West Systems epoxy shelf life test.

Yukon Mike

Yukon Mike

Well-known member
I'm in the process of doing some touch ups to a pond box kinda thing me and Mac built about 12 years ago. The epoxy has been frozen at least that many times over the years and I didn't expect it to kick over but it totally did. I did some testing and it is definately more brittle than I remember and the hardener was really brown colored, but it worked as a sealer coat after sanding. Amazing that it could age that well. I wouldn't recommend it for a structural application, but for what I'm doing it worked fine.

Mac and I got out for an evening shoot on Sat and had fun. The dog was a little rusty (whose fault is that?) and we shot like we do on opening day (poorly) but several birds were killed. Sunday evening just me and Jenny the dog went and I got 7 puddlers. There's a big south wind blowing today so I'm headed out to Lake Leberge tonight to see what's up.

Colors are starting to show and it feels like fall. Walking for grouse on the weekend we could smell the mushrooms and the cranberries are bright red now.

Mike
 
I have had a gallon of west systems for 5 years now, it stays in the shed in my yard getting sper hot in the summer and freezing all winter. The only thing I notice is the hardener will get brown like you said. Other than that it is good to go!
 
I have never had any sit around that long, but for touch ups it should be fine. Their store is just down the road from me. Great product! (buy more and support our local economy)
 
Mike, Please take some pictures of those fall colors in your neck of the woods. It is beyond spectacular and since it was 41 years ago that I last drove through your countryside, the memories are getting a wee bit fuzzy!
Thanks. Any pictures of the brown ducks you shot?
Al
 
Mike
I dug-out a copy of West System Epoxyworks from 1993. It covers the shelf life of resin and hardener. The hardener gets dark because of the reaction with the metal container and does not effect the properties of the hardener. It states that early versions of the resin would cystalize from freeze/thaw cycles and by warming the container it recombined like warming honey with the same problem. Reformulation of the resin stopped this problem. However, it does not state there is a problem with freeze/thaw cycles. It shows a method to test the pot life of resin and hardener to compare with the time they consider normal, if you have a concern. It also states that they took 15 year old resin and fresh hardener and it cured fine. If strength is not paramount, then it should be good to use. Go to the West System site and see if you can find the answer to your question.

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