21xdc Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 I have used both, But I have been using E-Tex for the last few years. I just tried D2T again tonight and the working time is way too short per mix. I have had plenty of time with the E-tex and they are both 30 min cure times. Do I use laquer thinner to prolong the time? I just bought 4 big bottles and think I'm going back to E-Tex. I mixed for 2 min, I wonder if over mixing shortens the workingtime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pikeman Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 IMHO if it was too hot in the room you night have a problem, high temperature makes the epoxy harden faster, 2 minutes of mixing it's ok another way too look at the problem maybe you didn't measure correctly the mix ratio and you've put too much hardner (the yellow stuff) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 (edited) Mike, I have used both as well and I like D2T better. Lacquer thinner will extend it but not by much in my opinion. I can do about {8} 3/8 oz spinnerbaits max at one time. To me diluting the D2T weakens it JMO. But lots of guys do it. I also believe that D2T is harder than E-tex again JMO. BTW if you decide you really don't like the D2T PM me and we can talk about me possibly purchasing it from you. I'm a die hard D2T user. Guys I don't want to start a debate here this is just my personal preferance. Edited November 6, 2009 by cadman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Recently, I added some D2T to Etex because I needed a bit more than the Amount of Etex I metered out, and It was easier to squirt the D2T than measure out more Etex. Well, the mixture set faster than Etex alone, and was harder than the Etex. No thinner was necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 I mix it for about a minute with a 1/2" wide plastic strip in a shallow dish. Others use a piece of wire, so "how long" and "with what", even "in what" are variable but important. My experience is that ETEX requires more thorough mixing and I think you can let up a little on the mix time with Devcon. I say that with reservation because the next thing you know, we'll have a rash of posts complaining about epoxy not curing hard! When it's cold in the garage, I fold in a few drops of lacquer thinner after mixing to make brushing easier and and extend the brush time by a minute or two. And I don't mix more Devcon than I can brush on 2 baits. As far as weakening Devcon by mixing solvent into it - that seems intuitively true but I haven't seen evidence one way or the other. Sure, it's weaker because the coating is thinner. But I can't tell a difference in the hardness of the final product. Smart idea from Husky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverMan Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 They are both good coatings. I think Devcon sets up faster now than it used to. As I recall, I used to easily coat 4-6 musky baits before it would begin to thicken up and now it is difficult to complete two. Jed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Moreau Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 I too have this problem of D2T curing fast. I cannot do a whole swimbait with 4-5 pieces, instead I just do half at a time. If I dont by the time I get to the last pieces its starting to set. I use the syringe D2T so I know I am getting equal parts... I mix for 30 seconds to a minute with a brush in a medicine cup...then proceed to spread. I feel like I get 5 minutes after that till it starts to set and is unuseable. Just what I have experienced. I do live in the bay area with a warmer climate tho. I have never tried anything else But from what I hear I think its time to get some DN's and try that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 (edited) into it - that seems intuitively true but I haven't seen evidence one way or the other. Sure, it's weaker because the coating is thinner. But I can't tell a difference in the hardness of the final product. Smart idea from Husky! Necessity is the mother of invention. BTW the ratio was appx. 5 or 6 Etex to 1 D2T. That's not to say that's the ideal mix, but it is what I did in that instance. They are compatible so it's worth experimenting with. IOW, make an Etex mix,coat a plug, then add some D2T, coat another, then add more D2T for another, then compare. I give my FoTins a base of an Epoxy coat and a few coats of SC 9000. FWIW, I noticed the drip off was much less with the Epoxy mixture than with Etex alone Edited November 6, 2009 by Husky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21xdc Posted November 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 (edited) Trust me, I mix perfect parts A and B... I use 60cc syringes and watch closely. My mix gets hard w/o any soft or gooey spots. I think the recipe has changed since I used it a couple years ago. I just may be willing to sell it off and go back to E-Tex lite. Edited November 6, 2009 by 21xdc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
