boat stuck in mould

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by whacker82, May 25, 2012.

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  1. tunnels

    tunnels Previous Member

    Using the containers that have scales marked on them buckets with litres one litre containers 2 liter containers and catalyst measures that have the scaled in cearly well marked easy to read graduations . If you are into bigger jobs there are small and larger squeezy containers with a scaled dispencer as a part of the bottle , simply set and squeeze and you get the same amount each time . they are not fool proof and you are a fool if you think they are fool proof ,but they are easy to use . dispencing small amounts is also easy with these types measures , you can recognise in a instant if you have put in to little catalyst before you stir it simply by looking at it . instantly your mind will say wow thats not much hardener for that amount of resin !!!.
    With all resins there is a percentage of plus and minus error that is acceptable and everything still works .
    So what your problems ??? and .3 is just about impossible to measure !!! :confused:
     
  2. tunnels

    tunnels Previous Member

    record what you do !! everything !!

    To save your self a lot of hear ache and bother make a job sheet and stick it up on the wall . write down every single step that you do and record what you used and how much and what percentage of catalyst you used . waxing the same , number of coats of wax , same kilos of gel coat how much and what percentage and how many ml did you use to a litre or 600 grams or what ever everything . after a while all the differant things take on a pattern to them and you will recognize instantly if you make a mistake because your sub consious mind will tell you .

    I still cannot believe what you said about the flow coat not going off !!! are you dealng in metric or imperial measurements for all your stuff ???.and how do you measure it ?? theres something amiss some where i am sure!!
    1.5 kilograms of flowcoat how much catalyst did you or would you mix with it ??? and what sort of a percentage would you get with the amount you just chose ????


    I used in nz gel coat and resin when its minus -6c and it still goes off just takes a while .
    Same here in China we never changed our resin till its in single figures below 8c and the gel coat we use 2 % catalyst and it goes off over night with minus - 10c just about had kittens when i saw them do it the first time , but it worked and we glassed the next day . Our resin here we promote with Cobalt to help give it a kick start in the winter .
     
  3. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    Noting personal, but if someone this numerically dyslexic told me he had problems getting stuff to cure, the first suspect would be an error of measuring.

    My local FG expert had an angry customer upset about losing a bunch of expensive epoxy not curing properly. He even brought a sample of the result in to the shop.

    As some stock from the same batch worked fine in the shop, someone had the bright idea of trying 5 parts of Part B ( 'catalyst') to 1 part of part A (the epoxy)

    Sure enough, they got the same results as the customer. Duuuh !!
     
  4. tunnels

    tunnels Previous Member

    how many people have container pumps ?? :eek: for quantity who has a proper epoxy pump, one lever !!,two pumps connected and pump both at the same time just move the handle any quantity from half a tea spoon to a couple of liters you get it right every time ! no guessing !!:confused:
     
  5. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    Boatbuilders might, but the cabinet makers had no idea. They wouldnt spend any more money on fancy plastic stuff :rolleyes:
     
  6. tunnels

    tunnels Previous Member

    JUST ONE MISTAKE is all and it would have paid for its self . i have container pumps on just the little 500 ml containers i use at home and had them for ever , the bigger double units every boat builder should have one coupled to 20 litre pails and in a special built box with a 60 watt bulb to keep the resin and hardener warm 24 /7 /365.
    they can be bought to pump bigger quantities as well !!:p
     
  7. whacker82
    Joined: Sep 2011
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    Location: ireland

    whacker82 Senior Member

    sorry about that, 30mil = 3% of cat,
    its flow coat alright it even says it on the tin.:p
    im sanding it at the moment, 220grit 600grit 1200grit 2000grit,
    i got a new sander but its too powerful so i have to hand sand it all, the holes in my hands have reappeared, nasty:(

    [​IMG]
     
  8. whacker82
    Joined: Sep 2011
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    Location: ireland

    whacker82 Senior Member

    my measurements are bang on as ye can see in the picture i get a serenge with my paint, nothing is amiss here it just would not cure without heat and thats just the way it is.
     
  9. hardguy007
    Joined: Jul 2012
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    Location: Ballymoney

    hardguy007 Junior Member

    i mixed flowcoat from gelcoat last winter and it was well below freezing and it cured the very best. Was actually starting to go off in the bucket before it was all used.
     
  10. whacker82
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 146
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    Location: ireland

    whacker82 Senior Member

    im not lying to ye, ive explained what i did and how i fixed it and it worked, i have a nicely painted boat hull now and its dry, and to me thats all that matters. moving on please.
     
  11. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    2000 grit??? I did not know they made it ,--might as well use toilet paper.

    I never used higher than 600, I want to get on with the job and it buffs out no probs.

    Ive flatted Ferrari's with 600 and buffed it.
     
  12. whacker82
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 146
    Likes: 2, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 33
    Location: ireland

    whacker82 Senior Member

    Well frosty that just makes you amazing
     
  13. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    I would'nt say amazing, Impatient possibly.
     
  14. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    That's a relief. Nothing like a miscalculation to make your day.

    Not wanting to go on about it ( I know you have had success eventually ), but others like me, wouldn't mind doing a bit of an autopsy, just in case we strike a similar problem. It is very unusual to have to go that hot to get a cure.

    The only other thing I can think of was the possible age and condition of the catalyst.

    Could we bother you for any information on the catalyst, name, age, bra size etc ?
     

  15. whacker82
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 146
    Likes: 2, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 33
    Location: ireland

    whacker82 Senior Member

    no problem, whats in the picture with the paint, serenge, and cat. thats exactly what i got all bran new
     
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