Could somebody offer any insight? I was shooting 1:1 gelcoat/ duratec one qt to 18 cc's mekp [as per fiberglasts instructions] in a 78 deg. shop .I could only get approx 5-7 min pot life. I stopped shooting and considered reducing mekp from[2%] but i was concerned about setting up. Am I missing something? Could the shop temp account for that much of a accelerated pot life? Thanks in advance

Temperature of the paint room can play a big part of it. When its hotter out, I use less hardner. Test a small amount to find the gel time.

thanks sidewinder....how much do you adjust your mixture? and what temp do you try to shoot at?

Why so hot? If you can lower the temp in the room first off.

ambient was 62 too cold according to what i have read. I guess I over compensated . What do you guys shoot at?

in the 70's is fine and 78 isnt really all that hot. You should be getting about 8 to 10 minutes at 2% in 78 so your not that far off. Back off the duratec a bit to about 2:1, you can also take it down to 1.5% or so if you need to.

Thanks Dave, I guess it was me and not the resin.I just was not expecting that fast a kick off. A little more sanding qnd then round two. dave do you run a cup of mek or acetone thru the gun before fresh batches of resin? THANKS AGAIN.

yes, always. the residual amount in the cup and the gun will continue to catalize and causes these little lumps that can cause probs. Generaly i swipe out the cup with a rag or swish some acetone around in there with a brush than run some clean acetone through the gun.

I appreciate all the info ..thanks to all