Subject: Info (cure times)
Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003

I'm using your CPES product and have some questions. I have drilled holes about 50% depth down into the stringers about 5 in. apart and poured in CPES in an attempt to saturate the stringers in my old houseboat. While drilling the holes the wood looked ok it was a little damp so I dried it for a couple months before using CPES. I noticed some seeping of CPES from the weep holes in the stringers this occurred a few days after application. I've waited several days and it seems to stay "rubbery" Am I having a curing problem?? The temps have been 40's and 50's I'm using cold temp CPES. It has been about 6 days since application. Any comments or advice??

Regards Joe

Joe,

You aren't really having a problem, just the results of using a slow cure epoxy (which allows the long soak time we need for these types of repairs) in a situation where the solvents have a hard time getting out.

As an example, I once poured some extra CPES into a shot glass and let it sit. Since there was no porous material for the CPES to soak into, it just sat in the glass and started curing. The only way that the solvents had to come out were through the top, and after a little while, a skin formed on the top, like pudding. This stopped the solvents from escaping easily, and to make a long story short, it went from pudding to rubber to a hard chunk of epoxy, but it took about a month to get as hard as it was going to get. Applied to a porous surface such as wood, all this happens much quicker.

Your situation is similar in that there is not many places for the solvents to come out, thereby slowing the cure process. But it will eventually cure. I would leave the application holes open as long as is practical, then go ahead and finish the repair. The epoxy will harden more over time. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Doc