Cold Weather Resin Curing

[GeekStation]

Hey guys,

I've been working on a custom Batman build for a local convention (thread forthcoming), and I need some advice. I finished pepping my cowl, and I'm ready to start applying the resin. It's been cold out though, and I was wondering what the lowest curing temperature is for resin or if there was any cold-weather tips you could give for working with resin.

Thanks!!

Ryan

 

[Contec]

Should say on the resin package what the temperature should be for it to work.

 

[GeekStation]

Well, it says the optimum working temp is around 55-60, but I'm wondering what the lowest temperature would be for it to work

 

[Duncanator]

I wouldn't go much below the "optimum" temperature that the manufacturer states. In fact, you should store them in that range too or you risk the resin components being compromised.

I had the unfortunate occasion when making a fiberglass mold for a client on a cold winter night when the epoxy gelled but never cured hard. The cold killed the catalyzation process.
I gave it three days before I gave up and had to scrape the gummy half cured goo off my part so I could do it again.

Heed the warning!

 

[anton the swede]

what you can do to accelerate the curing process is to heat up the Components Before mixing. have had to do so a few times due to cold Swedish weather.

 

[cavx]

When I was mixing flexible urethane in Winter, I used to warm the product up in a tub of hot water. Now that is it summer and we are having a heat wave, I have to either wait until the evening when the temp drops below 30 degrees C, or stand the bottles in a cold tub of water.

 

[Professor Steve]

Been there a few times myself when building a Dalek in the UK. Heaters ( some distance away) and also, doubling up on the catalyst will help. I have also used a hairdryer on smaller pieces. I have had Fiberglass set fine in 0 degrees C temp using these methods.
Good luck with it

 

[robn1]

Extra catalyst is fine with polyester resin, but polyurethane and epoxy must be mixed in the proper ratio. Some epoxy brands have a fast catalyst that can be used in cold weather.

My shop is tough to keep warm, even with an electric heater it's usually just 60F. I can cast OK, but it takes longer to cure. Sometimes I warm up epoxy a little just because it gets too thick.

 

[whitetiger187]

I always warm everything up inside by fireplace/ heater first, and then bring what I have back inside and let it cure inside by the fireplace / heater. This may be to simplistic but it's what I do.

 

[GeekStation]

Thanks for the tips guys! I will definitely heed the warnings!