|
Product FAQs | Paint
Product FAQs | How
To Buy Our Products | Dealer Inquiries
Product FAQS
The Part A resin has hardened
and turned white. Can I still use it?
Yes. The white solid or haziness is a mass of resin crystals. Crystallized
resin will not cure properly. These can be melted by heating the
container to 120°F. The resin will clear up and be as good as
new.
The Part B hardener is darker in color than when I bought
it. Can I still use it?
Probably. Hardeners yellow and darken over time due to contact
with air and sunlight. This does not affect their performance.
To satisfy
yourself do a small test and make sure it cures properly.
What is the shelf life of your epoxy resin products?
All solvent-free epoxies have essentially unlimited shelf lives
so long as they are stored in sealed containers. The resin may
crystallize
or the hardener may darken but this does not affect its performance.
If the material is more than a year old do a test to satisfy yourself
that it cures properly.
Can I put polyester gelcoat over cured epoxy?
In general, polyester resins won't cure properly or bond well to
epoxy resin products without a "tie-coat" barrier resin
in between. System Three SB-112 resin system can be used as a tie
coat in between epoxy laminating or coating resins, and polyester
laminating or gelcoat resins. Using this resin allows you to gelcoat
an epoxy-built or epoxy-repaired boat.
Can I color System Three® epoxy products?
Yes. The preferred method is with System Three paste pigments.
You can add these up to 10% by weight of the Part A resin. You
can also
use universal paint colorants from the paint or hardware store,
but only up to 2% by weight of the resin.
My epoxy resin is taking too long to cure. How can I speed it up?
The only way to speed the cure of our epoxy resin products, once
they've been applied, is to heat the room or the area that your
project is in. Every 18°F increase in temperature cuts the
time it takes for the resin to cure in half.
Which laminating resin is easiest to use for fiberglassing?
There are two main things to consider: how the resin wets out the
cloth and how well is fills the weave. The thinner resins, like
Clear Coat, will wet cloth easier, but take more coats to fill
the weave.
With thicker resins, like System Three General Purpose, the opposite
is true.
Will the ultimate strength of an epoxy coating be affected if it
gets cold while it's curing?
No. As long as the epoxy is completely cured, the physical properties
will not be affected.
What solvent can I use to clean up cured epoxy resin products?
Cured epoxy systems are very chemical resistant, and need to be
removed with an epoxy-type paint stripper containing methylene
chloride,
or by a combination of heat for softening followed by scraping.
Uncured epoxy resins and hardeners can be cleaned up with ketones,
alcohols,
or lacquer thinner. White vinegar will clean up unmixed resin components.
Will System Three® epoxy products damage polystyrene
or urethane foam?
No. Our coating and laminating resins are designed to go directly
over solvent-sensitive substrates without any fear of softening
or "melting" them.
Can I stain over cured epoxy resin?
No. Any wood that's been coated with epoxy will be sealed, and
when it's cured it won't accept stain. Stain wood first; then apply
epoxy
resin.
What stains can I use before applying epoxy?
Dye stains are preferable because they leave no surface film. But
in general, any stain can be used so long as it is completely cured
before applying mixed epoxy resin. However, it is prudent to do
a test by staining some scrap and then applying epoxy. Check for
appearance
and bonding.
What can I use as a material that epoxy won't stick to?
Epoxies will not stick to mold-release compounds recommended for
use with epoxy, and polyethylene sheeting, like disposable paint
tarps and sandwich bags. Epoxy does not stick to the shiny side
of packaging tape or paraffin wax.
I made a small batch and after a week it has not cured. What happened?
It is difficult to measure a batch of resin and hardener less than
three fluid ounces by volume. If you need to make a small batch,
measure it by weight. System Three offers a small digital scale
perfect for this use.
I made a large batch and found a few areas that are still sticky
after most of the surface is cured hard. What happened?
