how long can epoxy sit?

S

Steves69LS3

hello everyone. this has probably been discussed before but im too lazy to look for it :) today at approximatly 12pm i mixed a quart of epoxy primer and sealed it in one of my SATA RPS cups. after hours of masking and wiping the day became too late and i still had to go to the store and get filters for my fans. tomorrow i work and plus its gonna rain matter of fact its gonna rain until saturday but im shooting inside im just worried about the humidity. will the epoxy still be good to shoot on possibly thursday mid-morning???

thanks for any help!

Steven
 
If it is in a sealed container and stored at 65-70f you will be good for up to 96 hrs or so.
 
Put it in the fridge and make sure to stir it well before spraying, it'll be fine I bet. If it mixes fine when stirring and you can spray it-no problems.
 
thank you guys. i brought it inside the garage and it is on a shelf in the basement. im pretty confident i will be spraying in 48hrs :)
 
Steve, if after 2-3 days it still might be another day or two just mix up a bit more epoxy and mix the old with the new. It resets the pot-life clock to zero again.
 
Bob, Barry told me very specifically not to put mixed epoxy into the fridge. That was a few years ago and things may have changed, though.

Basement is good though, I think. Nice constant 55-65° in most basements.
 
thanks everyone!! Boy am i really happy that i chose SPI. I wouldnt have had so many great people to help when you really need it!!
 
crashtech;13337 said:
Bob, Barry told me very specifically not to put mixed epoxy into the fridge. That was a few years ago and things may have changed, though.

Basement is good though, I think. Nice constant 55-65° in most basements.
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I've been doing it for a few years now and never had any problems, did he say why? I've had renewed batches going for weeks at a time-works great for me. It does eventually solidify though-even in the fridge.
 
I know Barry said to never put activator in the refrigerator.

Barryk;10 said:
As some of you know I get 30-100+ calls a day for tech help and a lot of these calls are from shops that don’t even use SPI and usually the rep from the paint company has just left and expounded his brilliance that you may have done something wrong. “You think?”

My idea here is some of the highlights of this week, so a newer painter can read and get off to a good start that is why there are no explanations, just keep it simple.


*Never use a rust converter of any kind. NO MATTER WHAT IT IS.
*Never clean metal or paint with lacquer thinner.
*Never use a metal prep UNLESS you are fully aware of how to neutralize properly.
*Never use an acid etch primer, unless you are doing used car work for a dealer or rental car work.
*Never even look at an aerosol can of primer.
*Never Soda blast UNLESS you fully understand how to neutralize it! Call us first so we can make sure you do it the right way.
*Never leave the top off an activator can any longer then it takes to pour it.
*Never store an activator in a refrigerator.
*Never use the by eye or glug method when mixing activators, use a measuring stick or a painters pail.
*Never try and fill an imperfection with a base coat.
*Never try to fill fish-eyes, if fish-eyes start, then stop.
*Never think a faster reducer in base is faster, use correct grade.
*Never wet floor if you live south of Mason Dixon line.
*Never mix more primer then can spray in 20 minutes.
*Then clean gun before mixing more to be safe.
*Before spraying check gun for spraying and adjustments, check air supply for water and air pressure.
*Never use a major’s low end base line, it is not cheaper and the potential for problems outweigh any savings.
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Bob Hollinshead;13345 said:
I've been doing it for a few years now and never had any problems, did he say why? I've had renewed batches going for weeks at a time-works great for me. It does eventually solidify though-even in the fridge.
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I wish I remembered. I hope he will drop in and explain it, or like I said maybe things have changed. I have a fridge at my shop and wouldn't mind keeping mixed epoxy in there. As it stands now I waste some from time to time.
 
A couple of things can happen and notice I said "can" perhaps "may" would be a better choice.

First freezing for dispersant's is considered 44 degrees and pigment could become unstable and may spray dirty and strainers or mixing will not help.
Second and worst risk is in the extreme cool down if the activator, created a second type alcohol, that can effect total cure and even make it where it never cures fully.
Third is the temperature can cause color instability where say black blushes or turns gray in a short time after spraying, can show up in 3-6 months, not a concern if painted over but a disaster if used for trimming or engine compartment.

What are the odds? Slim but it is my job to point out the worst case scenario, so the worst case scenario, don't happen.
 
Barryk;13352 said:
First freezing for dispersant's is considered 44 degrees and pigment could become unstable and may spray dirty and strainers or mixing will not help.
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I am pretty sure I have actually had this happen a few years back, where I received SPI epoxy from FedEx (on multiple occasions) that measured below freezing when delivered during the winter. Had a devil of a time trying to filter out the tiny particles for stuff that had to look good.

Still have some 50 micron bag filters that Barry sent me to help correct the problem!
 
It is rare but it can and does happen, only once this last winter and of the multiple gallons, Dan got only one went south, took us a while to figure out but pretty sure that was the cause.

5+ years ago, we shipped a case of black base to our jobber in Canada and what was funny only one gallon in the case went bad, maybe the pallet was next to a leak in the trailer and wind was only hitting the corner of the case? Who knows/
 
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