Help with epoxy problem

harry24 · April 23, 2008

Golfsmith 24hr epoxy

Hey all. Went to the range today and noticed that my 3,6,7 irons I could twist the head right off (with some effort). So here is the rundown....Brand new shafts went in and all prep work was done correctly. Now...I shafted up my irons in about 40 degree garage during the winter and did not use the clubs until 4 weeks ago. So I pull the head of the 7 iron off today and the epoxy is still sticky? How? Did I mix wrong? Bad batch of epoxy mix? I reshafted many irons before without a problem but, to have the epoxy still tacky is very odd. I used a 50/50 mix and waited about and hour or so for the epoxy to harden a bit before using but I am thinking now that it was because of the temp I used them in. Also...I let the clubs cure upstairs next to the heater at 70+ degrees in the house.
Any suggestions or a reason why the epoxy was still tacky would be awesome. I am going to put the irons back together tomorrow cause I have a tourney on sunday but any help would greatly be appreciated.
Harry

dlefty · April 24, 2008

Assuming the mix was good, I see 2 big problems here. First, working with the epoxy in a 40-degree garage, a bit cool. 2nd, sitting them in front of / by a heater in house, promise that the direct application of heat had them quite a bit warmer than "room temperature".

Start over from scratch, working and letting cure at room temp.

wildwilly911 · April 24, 2008

between the cold temps and waiting an hour for the glue to harden a bit it tacked up and didnt adhere to the shaft. heat isnt a problem make sure every thing is warm and use it as soon as mixed. being that cold it never mixed right thats why its tacky. mix a test batch and make sure it cures right

ultra45 · April 24, 2008

Hey all. Went to the range today and noticed that my 3,6,7 irons I could twist the head right off (with some effort). So here is the rundown....Brand new shafts went in and all prep work was done correctly. Now...I shafted up my irons in about 40 degree garage during the winter and did not use the clubs until 4 weeks ago. So I pull the head of the 7 iron off today and the epoxy is still sticky? How? Did I mix wrong? Bad batch of epoxy mix? I reshafted many irons before without a problem but, to have the epoxy still tacky if very odd. I used a 50/50 mix and waited about and hour or so for the epoxy to harden a bit before using but I am thinking now that it was because of the temp I used them in. Also...I let the clubs cure upstairs next to the heater at 70+ degrees in the house.
Any suggestions or a reason why the epoxy was still tacky would be awesome. I am going to put the irons back together tomorrow cause I have a tourney on sunday but any help would greatly be appreciated.
Harry

if you mixed the epoxy and then waited an hour it may have started to cure already before you assembled the clubs... so it may not have held no matter what... and with the cold it may also have not cured properly... i did the golfsmith clubmaker program a few years ago and i think they said once you mix the epoxy you have about 30-45 minute to use it... and at around that time... once it start to get "stringy" the stuff you had mixed is done...

Placebo · April 24, 2008

Is that the first time you used that batch of epoxy? I've glued heads on in my shop at 40 degree's and never had that problem. I don't let the mixture sit very long before applying though. I also leave whats left sitting out so I can check in the next day or so to see how firm it is. Maybe mix a small amount and leave sitting out at room temp for a day or two and see if it sets up or not.

dlefty · April 24, 2008

I didn't even notice the part about letting it sit an hour before doing the work, I wouldn't do that either.

Contrary to what someone else said, yes, being by the heater is a problem too. I'm sure the club was not set up in a curing-jig with a specific temp. applied for a specific time like the quick-cure set-ups on tour. Anything else IS a problem.

harry24 · April 24, 2008

Thanks alot for all the replies! I am in the process now of prepping the heads and shafts again, and this time I am going to set aside the epoxy to see in 24 hours how it hardens. I believe it was just the cold weather and then the heat, but we'll see. I also always let the epoxy harden a bit after being mixed, but it sounds like that is NG is I will just use as soon as mixed. Thanks again,

Harry

LowPost42 · April 24, 2008

What's the logic behind letting the epoxy set some before using it?

Mix it well, and use it up - working with some 5/10 epoxy will break you of the habit! :wacko:

Also, it's always a good idea to let your leftover epoxy cure with the clubs - if something seems wrong with the leftover epoxy, there's likely something wrong with the epoxy in the club.