Looking for advice for low-odor epoxies

[Bill S]

I am going to be epoxying some Lexan fins to a rocket, after having tried JB Weld (which didn't hold up, being rubbery and not hard). The problem is that due to the colder weather arriving, I may have to use it indoors and we are fairly sensitive to chemical smells. I've tried some epoxies indoors in years past but they stank so badly I had to get rid of them.

Can anyone advise me as to some epoxies that have low odor? I'm doing just low-powered rockets, but some will have Lexan fins and so need epoxy.

Thanks.

 

[Arsenal78]

BSI doesn’t have an odor. You can get it from Hobby Lobby

 

[Steve Shannon]

If your JB Weld ended up rubbery (and if it was the regular JB Weld) then it didn’t cure properly. That can be caused by incorrect ratios or poor mixing.

 

[Bill S]

If your JB Weld ended up rubbery (and if it was the regular JB Weld) then it didn’t cure properly. That can be caused by incorrect ratios or poor mixing.

It could have been incorrect ratios, as I don't normally weight the epoxy, just squeeze approximately the same amount on a piece of paper and stir it up.

BSI doesn’t have an odor. You can get it from Hobby Lobby

I see that they do locally. I may check those out then. Thanks.

 

[mikec]

I'm not sure how sensitive you might be to odor. It's not like BSI is totally odorless. Nor have I ever used an epoxy that I considered to be extremely smelly, not like the smell level of polyester resin anyway. But we can hope you don't have too much trouble with the small amount of BSI you are likely to need.

I've never had JB Weld cure to any consistency I would call rubbery, and I don't measure it any more carefully than it sounds like you did. Maybe you had a bad batch or something.

 

[prfesser]

Epoxy has very little odor, though the laminating epoxies have a more volatile reactive diluent that has a recognizable odor. Curatives...the 5-min ones are usually sulfur-based and pretty rude up close. Many of the rest are amines (fishy smelling) or amides (less-fishy smelling). I've used five or six different brands of epoxy and have never found one that was too nasty to use indoors (and the wife and elder daughter don't seem to notice it). You may be a bit sensitive to the odor, unfortunately. I hope not.

 

[neil_w]

I normally use the BSI epoxies and find them to have very little objectionable odor, and I live in a household where any chemical odors are.... well, let's just say "frowned upon". I do recall trying one of the dual-syringe epoxies from the hardware store (might have been the plastic epoxy) and it stunk so bad I haven't used it since. For general adhesive use I just stick with the BSI.

 

[solid_fuel]

that's odd. to me BSI is one of the stinkier epoxies I have used. Rocketpoxy being the most pleasant smelling.

 

[Bill S]

Most of my stinky epoxy experiences have been with the 5-minute stuff with dual syringes.

I found the BSI epoxy at Hobby Lobby, and was not pleased at the price, but you do get a fair bit of it (which I don't really need). But trying to buy the other epoxy I see mentioned a lot (Devcon 5, and 2-ton) are mailorder only and by the time I pay shipping the price is nearly a wash.

 

[David Schwantz]

Use rocket poxy. It smells like peanut butter.

 

[Nytrunner]

Use rocket poxy. It smells like peanut butter.

You eat some very strange peanut butter. Last jar I opened had a distinct lack of ammonia smell

 

[mbeels]

I normally use the BSI epoxies and find them to have very little objectionable odor, ...

Ditto.

I've had the same experience as neil_w, At home I use the 30 min BSI, and I find it only has a barely detectable odor near the work bench. Other epoxies that I've used elsewhere have had much more smell.

 

[Exactimator]

I will add to the 5 minute BSI stinks and Rocketpoxy doesn't chorus.

5 minute smells strongly like a perm.
Rocketpoxy has a faint sweet smell.

 

[crossfire]

I have never had JB cure rubbery.

 

[dhbarr]

Quicker epoxies have to outgas faster, makes sense they'd be stinkier.

 

[DeepOvertone]

BSI 5min has much more odor than the BSI 30 min. Rocketpoxy doesn’t have much odor and is fantastic stuff if you’re ok with the fact that it’s not as easy to use as BSI or other syringe epoxies. JB weld should not cure rubbery. I’ve seen evidence that the JB quick is garbage so if that’s what you used, try the real stuff. Just be aware that it takes hours to set and cure.

 

[mbeels]

Quicker epoxies have to outgas faster, makes sense they'd be stinkier.

That makes sense. It may also be related to the fumes emitted by some epoxies when heated. Some can be quite toxic and dangerous.

 

[JohnCoker]

I am going to be epoxying some Lexan fins to a rocket

Epoxy won't bond well to smooth surfaces; it needs some roughness to create enough surface area for a good chemical bond. If you're going to body directly to plastic, make sure to scuff up the bonding area with 100grit sandpaper first.

I prefer mechanical joints for plastic fins. Here's how I built the last one:
Ariane 6 sustainer

 

[dr wogz]

i will 2nd the above comment; epoxy & smooth surfaces / most plastics don't mix..

Rough up your glue area with a really course sand paper to give the epoxy (or any other glue) something to bite & hold onto..

Epoxy does have a smell / odor. Some people like it, some not. Some are more susceptible to certain odors, some aren't.. But Epoxy is not a cheap commodity regardless of the brand, the cost is reduced as you buy in quantity..