Fiberglass help

OK all you fiberglass guys out there i have a question. I was doing some finishing fiberglass work on my boat a couple of weeks ago. It started to set up then it stopped. The stuff is still kind of soft and sticky. Did i not use enough hardener? Can i just put another coat over it? Any ideas?

Thanks, Dan

If you need to put another coat on, go ahead, but this time mix it super hot and work fast. Just keep in mind, if you mix it too hot, it could do some major warping and cracking!!!!! If at all possible, sand the bad spots off and do them again. Hope this helps, Good Luck!!!

Something else... if you decide to sand, use 60 grit and have a bunch on hand!!! Being tacky, it will clog your sandpaper rather quickly!!!

thanks, i might try another coat and see what happens.

Thanks, Dan

Goesman.

Here is what I think.
DONT try to repair bad stuff by covering it with good stuff. It will allways be rotten inside.
I suggest that you remove ALL the bad (never hardening) stuff in the rough way. Some brutal sanding could do it. Then rinse the area carefully with a little acetone.
After drying I (personally) would fill the gap or area with the filler called "microballoons", that are based on mixing with epoxy.
Microballoons has a very strong glueing effect. It should not sink during hardening. It should be easy to sand to a smooth surface. And it weighs close to nothing.

Warning: Microballoons is a microscopic powder that can penetrate your skin. Handle with care and allways wear rubbergloves etc. to protect your health.

Cheers!
Woodie

You could also try some heat. Try putting it in the sun for a few days. I had some once that did that on a cold night. Left it for a week in a sunroom and it did set. Depending on how soft & tacky - you could try to rub it off with acetone.

Winter here in NZ, so I sometimes use a heat light.

Never mix up resin to cook off too fast. It will not be strong. Always mix the resin/hardiner as per manufacturers instructions. No more/no less.
West Systems has their fast set hardiner as an alternative, and you definately don't want to mix that too strong. I nearly had a fire one night by being careless!
David

sounds like too much catalyst, always mix at 2-3%, use wax in styrene- mw solution to make a sandable surface, some resins come pre waxed and need to be sanded to make a mecanical key others are unwaxed and will remain tacky until a 'hot coat' is applied.
woodie is right, start over, dont cover up crap.

Its really not that bad now. I will give it a sanding and see what happens. I am going to get me some stuff so i can measure every thing out next time.

Dan

My dentist helped me with this question some years back, on a row boat I was building,
they use ultra violet light (sun light ) to speed up curing in the office.
I have a pocket air purifier, ultra violet light, I'll set up on a slowly curing spot.
Or put it out in the sun, which doesn't show up very often here in the northwest.
Tap

you need uv cure catalyst for that, its poop compared to peroxide, dont waste your time use, epoxy vynal ester or bog standard polyester. remember polyesters will not adhere to kevlars or carbon or any other material that is shiny. always try to use epoxy.