Epoxy problem question

Sorry but I have been wanting to ask. I know this might lead to another of my vacations, but have you looked into making a 4:1 epoxy? Just seems like us stuck in the weather are really at a disadvantage with using SPI epoxy. I use the same analogy as the clears, 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 just have such different cure times.

I know the epoxy is great stuff and we need to follow the rules to use it, but when we get ready to spray, its time to spray, and not worry about going too soon where uncured epoxy is going to soften faster drying layers on top and create a mess.

There are just endless topics this time of the year from the guys that have to deal with winter temps and do not have year round sunshine to cure epoxy, or the weather for it not to be 30 degrees outside if there is sun.
 
I won't speak for Barry, but in years past I have asked the same question and so have many others. What it comes down to is that there are always tradeoffs for getting the desired properties. It was never said exactly what these tradeoffs were, but it was obvious to me that if Barry thought he could make a product that met his own personal standards AND would dry at low temps, he would already be doing it. I don't think we can imagine the tech support grief he's had to go through because guys consistently don't follow the rules in regard to temperature.

Basically what it came down to is that if you want a really low temp cure product, you have to get some industrial stuff that's meant for bridges, etc. It's not the mix ratio per se that controls this btw, it's the chemistry.
 
I figured as much, but considering how paints need to be catered to be used in california, just seems like there is a place to stay with SPI.

I get spec'd on the industrial epoxy that dries at 50 by the fuel pump meters we coat for airports that I have used on repairs before with no issues, just to use what we are supposed to use and have issues with fillers softening the good stuff.
 
It would be interesting to see if @Barry might be willing to give us some hints as to what gets traded off in a low-temp cure product. If it ever got mentioned, I've forgotten.
 
I'm pretty sure it's not just one thing. I would guess that flexibility and adhesion could also be affected as well.
 
I have sprayed epoxy in the winter with no issues. Keep your epoxy in a warm place or be sure to set it near the heater.
Warm the booth and especially the metal temperature to 70 degrees using an electric space heater. The epoxy can be inducing during the warm up stage.
When temperature is where you need it, shut the heater off, turn on the booth fans and shoot your first coat of epoxy. As soon as cloud clears booth, turn your fans off and the heater back on. Repeat for second coat after appropriate flash time.

After second coat leave the heater in the booth on overnight.
 
I figured as much, but considering how paints need to be catered to be used in california, just seems like there is a place to stay with SPI.

I get spec'd on the industrial epoxy that dries at 50 by the fuel pump meters we coat for airports that I have used on repairs before with no issues, just to use what we are supposed to use and have issues with fillers softening the good stuff.
Some epoxies will dry at 20 degrees, but you would not want them on your car. How fast does that gas meter travel on the expressway???!!!

I CANNOT make my epoxy do half of what it does at 4.1 0r 2.1.

Not sure what you were talking about, CA but we probably are the largest seller there with epoxy and Canada, but no way to know.

I always laugh when someone talks about how nice their private label
Or a cheap gallon of epoxy worked.
 
It’s similar to winter in Texas... LOL...

Don
No complaints allowed guys. I moved from upstate NY near Rochester and lake effect snow 30+ years ago. Lived in Garland, Texas for a couple of years, Florida for about 4 years and then moved to Arizona in 1998.

So glad I am a "former" New Yorker and have no desire to return.
 
I guess its the whole point, right now the trade off is not using SPI.
Some epoxies will dry at 20 degrees, but you would not want them on your car. How fast does that gas meter travel on the expressway???!!!

I CANNOT make my epoxy do half of what it does at 4.1 0r 2.1.

Not sure what you were talking about, CA but we probably are the largest seller there with epoxy and Canada, but no way to know.

I always laugh when someone talks about how nice their private label
Or a cheap gallon of epoxy worked.
I was talking about your VOC limits in California, how a couple years ago when the peanut packaging was a changing how some of the clears were not available to be sold there anymore. I thought that was what drove your new clear. Maybe I was mistaken, but that was what I was referring to for catering certain products to California, and seeing us guys who live with winters get shut down over the winter when we should be restoring what we will be driving in the spring.

In all honesty, half of what your epoxy does at 4:1 is probably still twice what we will get from using competitors stuff. To me its not really the temperature issue, its the maybe I will have to wait a week before I can put filler on this car even if I keep the booth at 70 for a week. If I am blasting and readying the car for restoration, I am probably not doing anything other than cutting and welding, even if I will even touch it, so its use the 1:1. But I just stripped this panel, cut out the rust, fixed the sheet metal, if I want to get this done I cant use SPI and possibly have to wait a week.
 
So digging around today, I found a few things I am going to be trying.


Seems to be a Tempco heater. I am not sure of the wattage because they only went to 250 in the Tempco catalog, but since these claimed 500w, I went this route. about 30 bucks. Claims its 900 degrees 6-8 inches from what you want to heat.

also since it said 500w, I found


5.90 each

Just in case, getting a couple 375 watt infrared bulbs, trying white this time since the red seem to create headaches.
 
No complaints allowed guys. I moved from upstate NY near Rochester and lake effect snow 30+ years ago. Lived in Garland, Texas for a couple of years, Florida for about 4 years and then moved to Arizona in 1998.

So glad I am a "former" New Yorker and have no desire to return.
I moved to Texas from the great white north 30 years ago. Also no desire to return.

Don
 
I moved to Texas from the great white north 30 years ago. Also no desire to return.

Don

My family moved from Texas to Massachusetts when I was 9 then to VA when I was 15. Wish we had never left Texas. Some of my best memories are of being a kid in Dickinson TX. Earl Campbell, Dan Pastorini, the Houston Oilers, crossing the bay going to Galveston Island. The Alamo. Texas Hill Country. My Mom telling me "don't look!!!" when we would pass "Gilleys" on Sunday morning going to Church. :DHappy times for me and my family. The weather now would probably kill me but at least I would die happy and a Texan again.:)
 
I moved here when I was 5 from Oregon. I can remember my brother complaining he couldn't breathe (it was August). Our first night in our new house, with no curtains, we had a severe thunderstorm. None of us kids had ever seen anything like that, and were really questioning my Dad's decision to move us down here:)
 
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