Working in colder weather

[Jack2048]

Yesterday I was working on my boat and wanted to get the bottom of the next floor panel glassed in. It is getting cooler here in Maryland and was about 65 when I started. Took a bit longer than I wanted, but I got it done as the sun set.
I came out today to look at the result and the glass just pulled off.
I have fresh poly and pre-soaked the wood with poly.
Well, looks like it got too cold too quickly.
With it cooler out, I will make sure to not glass at the end of the day.

It will be warmer in a few days. Should I redo this w/new glass or can I put down some fresh poly and put this glass back down on top of it?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Did you try adding heat?

 

[Jack2048]

Did you try adding heat?

I am inferring, that even after 24 hours, I can warm it up to finish the cure? Not sure about that. Andy at BoatworksToday uses halogen lamps to warm surfaces, gonna have to do that.

 

[zool]

Just use a heat gun before and after the laminate. It will go a long way in speeding ur cure, especially with poly. It will also help with flowing out the resin for a smoother finish.

 

[Chris1956]

Polyester resin is flammable, and those heat guns can glow red hot, so be careful.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

I am inferring, that even after 24 hours, I can warm it up to finish the cure? Not sure about that. Andy at BoatworksToday uses halogen lamps to warm surfaces, gonna have to do that.

Yes it’ll most likely cure if you give it some time and a little heat. Make sure you use the full dose of MEKP to catalyze the resin which is 2%. I had the same basic thing happen by calculating the wrong amount of MEKP. I was able to get it to kick by adding heat.

 

[Jack2048]

Yes it’ll most likely cure if you give it some time and a little heat. Make sure you use the full dose of MEKP to catalyze the resin which is 2%. I had the same basic thing happen by calculating the wrong amount of MEKP. I was able to get it to kick by adding heat.

Ok, I'll try that. It is supposed to be warmer and will be sunny today. I will put it out in the sun. I knew it was cold and did use close to max MEKP in the mix. So, we will see.
If that doesn't work, can I put down fresh poly between the old glass or should I start from scratch w/new glass?

 

[tpenfield]

It looks like the resin had at least cured to some extent, yet the glass layer peeled right off. I'm thinking that the problem may not be exclusively colder temperatures. I have glassed in 65-68˚ F without issue (use more MEKP)

 

[Jack2048]

It looks like the resin had at least cured to some extent, yet the glass layer peeled right off. I'm thinking that the problem may not be exclusively colder temperatures. I have glassed in 65-68˚ F without issue (use more MEKP)

Good to know. I close to make out on mekp because it was cold. But it was at dusk, and I think the temp jst dropped too quickly.

 

[Chris1956]

When working in colder temp, I tossed a blanket or two over the whole boat and stuck a small, save electric heater under the blanket.

Direct sunlight also causes good hardening.

 

[airshot]

My neughbor does this kind of work as a hobby, he typically makes a dome over his work area with tarps and adds a heater. His stuff looks great, must work !!

 

[tpenfield]

When working in colder temperatures, I've used hair dryers and/or space heaters to heat up the area to be glassed and kept the heat on for the next 24 hours after glassing.

Blankets, tarps whatever works. Just be cognizant of the flammability and avoid re-cycling the air.