The material was probably not thoroughly mixed and unmixed material
was scraped from the container onto the surface. When mixing always
be sure to mix from the bottom to the top and scrape the sides
of the container and the stick. Experienced users dump and scrape
the
mixed material from the first container into a second and then
mix again. This totally avoids the problem described above.
I made a large batch and found a few areas that are still sticky
after most of the surface is cured hard. Can I fix it?
Yes. First, scrape off what you can. Then pour or wipe a suitable
solvent on the surface. Wear a respirator or provide proper ventilation
when working with solvents. Wipe or scrub the resin surface. This
will remove residual uncured resin but won't harm any cured resin.
Sand the underlying cured resin and apply a fresh coat properly
measured and thoroughly mixed. Note: Over bare wood the fresh coat
of resin
will need to be worked into the wood with a stiff-bristle brush
to mix any residual uncured material into the fresh material. This
will
ensure that the fresh coat will adhere properly to the wood.
I have material that hasn’t cured after four days in a warm
room. Can I apply fresh resin over the top and have the whole thing
cure hard?
No. If the older material has stopped curing, applying more epoxy
won't start it up again. The uncured resin must be removed and
new material applied to that surface.
Can I use the hardener from one of your epoxy systems with the
resin from another?
No. Epoxy resin systems are two-part products where each part is
designed to go with the other.
Can I apply mixed epoxy to a piece of wood and then bend it without
cracking the epoxy?
Yes, while the cured epoxy may be stiffer than an equal thickness
of wood, the epoxy coating is much thinner and can be bent further
than the wood it coats without cracking.
I laminated some bent wood strips with epoxy adhesive and clamped
them overnight. When I found them the next day the adhesive had
cured hard but several strips had sprung open. How can I keep them
together?
Leave the clamps on a full 24 hours. The epoxy had not adequately
cured when the clamps were removed. The force caused by the bent
wood trying to straighten was sufficient to cause the uncured epoxy
to fail. It opened up some time after you removed the clamps, but
the epoxy continued to cure between the time the clamps were removed
and when you saw the laminations the next day.
To avoid the above problem I left the clamps on for three days
but the epoxy adhesive still failed at the interface between the
strips.
The surface appeared grainy or sugary. Why?
Likely you used too much clamping pressure. The clamps squeezed
most of the epoxy out of the joints and the wood absorbed what
was left
leaving a starved joint. A grainy feel at the interface is symptomatic
of a starved epoxy glue joint.
How much clamping pressure do I use for an epoxy glue joint?
Epoxy adhesives, being gap-filling glues, need only enough clamping
to close the joint. Unlike other glues epoxy does not require high
pressure to make a proper glue joint.
Will epoxy resin adhesives bond all materials together?
Epoxy resin adhesives will bond all woods, aluminum and glass well.
It does not bond to Teflon, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon,
or Mylar. It bonds poorly to polyvinyl chloride, acrylic and polycarbonate
plastics. The only way to tell if an epoxy will bond to a material
is to try it. Generally, epoxy adhesives are the best choice for
bonding dissimilar materials together. If epoxy bonds to Material
A and to Material B it will bond the two materials to each other.
The best thing to do is to try it and see for yourself.
What materials can I put over your epoxy products? What materials
will your epoxy go over?
Since epoxy resin system vary in compatibility with materials,
there is no single list. In general, if a material is not listed
in the
product directions or application instructions, the best thing
to do is to try it and see for yourself.
Can I use your epoxy products to build or repair a gas tank?
System Three epoxies, when properly cured, are resistant to diesel
fuel and aviation fuel, but not gasoline. There are gasoline-resistant
epoxy products available, but System Three does not make one.
My question isn't listed here. What are my options?
If we haven't answered your question earlier, send us an e-mail, or give us a call at (253) 333-8118
. Paint Products FAQS
What is the coverage of WR-LPU topcoat?
We recommend a spreading rate approximately 350-400 square feet per gallon. This will give a coating of 2.5 mils (0.0025") dry film thickness.
What is the coverage of SilverTip Yacht Primer?
