Epoxy, Amine Blush and Solvents

[Richard Smith]

A long time curiosity for me:

I have had epoxy projects when I did not want it (wood) to get wet in the process of removing the amine blush - in the recommended way - soap/ammonia & water.

Why is it not possible (recommended?) that a solvent such as acetone or MEK be used?

[capt jake]

I have used laquer thinner with great success. Acetone may want to soften the epoxy, so will lacquer thinner if you let it soak but a good wash won't soften it.

[plyboat]

Use a blush free epoxy hardener. MAS slow and medium hardeners (http://www.boatbuilder.org/epoxy.htm) are blush free and they are working making the fast blush free as well.
---Joel---

[J. Blazy]

The Amine blush is quite water soluble, therefore it is the solvent. I clean glass constantly as part of my vocation, and I can tell you that lacquer thinner or other pure ketones won't touch an organic, water-soluble stain/dirt/etc, like bird crap, general dirt, food-based dirts etc. So if they say water to clean amine blush, I'll use water.

As far as keeping it from exposed wood, I used a dampened cloth to hit only the epoxied areas.

Paul Oman's Epoxy products has a great no-blush epoxy that's wonderful - stands up to sunlight very well without the other kind of blushing.

[pipefitter]

Even if epoxy claims to be non blushing,I still wouldnt believe it and treat it like it blushed to the extreme.You would want to clean the surface anyways before proceeding with sanding/recoating or painting.I use the water/amonia method followed by alot of clean rags soaked with denatured alcohol .The box of paper ones from the orange home store work very well.The alcohol will also help disipate the moisture from getting the wood wet as it evaporates.

[ 09-04-2005, 01:39 PM: Message edited by: pipefitter ]

[John Meachen]

Have you considered using peel ply?