Devcon Steel problem, Now What?

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Fire306

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So I have had a tub of Devcon Steel on the shelf for a couple of years now with plans to bed a few rifles of mine.
I have used the devcon a couple of times for other small tasks, but until this project haven't attempted bedding, using Devcon yet. (I have bedded using other products)
I am working on a Tikka M55 with a custom barrel on it in 6XC, the action has been bedded prior to me owning the rifle, and the first 3 inches or so of the barrel were bedded. I have the rifle re-barrels, and the new barrel contour required the bedding to be ground out to allow the action to be installed in the stock.
So this weekend I decided, an easy get my feet wet project in bedding would be to just bed the first 3 inchs (approx) of the barrel again.

Anyways to jumping ahead to the point, I have finished the task, and now approx. 36 hours later the Dexcon Steel is still not hard, it is still pliable and like hard playdough. I have used the Dexcon before, and never had an issue. I followed the directions on the packaging weighing the amount of resin and hardener.

I still haven't removed the barrel/action from the stock in hopes it would have hardened up, but it hasn't really changed since the 12 hour mark. (I have the extra still in the mixing cup to test hardness)

Should I leave it longer? or should I pull it apart and attempt to clean it out?
If cleaning it out is the necessary step, any tips to clean it up at this point?
 
I have seen this happen in old Devcon. It never hardened.

BTW, if you buy Devcon aluminum, there is more goop in the can, because it is sold by weight. I have found it to be excellent bedding material. The putty version is very easy to work with.
 
I suspect it was something about the storage condition. Likely exposed to higher temperatures.

I've have a few different brands and types of epoxies here and not one of them is less than 4 years old. And a couple are well over 15 years old. When I need them they still mix up and harden just fine. But they've never been in an environment where they got above around 22C.
 
Thanks for the info everyone. After some googling today, I think I have found my issue. The instructions are partially rubbed off the side of the container. Everytime I used it in the past, it was for very small jobs, and I just guesstimated the mixture, and it worked fine. This time, I though I did it right by weighing the portions. The only instructions still legible is 2.5:1 ratio. So I did that, by weight. Whoops. From what I read now, the 2.5:1 ratio is by volume, if you go by weight 9:1 ratio should be used.
So no wonder I have a problem. Looks like I have a messy cleanup ahead of me.
Thanks again for the input everyone
 
My first guess would have been wrong proportions which you have proved correct. I always mix by weight and usually write the ratio on the top of the can. Devcon may put a three year shelf life on it but this is so they can sell more epoxy. I have used stuff that is thirty years old and it worked okay, don't know if it had all the properties as new but seemed fine.
 
If you wait it should eventually harden give it a few days I once mixed the wrong proportion of epoxy and it eventually set .
It does sound like the proportions you used were quite off though.
 
Epoxy isn't like polyester which is a catylized reaction. It needs the amounts to be balanced so the entire mixture reacts.

So even if it did harden somewhat it'll likely always be dough like. You'll be far better off to clean out what is there and start over.

Rubbing alcohol is the solvent of choice for epoxy. Scrape out the worst of it and then wash it down with alcohol to clean away the residue.
 
Well, cleaned it all up last night and started over. Popped the action out this morning and all is good.
Thanks for the help everyone
 
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