We recommend a spreading rate of approximately 250-300 square feet per gallon. This will allow for some coating removal from sanding, and still leaving a 2-2.5 mils dry film thickness.
How long after I finish my wood/epoxy boat can I apply System Three Spar Varnish?
You should wait a minimum of two weeks for the resin to cure, then sand it, wash it to remove the dust, and apply the varnish.
Back to Top
How To Buy Our Products
If you have visited our Dealer Locater and
can’t find a System
Three dealer near you we invite you to order directly from
us.
Ordering is easy. You can order in 4 easy ways.
1. Phone your order
to our toll free order only line: 1-800-333-5514,
2. Mail
in your order,
3. Fax it to: 800-361-7026 or
4. E-Mail
1-800-333-5514 is our toll free order line.
This line is for placing
orders, requesting literature, reporting items missing from shipments,
lost or damaged merchandise or other items of business nature.
We are not able to discuss technical questions or product application
ideas on this line.
Here are frequently asked questions about ordering directly from
us
.
Can I buy your products online?
We only offer our Trial Kits online. Many of our dealers offer
our products online. Go to the dealer locator and click on Internet
as the location.
Do you accept credit cards?
We accept VISA, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
I don’t have a credit card, what other
options do I have?
You can either mail us a check or we offer "Check By Fax".
Call the order line for details. Please do not mail cash.
Will you ship my order COD?
No. Please use
a credit card or "Check by Fax."
Will you ship my epoxy "Next Day Air?"
Yes. There are some additional fees plus the increased freight
charges. Call us for a freight quote.
Will you ship my order with the carrier of my choice?
Maybe. If you have an account with the other carrier and they will
pick up your order at our facility.
Can you ship hazardous materials?
Yes. However, we cannot use the US Postal Service.
Can I return what I bought?
Most of our products may be returned if unopened. However, cut
cloth and tinted paint cannot be returned. There is a twenty percent
restock charge for returned items.
When will my order ship?
Usually, orders placed by noon are shipped the following business
day. Orders shipped by air are shipped the same day when possible.
Occasionally an order is held up for a day or two while we
wait for inventory to be made. If we anticipate an extended
delay,
we’ll
let you know.
Back to Top
Dealer
Inquiry FAQ
Thanks visiting our website. We are happy to hear that you are
interested in our products. During the past couple of years we
have witnessed an amazing sales growth through our dealers so it
is my expectation that System Three products will sell very well
for you.
For the past 24 years, System Three Resins, Inc. has focused
on providing the highest quality epoxy products to consumers
throughout
the world. We have done extensive research on epoxy resins,
adhesives and compounds and have formulated our products
to meet the needs
of a wide variety of craftsmen from woodworkers to boat and
airplane builders.
Here are the frequently asked dealer
questions and answers.
If you need further assistance
please email us.
What criteria need to be met to be a System Three Dealer?
You’ll need either a retail or wholesale presence in
your marketplace. Be an established business in your community.
Be able to place a stocking order. Meet the credit requirements
of our
finance department.
In addition, each market can only support a limited number
of dealers; therefore, not all markets are available to new
dealers.
My friends buy epoxy from me, can I be a dealer?
Yes, assuming you meet the criteria set out above.
Can I sell your products over the Internet?
Many of our existing dealers currently sell over the Internet.
New dealers that meet the Dealer Criteria (see above) are
welcome to sell over the Internet. Beware of the specific
shipping
regulations that many of our products are subject to.
I don’t want to stock your products, can I resell
them anyway?
We do have a program for customers who sell boat plans or
kits where we will drop ship to their customers. Please contact
us with the specifics of your situation.
How do I establish a commercial credit account with System
Three?
Click here to download
our credit application PDF . We can often
approve credit in 24 hours; however, it can take up to two weeks.
Does System Three have field sales representation?
We do have representatives in many markets in the US and
Canada.
Contact us via email for more information.
I live outside North America, can I be a dealer?
Yes, we are always looking to increase our dealer network
abroad.
Contact us via email for more information.
Back to Top
|
