activators/hardeners

danp76

danp76

Oldtimer
It's my understanding that epoxy activators last a long time...do they get weak over time, like an isocyanate hardener? If yes or no why do they or why do they not? If they do get weak, am I sacrificing a job because of this? One reason I ask is because the gallon container of epoxy activator is a great price and a big savings over the quarts. Secondly, clear coat activators do get weak as I understand it. At what point should they not be used? What I mean is realistically I have used 8 yr old clear and activator with no apparent notice in difference in sprayability, etc...am I doing a disservice to the job by doing this? Is the clear actually weaker without me knowing it? at what point, no questions asked is clear coat activator no good? I don't want to jepordize any job at the same time don't wanna throw away good activator...? as I said 8 yr old or older clear and hardener been on shelf forever and seemed to work fine...infact never had an activator go bad on me, or has it gone bad and I just don't know it? I guess my point is brand new clear will be hard in the mxing cup the next day, my old activators are also hard in the mixing cup next day...so this doesn't really tell me if the older stuff has lost strength. Any real definitive way to know? or is it just assumed not to use even if it does harden in the mixing cup?
 
anything i have that was that old would go in the trash . if i catch a vendor selling me something that old his ass is mine. no way in hell would i risk using it on one of my jobs.
 
there's ALOT of factors that go into this. if unopened in a climate controlled environment it is going to last longer, obviously, than if already opened once sitting on the shelf in cold/hot temps.

i personally wouldn't risk using something that old..spi cans have dates on them, and i mark the date that i open them. i go through stuff pretty quick so i never really have products on the shelf for more than 4-6 months. and thats on very rarely used items. clears and primers go quick.
 
I have never had any problems with any SPI activators whatsoever. The problem I do have is other companies have given me a sample of this, and a sample of that, and they have accumulated on the shelf...When I have a "favor" job to do I bust them out, but as I say they are begining to get old...they still harden fine in the cup, but does that mean they are still durable on the car?...guess there is no real way to know?
 
With the clear and primer activators if overnight the product gels you are really good to go.

Now, let say the activator had been opened before, will you be able to tell if it has weakened? Not really with out a jell test with a good product next to it or have knowledge of the gel time.
If activator is 10% weaker, could you tell? Most likely not. Would 10% be a concern? Not really.
 
so just leave a few drops out over night and if it gels its good to go? i had my first gallon of spi clear for a couple years used in small amounts with no problems!
 
406. yea just a teaspoon amount of each will tell you if reactive or not, there is no way you could figure out the weakness--if weak or not so you want it cured over night.
 
If your activator looks like this..... its bad.

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