while you are making ribs with the frozen glue take a couple of scrap rib
sticks and make a few test coupons. when they are set test to destruction.
if the wood fails, good glue. if the glue fails, time to re-think the
system.

R. Burns

"steveukman" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am seeking advice about mixing and storing epoxy.

I started my first wooden rib last night after weeks of thinking,
planning, building jigs, cutting gussets, testing, rebuilding jigs.....

I decided to use epoxy for a number of reasons. The problem is mixing
small enough quantities reliably. I decided to make enough to do a
good job rather than economise. I made my first mix and spent a
relaxing hour gluing my first two ribs (in 2 jigs).

At the end of the session I had about 60% of the goop left in a glass
jar. The pot life is 2.5 hours and I had the glue open for only 30
minutes. What the heck ... I put the lid on and placed it in the
freezer.

This morning, the lid came off ... so freezing does stop it from curing
... but is it any good?
The epoxy 'fresh' from the freezer is really thick... way too thick for
a brush. This is a good thing .. it does not run in the Texas heat!!!!
The viscosity is perfect for smeraring small quantities onto rib stock
with a tooth-pick ... it stays put and does not run before I fit the
stick.
By the time I had glued the rib sticks and way ready for the gussets,
the epoxy had softened and was now perfect (not too runny) for a small
brush to prepare the glue lines for the gussets (todays and the 'other
side' for yesterdays).

With 30% left, back to the freezer.

My discovery that frozen epoxy is more controllable than room temperate
makes life easier.
Freezing means that I can make reliable sized batches and not have t
throw the remainder away.

This seems too good to be true!!! Where is the catch? Will freezing
harm the ultimate strength or any other 'significant property' of the
epoxy. I'd really hate to be doing something unsafe.
Has anybody else done this?
I will test my first ribs to destruction, just to make sure.

Thanks
Steve