Replies

1. 
   joeh | Jan 21, 2004 03:06am | #1

   Don't know how cold you mean, but more hardener will set it off when it's colder, less when it's hotter.

   Guess it depends on how cold is cold..............

   Joe H

2. 
   KRettger | Jan 21, 2004 04:02am | #2

   Hey GAG,

   I don't know of one but if you find one let me know.

   I've been needing to use some to fill a hole in an aluminum saddle threshold plate that is too big. Got a concealed flush bolt that needs a tighter fit so exterior door latches to it when wind is blowing.

   Two problems. First it is too cold in Chicago to get any type of bondo, etc. to work in this cold weather on and under that cold thresh hold. Second problem is this is a real high end condo complex, and the man who owns it has had a bug up is backend for the last month wanting the entry doors to work better, even with heavy winds straight off of Lake Michigan, large doors, heavy thick weatherstripping, and a tiny little closer. Lots of luck fella.

   The owner is actually a real nice guy and a true class act so I would like to get this little problem out of the way. Also he has more money than God and we have more projects coming up from him.

   Any way if you find something I'll be looking over this thread to find out for myself.

   Congratulations on graduating, and on the engagement. I saw the picture of you and the lady. NICE!! Don't let her come by the jobsites or all your so called buddies are going to be hitting on that nice piece of eye candy.

   Have a good one.

   Cork in Chicago.

1. 
   Sphere | Jan 21, 2004 04:12am | #3

   Might not be an answer..but, there is a solder/welding fix. a stick of zinc like stuff or aluminum that melts with a propane torch..after ya 'weld it' you can cut it, drill it, saw it, tap it..it's metal. I got some at the (of all places) Alaska State fair..in '92.. a guy was soldering beer cans and engines from lawn mowers with it..just have to clean with a STAINLESS STEEL wire brush and heat with a torch and stick the stick to it..there was some paste flux for "difficult or not too clean" metals..I'll google around and try to find out what its called..comes ina bundle like bamboo skewers..for aluminum.

   here ya go       http://durafix.com/

   Edited 1/20/2004 8:24:32 PM ET by SPHERE

1. 
   KRettger | Jan 21, 2004 04:27am | #4

   Appreciate it. Sounds like it would work good. Let me know if you find it.

   OH YEAH, when you're at it do CAG a favor and pull two rabbits out of the hat and find CAG bondo that works in COLD weather.  ;)

   Cork in Chicago.

1. 
   Sphere | Jan 21, 2004 04:33am | #5

     http://durafix.com/

   Cork, crossed paths..an..like he knows what is cold?

1. 
   CAGIV | Jan 21, 2004 04:46am | #7

   well it ain't that damn cold here, glad I'm not in the north eastern states....

   just too cold to use bondo or epoxy.

   ~30ish weather.

3. 
   Phat | Jan 21, 2004 04:38am | #6

   CAG,

   As Bondo is polyester resin and talc, I would check this site http://www.fiberlay.com/ . If you don't find anything listed, I'm sure an email would bring results - very good, helpful, and knowledgeable people there.

   Spudwise

   Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability

4. 
   Snort | Jan 21, 2004 04:54am | #8

   I just finished a job putting around 20 Bondo knotholes in cedar siding. 35¡. Wrens had been nesting in the empty holes.

   We went a little easy on the hardener and added Minwax Walnut stain (pink knotholes might attract cukoos). Mixed it til it was like silly putty, not runny. Bondo generates heat while it's curing, so it was just the ticket for this...and it was all Sphere's idea, unless he stole it from IMERC, A tip 'o' the hat, dude. Thanks.

   EliphIno!

1. 
   CAGIV | Jan 21, 2004 04:57am | #9

   So I CAN use Bondo now hunh?

   Sweet!

   I caught that thread but not entirly, what did you use for backing in the holes?

   and personally I think a shot gun would have curred the wren problem quite well, AND insured more future work for yourself ;)

1. 
   coonass | Jan 21, 2004 05:18am | #10

   CAG,

   Put the heat gun to it and it will set faster.

