fiberglass resin question

[pnj]

Its too cold for you to harden right. Its like paint it takes a certain temperature for resin to harden. Also the resin should'nt come off of wood, it should soak right in. I would scuff it up with some sandpaper wherever your putting the resin. Then you'll have to keep it somewhere its not cold outside. Its going to smell horrible and probably give you a headache.

amazing! I woke up with a HUGE headache.....

it shouldn't smell as bad as it did lastnight though...so no worrys.

[tankguy]

pnj,

what type of resin and hardner did you use? I did a little project at home and the wife about choked me because of the smell. Best to do the layup outside or in a shop.

My guess is you may have used too little hardner. It will cure but will take a long time. The outside temp had a lot to do with the "stickiness". If you haven't peeled the stuff off yet, try sitting the planter in direct sunlight for a day or so. Depending on where you are located this may not work. May be better than throwing the fiberglass away. Expensive stuff now a days.

I have been able to cure resin with just direct sunlight before but it took about 6 days to do it.

good luck.

tankguy

[pnj]

right now, my wife can take it.. she's in the doghouse, so to speak....

I don't know the name brand. i got it at Lowes hardware. (big chain..)

I don't think we are going to see the sun anytime soon. but it's good to know it will cure with time. 'cause I have plenty of that...


will it cure at all with no hardner? just curious, I guess i'd find out over time by what has dripped out of the can....

*edit. I read your post a little closer...you cured JUST RESIN in six days..

[tankguy]

pnj,

I have a Lowes' here and I am familiar with the brand you are using.

I don't recommend curing resin without hardner. But, one of my operators' made a 350 lb part without hardner. Didn't want to throw it away, so I just let it sit out in the sun. Six days, 94 F, bright sun shine. I was surprised.

You may not get the same results since your temperature is low. But if you have nothing but time, would not hurt to let it sit for a while. Never know.


Fiberglass is good stuff to work with if you take your time. Alot of good information in this thread.

Good Luck.


Tankguy

[realitycheck]

No resin without hardener will not harden. I've had stuff sitting on the top of my gallon jug for like a year and it didnt harden. Its hardens by chemical reaction.
I think you should start over cause I dont know of a way of putting more hardener in it once you have it on the piece.
You should get it off scuff it up and keep it in the house to dry. I used that same stuff Lowes on my last fiberglass project for my car. It should say on the back how many drops of hardener for so many ounces of resin. I usually just guess and never have a problem I really think its the cold affecting yours. I would also scuff it up with the sandpaper, it should soak in the wood and stick really really well.

[pnj]

well, it wasn't dry when I got home but I brought it in the house and hit it with the heat gun. it seemed like it kind of worked.... I didn't check it this morning though....

[realitycheck]

Be careful with doing that, if you mix in too much hardener or put too much heat to it. It makes the fiberglass brittle.

[Pumpkinhead]

PNJ,
I'm sure you have some sunshine available, it is not the heat (although it does help) from the sun, but the UV that cross-links the resin, i'd tell you to weld in the planter but that's just stupid, it'd work, just stupid.