On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 15:32:38 -0500, "David Koehler"
wrote:

Greetings All,
I'm building a composite fuselage in South Texas, with out the aid of air
conditioning. Does anyone have some suggestions on getting the resin setup
time a little longer. I promote it for 85 degrees, I've tried a hotter
temperature but it doesn't set well. The temp in the garage is 95+. I've put
the resin container in a bucket of water and it helps a little.
I need to do a large piece and the only option I can see is scheduling
myself at 3am in the morning. It would be nicer if I could do it during the
day. Thanks for any help you guys can give.
david

Sounds like Vinyl Ester Resin. The only plane I know of that uses
this is the Glasair series. They use Dow Derakane.
I promote it a full gallon at a time but use no accelerator. I don't
even use accelerator in the winter. I use one percent catalyst (MEKP)
Never mix a working batch (catalyzed) of more than 100 grams/CCs at a
time. The bigger the batch the shorter the pot life and jell time.

Typically I work with 20 to 50 gram batches except when it's time to
close something big. Then I get two or three helpers

If you are working on one of the Glasair series the users group would
be well worth your effort. http://www.glasair.org/ It does require a
subscription. I think it runs $20 or $25 a year.

My builder's diary:
http://www.rogerhalstead.com/G3_files/GIII_Diary.htm
There is a non frames version if you start from my home page.

Good Luck,

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com