Devcon hardener going bad.

[hammerjack]

Has anyone found a way store the hardener after the aluminum seal is removed to keep it from getting hard and unusable?
The old Devcon did not have a aluminum seal and would last forever not the case with the way it is package now.
There is no problem if you go ahead and use it in a few weeks after it is open ; for me it's been around 5 weeks when the hardener
turns into chalk. I have quite a few of the putty containers now with no hardener and don't really want to switch to something else
but may have to. Photo below old Devcon on left new on the right. Thanks for any help.

 

[wapiti25]

Does Devcon aluminum putty still come in the cans? Can you vacuum seal the left overs and store them? Did you contact the MFG and try to buy the hardner?

 

[clowdis]

Switched to JB Weld after having the same issues with Devcon. Also had some Brownells acraglass that wouldn't harden completely. Don't want to get into what that cost me! Anyway, I can get a package of JB Weld for $5.00 and it's enough to do one stock.

 

[Lightload]

Don't know the chemical make-up of Devcon or JB for that matter but regular rosin and hardener should last about forever.
If the stuff starts to get chunky or hard, just put it in the microwave and nuke it briefly. I'm talking 10-15 seconds briefly for an Acraglas jar. Watch it closely! Too little time is waaay better than too much.
Give it a try.....what do you have to lose?

 

[Raythemanroe]

I wouldn't microwave it but warming it up does help it mix properly.. I used it once then the second go round made me nervous because it took a bit longer to cure..




Ray

 

[sparky123321]

I've been using the same 4lb container of FeltPro(Loctite) Fixmaster Liquid Steel and hardener for 3 or 4+ years now. Can't tell you how many stocks I've bedded with it, but its probably over 10 and still going strong. I do sometimes like to flip the containers over and keep them that way until the next use. Make sure to never contaminate the exopy with the hardener or the other way around.

 

[hammerjack]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Bugholes]

They changed some elements of the hardner in an effort to comply with government mandates (according to them), and he hardener shelf life was compromised. They added the foil seal, but after the seal was broken the hardner dried out rather quickly and was ruined. I was covering the product by direct contact with plastic wrap and that extended the shelf life, but did not eliminate the problem. Product produced after June 2014 has a newer hardner which seems to have eliminated the problem. I have stuff that's been opened for a few months and the consistency is still good. You can get manufacture dates from the code on the box, but it's not simple/intuitive

 

[msalm]

I've been dealing with this and although I haven't fixed the problem, I do have a bit of a work-around. I measure out the hardener and use a plate of plexiglas to mix on. Before adding the other part, I fully mix the hardener and 'crush'it against the plat to break it up and smooth it out. It takes a bit but breaks down to a fine consistency without chunks. Then I'll mix the two together and use as normal. It is a PITA but it works and it sets up as well as fresh stuff.

 

[kendog]

They changed some elements of the hardner in an effort to comply with government mandates (according to them), and he hardener shelf life was compromised. They added the foil seal, but after the seal was broken the hardner dried out rather quickly and was ruined. I was covering the product by direct contact with plastic wrap and that extended the shelf life, but did not eliminate the problem. Product produced after June 2014 has a newer hardner which seems to have eliminated the problem. I have stuff that's been opened for a few months and the consistency is still good. You can get manufacture dates from the code on the box, but it's not simple/intuitive

This. Devcon is aware of the problem, and will send you new catalyst if you call them. I tried the plastic seal thing, recommended by them, but it did not work. It turned the plastic wrap black and disintegrated it, then proceeded to crystallize like the the first batch of bad hardener. I wound up having 3 jars of the putty with no hardener. They made good and sent me 3 pounds of the new stuff. Haven't used it in a month though, better check it tomorrow when I get out to the shop. I'll post the customer service number tomorrow.