NOTE : Gelcoat and Catalyst can only be shipped to the UK.
Catalyst: All polyester resins, including Gelcoat, must be catalysed with hardener before use. Uncatalysed resin simply will not harden.
Shelf life: MEKP (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide) catalyst does have a shelf like for approx 6 months and should be keep in a cool environment and well sealed. The main reasons gelcoat repairs fail to cure, is using old stale catalyst and low temperatures.
Please NOTE this 50ml bottle does NOT come complete with a dropper or pipette. If you need a syringe (10ml) to measure out the catalyst Rooster suggests this product found
2% is ideal, 3% is a fast mix. Additions outside these bands in not advisable for proper curing, in fact adding more than 4% may result in a failure to cure. The pot life of these mixes is also determined by temperature. The higher the temperature the faster the cure. Ideal temperature is 16 - 20°C
Mix Ratio: 2% catalyst for use with the Rooster Gel coat. (This for example is 500g of resin to 10ml of Catalyst)
Use 6 drops into 10ml of resin. (As a guide 1 UK tablespoon = 14.2ml)
Curing: At 15C pot life is approx 15 mins, repair cure 1-3 hours
At higher temps, cure times will be reduced and colder, will be slower. Never work on surfaces colder that 5C
Do not allow the resin or catalyst to freeze.
Preparation: All surfaces must be clean and dry, free from loose material. Roughen area thoroughly and degrease with pure acetone.
Wear protective clothing, and keep all work warm and dry.
Always read the product labels. This is hazardous product.
Most fibreglass materials are perfectly safe to use, providing the potential hazards are recognised and reasonable precautions adopted. Normally you will have no problems if you follow these simple rules:
1. Do not let any materials come into contact with the skin, eyes or mouth.
2. Do not inhale mists or vapours-always work in a well ventilated area.
3. Do not smoke or use naked flames in the working area
Catalyst should be treated with special care: it is inflammable and corrosive - do not let it contact the skin, mouth or eyes. Should it do so, wash from the skin immediately under running water. If it contacts the eyes, flush them under running water for at least 15 minutes and obtain medical attention.
Materials Safety Data Sheet
The Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for this product can be found at this Rooster Website page: (This is a complete library of all MSDS related to Rooster products).
