3M 5200 cure time

[kfa4303]

how long does it take for 3M 5200 to fully cure? I ask b/c I've recently used it and it's still quite gooey after 24 hrs and in other areas I've used it been nearly a week and it's still quite flexible. Is that normal?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

This should give you some general info

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtlx&EO8TVEVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

It needs moisture to cure......... Strange because in FL you usually have high humidity. Lay some wet towels near the area glues with the 5200.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

how long does it take for 3M 5200 to fully cure? I ask b/c I've recently used it and it's still quite gooey after 24 hrs and in other areas I've used it been nearly a week and it's still quite flexible. Is that normal?

What did you use the 5200 for ? ..

I only ask because you stated you used it in other areas.. this origional 5200 is tenatious.

I would use 5200 Only for underwater applications ( 5200 fast cure for different applications ).

Again..what did you use 5200 for ?

YD.

 

[djpeters]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

I got a question about 5200, and 4200 for that matter. One you crack them open for the first time is that it? It says it won't keep. I only bought the small tubes so I guess it's not that big of a deal.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

^ I call BS on 3M for their "shelf life" (1 week?) once opened. Though it will start curing in the tube once opened. Moisture is your enemy here as it will cure the 5200/4200.

I've had an open tube of 5200 in my tool box for 6 months and it was still good, also took out one that was a year old and it was starting to harden, though I was able to get the cured stuff out with a drill bit and use the rest. I'm in the desert with low humidity, if in a high humidity area you will have shorter storage times.

 

[djpeters]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

That makes sense, thanks!

 

[sublauxation]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

I don't know how long it takes to fully cure but I forgot to fill 2 holes below the waterline after replacing my transom. I reached under the water with a finger of 5200, dabbed it around the holes and it stopped the leak instantly, not a drop came in despite the boat sitting in the water for 30 hours. When I got home I had to cut the excess off with a razor blade.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

I just punch holes in the tube various places to get at the uncured stuff

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

I have definitely had it take a number of days to cure.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

thanks for the info. should I expect it to become rock hard at any point, or does it stay flexable like regular caulk? I've had it on my boat for over a week in +65 degreee weather and proper humidity, but it still seems abit runny and fexable. I only ask because everyone hear swears by it, and says that it is very strong, aggressive stuff, but I can easily remove some that I put on over a week ago with a razor blade and it sure doesn't see manywhere close to the world's strongest adhesive or anything :/

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

If it hasn't cured by now, get some moisture to it. A damp towel near the 5200 and tent it off with a garbage bag to hold in the humidity.

5200 never gets "hard" and remains flexible, though it does stiffen up. You can trim cured 5200 with a razor blade, but if you try to pull it off, it can take off the paint, gelcoat or wood with it. That's why people say it's a strong sealant,,, you can't easily scrape it off like you can with silicone.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

A week? Yeah that's not good. It should have gotten pretty darn firm by now.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

^^^ I would have thought so too, especially in FL. I caulked a transom years ago and it took for ever for the 5200 to cure, like a month or longer, though I'm in the desert low/no humidity.

( I didn't know about kicking 5200 with moisture back then)

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: 3M 5200 cure time

lol 2 weeks and was just getting somewhat impatient... its the desert i am in... makes sense now... I will kick it like polyurathane glue with a bit of moisture and see if that fixes things... lol..... Thank you very much i was about to ask how to get it off since it appeared to be a bad batch. Prior to this I always used E-6000 and E-6100 for stuff like this....I have seen the e-6000 pull back a .040 aluminum panel when used to hold a trolling motor mount in place. 1st time trying 5200 because of all the rave reviews

Sean