One Step Forward, One Back

As I mentioned previously we were preparing to adhere the first part of the Filon covering to the hatch.  The Filon was cut to rough size.  We rehearsed the application.  

My first choice of adhesive is not available anywhere nearby because it is not VOC-compliant (VOC = Volatile Organic Compounds.)  Being solvent-based, it is not legal for sale or shipment into my state or any of the surrounding states.

So I spent a day researching the various alternatives, creating a spreadsheet to compare their pertinent characteristics.

One particular product floated to the top of the list.  I had seen it locally, so I went and purchased a gallon pail.

Yesterday, with the able assistance of Norm Brody, we spread the adhesive and applied the FRP (Filon is a "Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic.")

We noticed during the application of the glue that it was not forming a skin after exposure, as most latex-based adhesives do. Still, we forged ahead and set the Filon onto the hatch.  We rolled the Filon out with J-rollers, added some band clamps the length of the curve, added some clamps at the top and bottom edges, and cleaned up.

Still we did not observe the adhesive skinning over.

Today, some 28 hours later, minimal skinning had occurred.  Yesterday I made note of the date code on the lid of the adhesive, which was unclear as to exactly when it was manufactured.  The manufacturer claims a one-year shelf life if unopened.

Today I called the manufacturer's technical department, who confirmed the date code on my pail dates to April, 2012, well outside their one-year shelf life.  While four months over the specified life (or, put another way, 33%) seems unlikely to be a "drop-dead" situation, the technical person at the manufacturer, after hearing of our issues, said, "I wouldn't use it."

That was all I needed to hear.  I rushed back to Sean's, and we peeled the Filon off the hatch.  The next couple hours were spent scraping the adhesive from both the Filon sheet and the hatch, then using paint thinner to remove the remnants.

We think we have a relatively-clean removal.  A thin film may remain, but washing with clean rags and paint thinner should remove that film.

The next step is to attempt to find the same product with a current date code.  Failing that pursuit, choosing an alternative is in order.

Please stay tuned.