Aircraft Spruce - My Ez Poxy experience...

[Bryan Dover]

I ordered 5 gallons of Ez Poxy and 1 1/2 gallons of hardener back in April of this year. I'm just now getting around to using it. I have three cans of hardener, two 83 (medium) and one 87 (slow). The 87 is for construction of the strakes. I opened the 87 can first and it had the same color and consistency as apple butter. It was about 60 degrees in the garage so I thought perhaps it just need to be warmed up. Then I get to looking at the label, it has a manufacture date of 2014...hmmm. I take it in the house and get the can nice and warm, still I could turn it upside down and the hardener will stay in the can. I pick up a can of 87 and shake it, the contents slosh around as in liquid form. I go to the manufacturers website,  Endurance Technologies, it seems Ez Poxy has a shelf life of two years from date of manufacture, it's also stated on the pail of epoxy.

The 5 gallon pail has no date of manufacture, just a "Lot" number.

One can of 83 hardener has a date of manufacture of 11/30/16 and an expiration date of 11/30/17 (1 year ??)

One can of 83 hardener has no dates at all.

The can of 87 hardener has a manufacture date of 04/06/14 (no expiration date listed but assumed to be one year, right?)

 

I contacted Aircraft Spruce the day before Thanksgiving via email, I was told a product specialist would contact me, four or five days later no contact. I followed up and Josh Solis contacted me, stated he was reaching out to Endurance Technologies for answers. He said the product was good for 1 year from date of shipment, sent me pictures of invoices and PO numbers where Aircraft Spruce had ordered the product from Endurance. He said it was my responsibility to verify product condition on receipt and so on and so forth. This was last Wednesday 11/29/17, still no answers.

This is my position; The 87 hardener was 2 years expired when shipped, one can of 87 only had 7 months of useful (shelf)  life remaining. I will take the hit if I have to and buy another can of hardener from Aircraft Spruce because I am committed to using EZ Poxy at this point but I doubt very seriously I will do business with Aircraft Spruce again. Am I right or wrong?

Edited December 3, 2017 by Bryan Dover

[Kent Ashton]

My experience is that the resin does not deteriorate and is good for years.  As for the hardeners, I have used some very old, nasty ropey looking EzPoxy hardener by heating the hardener can in a container of water until it flows freely.  Marc's site has some discussion and suggests 125-145F

http://www.cozybuilders.org/ref_info/

 

You might try that with the 87B.  Personally, I would save it and reconstitute it when you need it.  If it flows freely and passes the scratch test, I would probably use it on the tanks.  If it doesn't reconstitute, I'd used it on something else or for shop work.  IF you mix it 50/50 with the 83B, it would probably be usable for ordinary layups in warm weather.

 

It is probably better not to buy hardener too far in advance and three cans will take a while to use up.

 

Hardener kept in a heat box will not crystalize as quickly.  Keep all the hardener in a heat box and dispense using a postal scale

[Jon Matcho]

I am not certain about all epoxy systems, but my thoughts are similar to Kent's.  I have been able to use MGS epoxy well past the expiration date by following these guidelines (personal, accumulated over years):

• Keep the containers airtight.
• Do not allow the resin or hardener containers to get near freezing in the winter.
• I use a scale w/1 gram accuracy rather than a pump.  If I were to use a pump and knew that it would sit for a while I would put the resin and hardener back into their containers.
• Life is good working at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (mixing and using) and I try to keep stored at no lower than 50F.

I would definitely make your case with Aircraft Spruce for a credit -- should have been a discount/clearance item -- but the system is likely fine.

 

I need to order 5 gallons of MGS or ProSet and am looking to Aircraft Spruce but will first take a peek elsewhere now...

[TMann]

I would suggest building a warming cabinet for your epoxy. I keep mine at roughly 80-85F

In the past I have used 100 watt light bulbs for my heat source but since they have fallen out of favor, I now use a reptile heat element from the pet store. They last a long, long time.

[macleodm3]

I ordered 5 gallons of Ez Poxy and 1 1/2 gallons of hardener back in April of this year. I'm just now getting around to using it. I have three cans of hardener, two 83 (medium) and one 87 (slow). The 87 is for construction of the strakes. I opened the 87 can first and it had the same color and consistency as apple butter. It was about 60 degrees in the garage so I thought perhaps it just need to be warmed up. Then I get to looking at the label, it has a manufacture date of 2014...hmmm. I take it in the house and get the can nice and warm, still I could turn it upside down and the hardener will stay in the can. I pick up a can of 87 and shake it, the contents slosh around as in liquid form. I go to the manufacturers website,  Endurance Technologies, it seems Ez Poxy has a shelf life of two years from date of manufacture, it's also stated on the pail of epoxy.

The 5 gallon pail has no date of manufacture, just a "Lot" number.

One can of 83 hardener has a date of manufacture of 11/30/16 and an expiration date of 11/30/17 (1 year ??)

One can of 83 hardener has no dates at all.

The can of 87 hardener has a manufacture date of 04/06/14 (no expiration date listed but assumed to be one year, right?)

 

I contacted Aircraft Spruce the day before Thanksgiving via email, I was told a product specialist would contact me, four or five days later no contact. I followed up and Josh Solis contacted me, stated he was reaching out to Endurance Technologies for answers. He said the product was good for 1 year from date of shipment, sent me pictures of invoices and PO numbers where Aircraft Spruce had ordered the product from Endurance. He said it was my responsibility to verify product condition on receipt and so on and so forth. This was last Wednesday 11/29/17, still no answers.

This is my position; The 87 hardener was 2 years expired when shipped, one can of 87 only had 7 months of useful (shelf)  life remaining. I will take the hit if I have to and buy another can of hardener from Aircraft Spruce because I am committed to using EZ Poxy at this point but I doubt very seriously I will do business with Aircraft Spruce again. Am I right or wrong?

5 gallons?  Why so much? 

 

Yes, you should have checked it when you got... but Aircraft Spruce should make this right.  I believe they will.  Call them every day and ask for your contact.

 

Heat it up as instructed above.... it will be fine.

[Bryan Dover]

Update; I got a voicemail from a product specialist at Endurance Technologies, he said to immerse the product in hot water and if it didn't return to a liquid that they would send me a replacement. So, I got a large pot of water to almost boiling and set the container in it for about 30 minutes, presto! it's as good as new. Lesson learned.

[Kent Ashton]

Update; I got a voicemail from a product specialist at Endurance Technologies, he said to immerse the product in hot water and if it didn't return to a liquid that they would send me a replacement. So, I got a large pot of water to almost boiling and set the container in it for about 30 minutes, presto! it's as good as new. Lesson learned.

 

"Almost to boiling" seems a little hot but I don't know if it hurts.  Gary Hunter recommends 120-145F and just be patient.