Gooey/tacky Flood Coat

Entire Surface Is Soft, Wet or Sticky after 48 hours:

1) Product was under-mixed. Unfortunately, as much as we stress this as the most important part of the project, it can still occur and is the most common cause of this problem. If you do not mix long enough or do not scrape the sides and bottom of the container while mixing you will find under-cured epoxy. The Resin component tends to sit on top of the mixture in the bucket. If it is not rigorously pushed down into the mixture with the stir stick during blending, you can end up with areas that are hard/dry with other areas that are sticky or tacky that will not harden.

2) Product was inaccurately measured. You must follow the strict 1 to 1 ratio by volume. Do not guess or eyeball these measurements. Just dumping the product from their original containers is not a proper measurement. The product MUST be measured with fairly precise accuracy using a graduated tub.

Solutions:

1) If the surface is hard but only slightly tacky, a new flood coat can be applied over the entire surface and the new product will dry hard assuming mixing procedures have been properly followed.
2) If the surface is wet and soft, then as much of the material as possible must be removed with a paint scraper or knife. Use denatured alcohol or acetone when necessary to help remove the wet epoxy. Remix and apply a new flood coat. The new coat will cover up almost all effects of the previous error. Be certain to follow the proper mixing procedures.

Small Sticky or Soft Spots:

The most common cause of this is scraping or brushing from the side or bottom of the mixing container while pouring. It is natural to want to use up every last drop you have mixed. However when you pour onto the surface, you should just dump it out and set the container down. If you use a stick or a brush to try and remove every drop you will very likely end up with sticky spots. You may also end up with sticky areas due to the mixture not being completely blended. The Resin component tends to sit on top of the mixture in the bucket. If it is not rigorously pushed down into the mixture with the stir stick during blending, you can end up with areas that are hard/dry with other areas that are sticky or tacky that will not harden.

Solutions: