Aged SPI Products and Misc Ramblings

Machspeed

Machspeed

Member
Hey friends, been some time since I visited the forum. Life changes and other distractions have kept me away. Still, it's good to see Barry and so many of the regulars still posting and responding.

Anyway, I have a project that I started a few years back and have left it be for probably three or more years now. Basically, built a rotisserie, stripped the car down, media blasted it and Sprayed it in SPI gray epoxy. Up until last week, started working on it again and my hope now is to finish it by years end. That's the goal, anyways.
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So prior to work stoppage, I bought the below pictured product. All of it has been opened except a one gallon container of gray epoxy and a 1 gallon container of reducer. I hate tossing stuff but I'm nervous about using it. I've looked at a few posts here regarding shelf life and not liking what I'm seeing. I'd really appreciate your thoughts on using any of this, especially the unopened product I mentioned. My shop is well insulated and the product has been kept in a paint cabinet, however, I don't keep the shop heated or cooled unless I'm working in it. Shop can get as cold as low 40's and as high as mid 80's.
Thanks,
John

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Ten foot pole question for sure.
My money is everything but the Activators would be fine and even those "possibly".

Everything would need a good shake And stir due to excessive sitting for inspection.
The Epoxy and 2k Primer are going to thick on the bottom and "if" they can be stired without too much effort and no "bits" left in it,mix some up and do some sprayouts with the existing activators and see what happens.
Biggest concern would be not kept in at least the 60's.
Just have to open the Rage and see,get new activator and try it.
I have stuff over 10 years old But kept at basically room temp and had no problems with anything
And,
When in Doubt,Throw it out.
Soon as Football is over,sure some others will come in. Barry likely in the morning.
 
only thing i would worry about there is the activator for the 2k primer. the epoxy a and b will be fine. the epoxy activator will probably be a dark amber in color but it wont affect anything. not too sure about the filler. that stuff usually gets really stiff in the can and the activator separates really bad. if so i would toss that stuff.
 
If the filler is just slightly thick & dry, some ever coat honey can be added back in to rejuvenate it.
I'd do a small sample of the epoxy, Can just brush on something. if it hardens , it's ok.
 
I use clear and activator intermittently.
When I’m done I flood the air space left in the cans with pure argon and quickly put the plastic tops on. I think it helps.
The epoxy and it’s activator seems to have a long shelf life.
 
For the 2k primer and epoxy I would stir well and then have them put on a shaker.
Mike has summed it up on the activators as they may cure but they would be weak and just not worth the gamble.
Folks, it is not about the freezing; it is over and over temp swings as 40 today and 70 the next day,
Over and over.
 
elwood said:
Reducer is fine. I've never heard of it going bad.
Click to expand...
I tell people when the can rusts inside, time to use it as a strained gun cleaner.
However, some solvents can suck moisture out of the air, so fast is more likly than medium or slow to do that.
The only test without a Carl-Fisher is to give can a one-two shake and 3/4 fill a little clear jar like baby food comes in and dont move or touch it for a week and see if it separated.
I used a five-year-old med 870 1/4 full yesterday in the base, but the garage is kept 65 to 70 all winter and thank you as it was 25 out when I painted it.
 
Something I recently have occuring is with the Reducer,which is ancient.
Looks perfect in it's own can,and my bench bottle but noticed a slight darkish Blue color tint the next day after sitting overnight in my airbrush's with the caps on. I always do this at days end to alert me of any leftovers next day or 2.
I thought it was just leftover paint residue behind the needle seal area or some of my dumb-arsery so I stripped them down and throughly cleaned them,spotless.. which was needed.. Next day,
Same thing...... makes no difference how well I clean it or what I'm spraying. Next day,Blue... it's perfectly Clear out of the bench bottle when added in the evening.
It works fine and when being used,has no discoloration or effect on whatever I'm spraying.
I have a new gallon I was waiting to open but that's the next idea.
Weird.
 
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