Sealer question

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

I recently have had a dilema with the product it'self... I used it during the last of my building months last season, capped it for the summer... opened it and used it to start this season, all seemed fine... after dipping a few dozen plugs, I noticed the mixture rapidly getting thicker... to the point where it turned to jelly... overnight... My guess is, once i introduced air into the system, and mixed it, the old mixture began to cure, it even took on a stale varnish type odor

My mix is only 1 month old and I had to transfer the stuff into smaller containers to keep air out. I think over time the terp may be volatilizing/evaporating, leaving you with just the tung oil. The stuff I mixed recently is already getting thick and unworkable after one month. You may want to add more terp and thin it back down.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

My mix is only 1 month old and I had to transfer the stuff into smaller containers to keep air out. I think over time the terp may be volatilizing/evaporating, leaving you with just the tung oil. The stuff I mixed recently is already getting thick and unworkable after one month. You may want to add more terp and thin it back down.

wasn't no thinning this stuff down... when i say it turned to jelly.. I mean i coulod have spread it on bread... what a mess!

The idea was noble.. but I think I need to move on..

[Back Beach]

Joe,

I actually just went home for lunch and read the side of my tung oil jug. It recommended 50/50 tung and terps for the first coating, then it says to make sure no air gets to it otherwise it will polymerize. Its obviously a good product, but next time I will only mix what I need for the current dip.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Joe,

I actually just went home for lunch and read the side of my tung oil jug. It recommended 50/50 tung and terps for the first coating, then it says to make sure no air gets to it otherwise it will polymerize. Its obviously a good product, but next time I will only mix what I need for the current dip.

LMAO.. who reads directions... yup it sure did polymerize...

[ed morini]

I don't post much, but I have been reading postings since my signing on.
I have watched the discussion concerning sealing with interest over the years. I have not done alot of plugs, but I have done boatloads (literally) of wood used in and around the water. I have found that for longevity you cannot beat sealing with epoxy. I have done both methods, 1 where you heat the stock apply the epoxy and then rapidly cool it to allow absorption into the stock and two a thinned epoxy mixture. The thinned epoxy works best, and is far more economical than using the regular mix. I use a mixture of 1 part of mixed (the epoxy should be solvent free)with 3 parts of either acetone or xylene(better). There are several commercial sealers available, but these are around $90/gallon, way to much. I buy my epoxy from Raka Marine and the mixed sealer works out to about $30/gallon, in line with most other sealers used in plug making. The sealer can be mixed in any quantity needed, the addition of the xylene greatly increases the pot life so there is plenty (hours) of time to soak and drip. It should be noted that different woods seal differently, hardwoods do have pores so the absorption is greater than in the softwoods that have no pores. Just a thought.

Prof M Thanks for the reel its been great, better was meeting up with you, need another tool holder for Vega please pm with cosatrs

Thanks

Ed