Devcon Troubles

[fishingdanderson]

I have been using Decon 2 ton epoxy, but something is going wrong.  It sets up very quickly(like 5 min tops).  I mean like rock hard in 5 min.  It's also so hot you can't even toich the mising cup.  I can only get a couple of spinnerbait heads coated before it's a gummy mess.  It starts to get gummy in about a minute and a half.  The only thing I can figure is I am working under one of those fluorescent replacement lightbulbs (150W).  This has happened everytime I've used the stuff.  It keeps the bubbles in the clearcoat because it's to stiff for them to work their way out.  Anyway if anyone has any ideas it would be much appreciated.  

Thanks,

Dan

[Oregon]

i don't know very much about it but to me it sounds like too much catalyst.

[flechero]

Assuming you measured 1 to 1 as the instructions call for, could you have mistakenly used/bought the Devcon 90 second, 2 minute or the 5 minute epoxy?  I have only seen the 90 second epoxy set that fast.  Sounds like you either bought the wrong one or got a mismarked unit.

I also use the fluorescent bulbs when in the garage and haven't had any reaction.  The epoxy sets by chemical reaction, which throws off heat, the heat itself is not the setting property per say.  There are certain slow set epoxies that can be greatly accelerated with added heat. (Smooth-On and a few others come to mind) but I haven't seen Devcon differ more than a few minutes (3-5) in the "30 minute epoxy"

[ernel]

Flechero pretty much nailed it. Go to wally world and pick up a new tube. Test it prior to use if you doubt the label.

Eric

[fishingdanderson]

Thanks guys.  I had two seperate tube do the same thing.  This is my first time to use it so I didn't know if there was something I wasn't supposed to do(lighting, heat, etc.).  they were both labeled 30 min 2 ton.  If they had a whole lot messed up at Walmart I guess it's possible that they were labeled wrong.  The only other thing would be if it was reacting with the little plastic dixie cup I was using to mis it up in.  It got so hot it melted the cup and was smoking.  I always used the vinyl clearcoat before which is durable but reacts with soft plastics eventually.  The stuff was rock hard in 4 to 5 minutes.  I know that sounds like 5 min epoxy but that means that 2 of them were labeled wrong.  I have one of those adustable desk lamps and am only working about 1 foot or so from the stuff.  The heat of it was what also threw me off.  It would have seriously burnt me if I would have been dumb enough to hold on to it.  Anyway,  thanks again.

Dan

[ernel]

Try mixing up a batch on aluminum foil to see if you get the same result. It may be reacting with the Dixie cup.

Eric

[BIG M]

I use plastic medicine cups to mix in, I doubt you bought 2 tubes that were mis labeled.  I have had some bad tubes that didn't set up properly.

Turn a coke can upside down and mix in the bottom portion and see if you still have the same trouble.  Heat will speed up the curing time a little but not that quick.  Now 2ton only has about 8min of working time before it starts getting sticky.