is there any thing that can Thin epoxy some ?? it was pointed out to me that DNA is not the best to use when trying to thin it some ,[ that was what I was using] , know that HEAT will make it flow better , but it speeds up the curing time , any help out there , I am lost on this problem ,

William Sidney
AK

No epoxy formulators recommend this but, if you must, then Acetone. It's more volitile than DNA and will leave the mix more quickly.

Is there a reason you need to thin it?

.............

I put 2,3 drops (from an eyedropper) acetone in a 1cc total mix. I use D-2. I know , you're not supposed to mix less than 3cc., but I'm not selling finish , I'm buying it.

Why not simply use Lite formulatoins of epoxy, then you will not be screwing with the molecular link up that is designed into the epoxy? Epoxy doesn't "dry," it cures due to the chemical reaction of linking molecule to molecule of the resin and hardener. It is a chemical reaction like combining oxygen and hydrogen to produce water. Putting other molecules into it has the risk of messing up the intended linking. Lite will get thinner with a little heating without messing with the molecular linking. The manufacturers do all kinds of research and experiments to make the product as good as they can and people think they can improve it with their own additions of something or other. If that would make it better the manufacturer would have already done it or recommended it.

I have used DNA for the last 10 years , an one of the well known person's on this site said not to use DNA so I was wondering if there was some thing else , I went on the web
looking an it said to use heat , DNA, ACETONE , I mixed up a batch with Acetone an it did not go well , [trash] [use 33 % ratio ] . will try it with 5% to 7% , as the site I went says to use , an see how it works out , just looking for a better way , THANKS FOR THE INFO ,

William Sidney
AK

You may remember this thread from about a year ago concerned with thinning epoxy. Look at John Cates Comments about acetone.
[rodbuilding.org]
Norm

Tom Kirkman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No epoxy formulators recommend this but, if you
> must, then Acetone. It's more volitile than DNA
> and will leave the mix more quickly.
>
> Is there a reason you need to thin it?
>
> .............
if you would answer why you want to thin it we can give you a better answer

but here is what I do but again very rarely do I have the need to thin epoxy
I portion out the epoxy and mix it as normal and then add acetone a few drops at a time till I get the consistency I want .
as Tom said it does evaporate from the mix faster than DA.
with all the different types of epoxy available why thin it just but the 2 oz kits and your good to go high ,medium ,and light build and don't for get about using Perma gloss for super light coats

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

By a 33% ratio of acetone I assume you mean one part resin, one part hardener, and one part acetone by volume. If so, that is the approximate mix to made clear or transparent wraps using natural silk (silk not dyed) and lite viscosity finish. It's A LOT of acetone.

The ratio recommended by John Coats was 1 part acetone to 15 parts finish. Said another way, you would mix 7 1/2 ml each of hardener and resin and then add 1 ml of acetone. If you make the typical 6 ml mix (3 ml each of resin and hardener) the volume of acetone would be less than 1/2 ml.

Rather than break my brain figuring out mix ratios by volume or weight, or playing junior chemist, I either apply multiple coats of a lite viscosity finish, or first apply a thin, lite viscosity finish coat followed by a single high build coat.

It would seem to make more sense to use a lite build epoxy to begin with.

I like the results I get with the finish I use. On the rare occasion that I'd like it a little thinner I thin it. I will be ordering Flexcoat lite in the future.

I was using some epoxy on CARBON FIBER grips an wanted the epoxy to sink in better on the first coat , an it looks like I went to far
YES 1 part A & 1 part B & 1 part DNA or acetione is 33% mix, the way I look at it , will cut the ratio down from now on ,

William Sidney
AK

For this usage, best is 1 coat on the core, when dry put you carbon sleeve and epoxy and use some heat (heatgun) to help good soaking.

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Eric
[www.emfishing.fr]