by roger wilson.

Darrel

Great question, do not thin the second coat. If you are going to thin, only thin the first coat. Thin it at a 15 to 1 ratio with Acetone.

I would bet that there are almost no chemical engineers that read this forum, but from what we know is that many high end manufacturers that use Flex Coat thin their first coat because it makes sense in their production practices. They use Acetone or DNA. With many decades gone by with these practices proves that with the right technique and attention to the process, this is a harmless and effective practice. However, for the hobbyist or small manufacturer it may not make sense to thin the finish. I am not personally an epoxy formulator, but you can't argue with those real world facts outside of a laboratory.

With all of this said, Roger is right in that gentle heat is a good alternative to thinning. That is what I choose to do on the few rods that I build. A heat gun, lighter, or torch are good heat sources. Just be careful not to scorch the finish, your rod, or the cork. With the heat gun it is possible to blow dust into the air so keep a clean shop and table.

Flex Coat Company
Professional Rod Building Supplies
www.flexcoat.com

A 100W or so light bulb is a surpricingly good source for heating epoxy. It is gentle compared to flame etc so you'll not scorch anything by accident and will not stir the air either.

-Miki-

Thanks everybody for the GREAT advice, using heat seems to be the answer I needed and I have a heat gun!!! Thanks again all!!

A heat gun can provide more heat than needed and also can blow a lot of dust around. If you have one a hair dryer is good.

Phil,
You have no issues with the heat gun blowing dust around, if you don't have any dust in the work shop.

This is exactly why I do 0 sanding and shaping in the room where I do my guide wrapping and finish application.

From time to time, I open the windows in the shop and use an electric leaf blower to really blow out any possible vestige of dust that might just happen to be anywhere - walls, ceiling, shelves, or closets - up and out the windows with the help of the blower

Pretty simple to keep the dust gone - when you don't generate any dust from any activities in the work shop.

Good luck

You may find that you do not need any sort of thinning for your 2nd application. You can apply epoxy as thinly as you want. Just put on less. Using a stiffer brush will tend to do this automatically.

.........

I fully agree with Tom. I don't need to do anything with the epoxy except let it do what it wants to do. Be sure to use a light formula and let it do it's thing.

Jay, What do you mean by a "light formula"

Darrel:
Regular vs. Lite formula:

[flexcoat.com]

The regular finish mixes up thicker than the lite formula. When coating thread wraps, one can coat a rod wrap with regular mix in one or two coats of finish. However when using lite formula, one will need two or three coats of finish for similar coverage.

Good luck