PocketShip.net

I have some general questions about epoxy and when I can handle the work. I am coming along on the keel assembly and have the blocking glued on one side of the keel, nose block glued one side and the centerboard trunk all glued up. All components are glued and clamped waiting to cure.

My questions is, when can I safely remove the clamps and work with the pieces? I would like to do some cleanup sanding/scraping of the epoxy drips and start glueing the whole assembly together.

I am using slow hardener and have been following the MAS table for cure times.
Can I safely remove the clamps after Thin Filmset or do I need to wait till full cure?
Can I do some cleanup sanding / scraping on the parts after Thin Filmset or do I need to wait till full cure?

My temperature in the Garage is in the low 60's and it is typically about 24 hours before I can do any additional work.

For any fiberglassing, I will be waiting for full cure times to begin sanding.

Thanks
Ron

2:1 Resin/Slow
Temp.
Pot Life / Thin Film Set / Full Cure
140 1.5m/28m/11:15h
131 2.25m/42m/16:52h
122 3.0m/56m/22.5h
113 5.75m/1:15h/30h
104 8.6m/1:52h/45h
95 11.5m/2:30h/2.5d
86 17.25m/3:45h/3.75d
77 23.0m/5.0h/5.0d
68 34.5m/7.5h/7.5d
59 46.0m/10.0h/10.0d
50 69.0m/15.0h/15.0d*
41 92.0m/20.0h/20.0d*
* Not recommended
s = seconds; m = minutes; h = hours; d = days

Hi Ron,

The thin film set times should be good enough to remove the clamps but I've always used a 12 hour rule myself. This usually means overnight since I try to clamp everything up in the evening.

Chris

thanks Chris.
It would most likely be about 24 hrs before I would attempt to remove. Typically doing work in the evenings and then coming back the next evening after work.