Discolored 206 west hardener

blackhawk357m

blackhawk357m

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I bought small containers of 105/206 epoxy back in May. The pumps I got for them started leaking, so I poured the liquids into plastic squeeze bottles. The 206 is now discolored badly and has a bad stench to it also. It was stored in a dark cabinet, in a finished climate controlled basement.

Is this 206 still good?

Thanks,
Nathan

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Just for the heck of it try warming up the bottle by sticking it in a pan of hot water. It won't hurt the chemical properties of the hardener and the color might disappear. I learned about this cure from a Canadian epoxy manufacturer who recommended if for his hardener.
 
blackhawk357m said:
I bought small containers of 105/206 epoxy back in May. The pumps I got for them started leaking, so I poured the liquids into plastic squeeze bottles. The 206 is now discolored badly and has a bad stench to it also. It was stored in a dark cabinet, in a finished climate controlled basement.

Is this 206 still good?

Thanks,
Nathan

picture.php
Click to expand...

All hardeners discolor over time, some faster than others. It is still just as good as a hardener as the day it was manufactured. It never looses it's hardening value. You can go to the West System web site and it clearly explains in the Q/A section your observations. Any you want to throw away just send to me.

Paul, that is a great tip if it works. I'll try it out later today.

Dick
 
OK, so I decided to get some new 206 and get rid of the pumps. But, I went ahead and mixed some up and yes...it hardened up just fine. The color is a dark amber color when set. So I'll just use that for gluing up the A joint. The new stuff will be for points or inlays.

Thanks for all the advice guys

Nathan
 
blackhawk357m, Did you try warming it like a baby bottle to see if it would clear up?
 
blackhawk357m said:
OK, so I decided to get some new 206 and get rid of the pumps. But, I went ahead and mixed some up and yes...it hardened up just fine. The color is a dark amber color when set. So I'll just use that for gluing up the A joint. The new stuff will be for points or inlays.

Thanks for all the advice guys

Nathan
Click to expand...

I wouldn't use it for any part of a cue and here is why. It will discolor the wood it touches. If it is used on end grain, it will wick up and darken that area.

I used some that color to glue up my butt cap and joint ring...It didn't "ruin" the cue, but I would never do it again..

BTW, I would suggest 207 for areas that would be exposed in any way, shape, or form to UV. 206 will yellow for certain, 207 has some UV inhibitors..
 
I stopped using west 206 - 107 because of problems during storage.

I now use the Bob Smith epoxies and buy them in the smaller bottles. I have seen no difference in the end product on my cues.

I use a lot of West G5 in the 16 oz bottles and even though it takes months to go through the 32 oz. there is never a problem with that product.

Rick
 
Funny thing.....

tsp&b said:
blackhawk357m, Did you try warming it like a baby bottle to see if it would clear up?
Click to expand...

I uhhh.....have a candle warmer. So I decided to try this route. Well, I wasn't paying attention to the time last night and was running late to throw darts on a league. I left the discolored bottle on the warmer for like 5 hours! :eek:

So I get back home....and after about a 1/2 hour, I remember the bottle and warmer. I raced into the shop, and the bottle was melted and lost the hardener.

Luckily I didn't burn the house down. But I will never know if this trick works or not....at least untill this batch does it lol :embarrassed2:
 
I have used quite a range of different epoxies and found that the hardner on most will discolor over time, either thru UV or just air in the container. Even finish cure did. Contrary to what some believe, I found that once any of them darken/yellow, it will be discolored even cured, even the BSI and CuCote. They will not get more dark or yellowed than it was when mixed. I haven't found any to be weaker or not harden etc. Just don't use it where it may show.
Just my eperience,
Dave
 
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