I don't want to waste my epoxy resin. I am ready to mix the first epoxy coat of the EXTERIOR port and starboard portions of the bare wood panels 2 & 3. How much should I batch mix?

I expect that later coats will require less. How much should I mix in total for those epoxy batches?

Air temps are between 70-degrees F and 80-degrees F.

Chuck.

Hi Chuck
I found that if I mixed enough resin to do my whole boat it would kick off before I had a chance to finish. Rather it started kicking off and got warm and thicker. I got around this by mixing smaller quantities and applying the resin in sections following the various panels. It helped to separate the resin in several smaller containers too. Since it takes no time at all to go and pump up another batch, I lost almost no material. The resin takes a while to cure so I didn't have any trouble with keeping a wet line, the new stuff just blended in. Make sure that you really mix it up well. Pay special attention to the bottom and really scrape the corners. I used plastic disposable glasses of various size to mix my resin.
Christine

Sorry, Christine, but I didn't complete my reply;

I was asking you what you considered to be small batch: 3-oz (2-oz : 1-oz); 6-oz (4-oz : 2-oz); or 9-oz (6-oz : 3-oz)?

Thank you for your reply.

Chuck.

Chuck if its the same epoxy as I used 5 years ago, I would only work with small batches(2 to 6 ounces). Also have a clock and thermometer in your work area. If the instructions call for you to stir for "x" minutes use the clock to be sure.

greg.

Thank you, Greg. That's what I needed to know. Your advice is appreciated.

Chuck.

Hi Chuck
I don't think I really did any quantity much larger than about 4 oz at a time.
Christine

Hi, Greg & Christine:

I found that mixing 4-oz of epoxy resin with 2-oz of hardener works best. In 85-degree F to 90-degree F air temperatures, the batch lasts about 30 to 35-minutes from the time the ingredients first contact one another. That's when I decided to do my epoxying in the evenings after sunset whenever possible or before dawn. I tried one 8-oz:4-oz batch at noon one day, but it started to gel within 25-minutes. That was the first and last time that I will use such a large batch. Even though it would have covered the entire exterior of the boat except for finishing the rails.

One thing I did notice was that at warmer air temperatures (85 to 90-degrees F), the epoxy/hardener coating is a lot less viscous, flows on thinner and more rapidly. So to cover the fiberglassed areas took one extra coating (4) more than I had expected (3) before the fiberglass cloth weave had dissappeared. However, I am limiting the epoxy coating on the non-fiberglassed areas to no more than 3 coats. I don't want the boat to be too heavy.

Thank you both for all of your advice.

Regards,

Chuck.