Re: Polyester resin setback - HELP!
Alas, it's not the same stuff. MEK is methy ethyl ketone (like
acetone, which is dimethyl ketone, but with one extra carbon atom),
and the catalyst is MEK peroxide. Similar names, way different
effects. You didn't know you'd have to become something of a chemist
to build a boat, did you? I hope the cleanup wasn't too horrible.
Keith Wilson
acetone, which is dimethyl ketone, but with one extra carbon atom),
and the catalyst is MEK peroxide. Similar names, way different
effects. You didn't know you'd have to become something of a chemist
to build a boat, did you? I hope the cleanup wasn't too horrible.
Keith Wilson
--- In bolger@y..., gunkholer@h... wrote:
> I was out of MEK (catalyst) and used some industrial MEK that I got
> at work. The stuff never kicked ...
Jake-
I know people often call it MEK, but isn't the catalyzer for polyester
Methyl Ethyl Ketone _Peroxide_ (MEKP)? If I'm correct, industrial MEK
wouldn't do a darn thing to catalyze the resin (as indeed happend with your
experiment :o( ). I'm afraid I don't know how to clean up the gooey mess.
I know people often call it MEK, but isn't the catalyzer for polyester
Methyl Ethyl Ketone _Peroxide_ (MEKP)? If I'm correct, industrial MEK
wouldn't do a darn thing to catalyze the resin (as indeed happend with your
experiment :o( ). I'm afraid I don't know how to clean up the gooey mess.
On Sun, 24 Jun 2001 13:59:15 -0000, Jake wrote:
> ...
> Now for my dilemma. I was laying out the inside tapes and found that
> I was out of MEK (catalyst) and used some industrial MEK that I got
> at work. The stuff never kicked off and now I've got to pull up all
> the inside tapes and clean up the gooey mess. Of course I'm on my way
> out the door to buy the proper catalyst but would like to know if
> this has happened to anyone else and how did you clean up the goo?
> ...
--
John <jkohnen@...>
http://www.boat-links.com/
A paranoid is a man who knows a little of what's going on.
<William Burroughs>
Isn't there MEK and MEKP? THe former being a solvent and the latter a
catalyst?
If it's the right stuff after all, and not strong enough, or the resin
is old, you can try waiting. I had a polyester job once that took days
to set.
catalyst?
If it's the right stuff after all, and not strong enough, or the resin
is old, you can try waiting. I had a polyester job once that took days
to set.
--- In bolger@y..., gunkholer@h... wrote:
>
> Before I go any further - epoxy is better than polyester resin! -
> there,I said it, now we don't have to debate polyester vs epoxy. I
> went with polyester resin because I'm cheap and I'm building a
small,
> simple boat (Payson Pirogue) which I'll use for a year or two then
> give away so I've got an excuse to build again (this is my 13th
boat,
> all Bolger boats with the exception of one Michalak Toto and all
> built using polyester resin).
>
> Now for my dilemma. I was laying out the inside tapes and found that
> I was out of MEK (catalyst) and used some industrial MEK that I got
> at work. The stuff never kicked off and now I've got to pull up all
> the inside tapes and clean up the gooey mess. Of course I'm on my
way
> out the door to buy the proper catalyst but would like to know if
> this has happened to anyone else and how did you clean up the goo?
>
> I guess my next boat will be built using epoxy, but for now I just
> want to see some forward progress made over the weekend!
>
> Thanks for any help offered,
> Jake
Thanks for the input Chuck. I've already removed the earlier tapes
and wiped it all down with acetone. I went out and bought a fresh
quart of resin and some new MEK and just finished up the inside tapes
(again). I mixed it up hot so it would kick off quick and it's well
on it's way now. I should be able to sand inside later this afternoon
and install the bulkheads. No more sanding after that just the fun
stuff - finishing out and paddling.
Jake
and wiped it all down with acetone. I went out and bought a fresh
quart of resin and some new MEK and just finished up the inside tapes
(again). I mixed it up hot so it would kick off quick and it's well
on it's way now. I should be able to sand inside later this afternoon
and install the bulkheads. No more sanding after that just the fun
stuff - finishing out and paddling.
Jake
> I have heard that polyester resin will go off if it even smellscatalist. I
> would try leaving the unset stuff there (OK, wipe the excess upwith a rag),
> and just apply new catalyzed resin over it.smell.
>
> I think you will like epoxy: It does not have that awful polyester
> That alone is what causes me to use epoxy.
>
> Chuck
<snip>
I have heard that polyester resin will go off if it even smells catalist. I
would try leaving the unset stuff there (OK, wipe the excess up with a rag),
and just apply new catalyzed resin over it.
I think you will like epoxy: It does not have that awful polyester smell.
That alone is what causes me to use epoxy.
Chuck
> Of course I'm on my wayJake:
> out the door to buy the proper catalyst but would like to know if
> this has happened to anyone else and how did you clean up the goo?
>
> I guess my next boat will be built using epoxy, but for now I just
> want to see some forward progress made over the weekend!
>
> Thanks for any help offered,
> Jake
I have heard that polyester resin will go off if it even smells catalist. I
would try leaving the unset stuff there (OK, wipe the excess up with a rag),
and just apply new catalyzed resin over it.
I think you will like epoxy: It does not have that awful polyester smell.
That alone is what causes me to use epoxy.
Chuck
Before I go any further - epoxy is better than polyester resin! -
there,I said it, now we don't have to debate polyester vs epoxy. I
went with polyester resin because I'm cheap and I'm building a small,
simple boat (Payson Pirogue) which I'll use for a year or two then
give away so I've got an excuse to build again (this is my 13th boat,
all Bolger boats with the exception of one Michalak Toto and all
built using polyester resin).
Now for my dilemma. I was laying out the inside tapes and found that
I was out of MEK (catalyst) and used some industrial MEK that I got
at work. The stuff never kicked off and now I've got to pull up all
the inside tapes and clean up the gooey mess. Of course I'm on my way
out the door to buy the proper catalyst but would like to know if
this has happened to anyone else and how did you clean up the goo?
I guess my next boat will be built using epoxy, but for now I just
want to see some forward progress made over the weekend!
Thanks for any help offered,
Jake
there,I said it, now we don't have to debate polyester vs epoxy. I
went with polyester resin because I'm cheap and I'm building a small,
simple boat (Payson Pirogue) which I'll use for a year or two then
give away so I've got an excuse to build again (this is my 13th boat,
all Bolger boats with the exception of one Michalak Toto and all
built using polyester resin).
Now for my dilemma. I was laying out the inside tapes and found that
I was out of MEK (catalyst) and used some industrial MEK that I got
at work. The stuff never kicked off and now I've got to pull up all
the inside tapes and clean up the gooey mess. Of course I'm on my way
out the door to buy the proper catalyst but would like to know if
this has happened to anyone else and how did you clean up the goo?
I guess my next boat will be built using epoxy, but for now I just
want to see some forward progress made over the weekend!
Thanks for any help offered,
Jake