   KK

2. 
   Snort | Jan 21, 2004 06:00am | #11

   High expansion Great Stuffª. Hardened, then dug out so the Bondo keyed behind the siding. And, no animals were hurt during this production<G> EliphIno!

5. 
   jako17 | Jan 21, 2004 06:17am | #12

   If you use a boat building epoxy  with a cold weather hardner it will work down to 35F .The important thing is to thicken it with an agent that is easy to sand .I am only familiar with Industrial Formulators Cold Cure with Jet Cure hardener .As a thickening agent I use Cabosil.This is still harder than bondo which is a polyester but is not porous because it is epoxy.Adding additional hardner does not speed up epoxy and in fact can slow or even prevent curing.With epoxy the formulation of the hardner not the quantity governs the curing characteristics beyond a narrow margin.Temperature and pre action time govern the thin film setting time. I believe West System market a cold weather product .I hope this helps

6. 
   WorkshopJon | Jan 21, 2004 07:04am | #13

   "Does anyone know of a cold weather expoxy or bondo type product?"

   CAG,

   Not saying that they may not exist, but I've never come across any, and I've worked with lot's of polyesters, epoxies, urethanes, you name it.  Everything I've come across is typically formulated to work optimally at 70F to 72F, though many need to go through a "baking schedule" later to reach optimal strength, (sometimes to 500F).

   What exactly are you trying to do?

   Jon

1. 
   CAGIV | Jan 21, 2004 07:16am | #14

   Jon,

   A little bit of rot in some windows, not bad enough to demand the removal of the sills but still needs to be fixed. taking out the sills is an option still on the table but I REALLY don't want to go through the hassle given the amount of damage is so small.

   Neil

   Edited 1/20/2004 11:22:34 PM ET by CAG

1. 
   NickNukeEm | Jan 21, 2004 04:27pm | #16

   Any way to extend the interior environment to encompass the exterior of the window?  (Assuming the interior is conditioned.)  I had to paint a rebuilt front porch last Nov./Dec with temps in the 30's.  I draped and secured tarps around the porch and opened the front door and cranked up the heat.  It wasn't a sauna, but the ambient and material temperatures eventually elevated enough to paint.  (Made sure the HO understood their heating bill for the month might take a bit of a hit.)

   Just a thought.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!

2. 
   WorkshopJon | Jan 22, 2004 01:04am | #17

   Neil,

   You can get polyester (Bondo) to catalyze if you hold a heat gun to it for a few minutes. Just enough to get it to about 90F. Once it starts to set up, it will generate its own heat to finish the curing.

   BTW, "Bondo" brand is just about the worst, and coincidentally the cheapest, polyester filler out there. Not telling you not to you it, 'cause I do use it for certain things, but there are better ones out there for X-times the price.

   Jon

7. 
   davidmeiland | Jan 21, 2004 09:43am | #15

   I've been using Smith & Company epoxy products for years, and recently got their Cold Weather Formula Penetrating Epoxy Sealer. It's a thin product for sealing stuff before painting. They make quite a few products for gluing, filling, sealing and so on, and I bet they have cold weather stuff in thicker grades for filling. Call them at (510) 237-6842, tell them your problem, and ask where the closest distributor is.

8. 
   EricGunnerson | Jan 22, 2004 08:10am | #18

   The cure rate of epoxy is very dependent on temperature. A 5 minute epoxy used at a code temperature will take much longer than 5 minutes to cure.

   So, you can use a shorter cure time, or you can keep the normal stuff warm enough to cure at a normal rate.

   http://www.systemthree.com has a great book called "The epoxy book" that explains what you can and can't do with epoxy.

1. 
   DavidThomas | Jan 22, 2004 08:54am | #19

   I'm another vote for System Three. Same chemistry as West System. Both offer hot, regular and cold temp mixes of 2:1 volumes, not a catalyst. Not as cheap as polyester resins, but not as noxious either. I trust it enough to bob around the icebergs in my 38-pound kayak (1/8" maghoney, 6 oz FG, and System Three epoxy). From memory, the cold stuff works best at 40-50F.David Thomas   Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska