How do you store your epoxy, with or without the red inserts?

If I store the epoxy between uses without the red inserts does it shortens its life as liquids?

I noticed some epoxy resin is starting to cure before use, just within 3 months – it create long pullouts and hard to flow through the nozzle.

I’de love to give up of replacing the red inserts, its making everything dirty and one of these days I’ll make the mistake and confuse them and that the end of the epoxy.

Thanks
Alex

I make sure I do not confuse them and the epoxy lasts for a couple years. Never had any trouble. Keep it out of the sun.

Ditto, I don't do anything special and I've never had one go bad

I don't use the inserts and mine works just fine. Gets a little stiff during cooler weather. But i just heat it a little with a heat gun and it still works fine. Don't get it hot but warm it up a little.

You can also thin it with alcohol. Ive used regular isopropyl rubbing alcohol and 70% and 90%. I've also used 99% denatured alcohol. They all worked fine.

I thin epoxy to paint the tank and engine compartment of my models.

I've also used a little Practa Enamel to color epoxy. (Just a few drops)

All these cause the epoxy to dry slower.

Thanks guys,
it makes it more liquid if you warm it, and its good for months I guess.

Alex

Don't use the red inserts, don't buy 5 minute epoxy and don't store the two bottles in a single zip-loc or other sealed plastic bag. I keep mine in a cupboard in my basement (seperated a few inches) and they last years. I only use 30 minute and finishing resin epoxy. The faster kinds seem to "kick" all on their own.

If it does sieze up on you. Boil some water, remove it from the heat, immerse the sealed epoxy bottles in it. They will thin out. Don't use them until they cool unless you need a very thin and runny epoxy.

Charlie has it right.

Don't even buy 5 min epoxy. It is brittle and not as fuel proof as 30 min.

Its probably been the early 70's since I bought any 5 min.

Yep, not to buy 5 minutes epoxy I learned on my own flesh.
Red inserts go to garbage.

shoot I use the 5 min all the time, its fine for gluing little parts, not large areas you just have to be prepared to use it quick and get the glue on the surface so it gets into the pores of the wood.
for the longer working time 30 min of course lets you work the area and adjust parts,I like using the faster setting adhesive on certain applications more of a personal preference if it didn't work then I think it wouldn't be manufactured ,
epoxy myth #1 more makes it stronger it just makes it heavier,if your going to strenthen a area and it is in a corner use wood to brace the area not more glue.
its lighter and adds structural strength
as for thinning epoxy pop the top and a quick zap in the microwave aprox. 5sec.on med. it thins the resin right out when it turns to a sludge in the bottom of the bottle,I will give it a zap and check to see if its melted swirl it around and zap it again if its not fully melted just remove the top so the air can vent whenever you heat a epoxy bottle,wheather you zap it or use the hot water method, they both work equally well the hot water is a bit slower is all.
then let it cool down and use it as you like.

i notice cold is afecting epoxy, its harder to work with if its not flowing.

the cold will stiffen and harden the resin it doesn't seem to matter as much with the hardener, but the heat will soften the epoxy,it also speeds the dry/hardening time so it needs to cool before you use it or it just goes off faster.

I've never sealed mine. I keep in on my bench (lower level, cool, no direct sunlight) and have not had any problems.

One thing though, I've heard about this but I thought I was ask. Does heating the epoxy in a microwave affect it's characteristics? When getting low (and impatient) I will throw them in for 8 - 10 seconds. When it comes out it is quicker flowing but does it affect the strength?

If you mix it when "hot" it will set up quicker.

Just today I set my eleve on a t-34 with 12min had plenty of time to measure wing/eleve distance
some can go off quicker than others.

it doesn't seem to affect the strength or properties of the epoxy when you zap it,I am not a chemist but from what I have observed it seems to thin it to a watery consistancy,from the stiff and unuseable sludge that it turns into over time, as it cools it returns to the syrup like texture and works as well as it ever did.

You can sit it in hot water for awhile; works for me.

The hot water is much safer than the microwave.

Microwaves will heat local areas hotter than others

The hot water deal is very stable and predictable

I've been using epoxy I bought 25 years ago. Still works fine.

Here's an idea I use. Ya know how you hate to wait for it to run down to the tip when it gets low. Well, I store mine upside down. I made a little holder out of 35 mm film canisters screwed to a piece of wood. Then it is always at the top ready for use. Ya have to watch out on hot days, though. It will pressureize (yep, I flunked spelling) and you'll get more than you want. Check out the pics. Just my two cents.
John