5 minute epoxy. Now what happened?

[BobG]

I opened up one of the fly boxes this morning. Another unpleasant surprise.

The heads of about 15 or so flies in the box had turned pure black. I mean black!
Several were medium sized bunker patterns, a few deceivers, and some over-sized clousers. All had two things in common. All were tied two winters ago. All were finished with 5 minute epoxy, and dried on a wheel.
On the bunker patterns, I extended the epoxy well behind the head of the fly, similar to a "surf candy" pattern. Result, all black. Plus, all the bucktail is deteriorating where it comes in contact with the discolored epoxy.

The rest of the good news is, pretty much all the heads on the remaining flies are a lovely shade of amber as a result of this 5 minute epoxy crap.
If Mark C is willing, I'd be happy to post some photos of these flies.

[Pauper Piscator]

If those flies were used or wet when put away or stored where some dampness/warmth got to 'em, might be a mold problem UNDER the epoxy. This might account for the deteriorating bucktail as well

In any case...bummer.

[peter mac]

Never heard of the epoxy turning Black before........the mold explanation sounds feasible. I coat all of my flies that I use 5 min. epoxy on with clear nail polish and they do not discolor(turn yellow/amber), also use it after they have been chewed on by toothy fish, it covers up all the scratches and missing chunks that the bluefish et, al. leave.

[Guy]

The 5 minute epoxies will likely discolour after a time (turn amber). I haven't noticed any difference in fish catching because of this, but yeah, it doesn't look near as nice anymore. Try a longer setting epoxy and they will stay clearer longer. The nail polish (Sally Hanson's HAN is good) trick on epoxy helps harden the surface tackiness and in my experience will help prolong the discolouration.

Lately I have been using Loon's Hard Head instead of epoxy and I have been pleased with the results so far. It's not as sticky when appyling (easier to clean up spills) gives a very clear hard finish and best of all, it doesn't have the obnoxious smell of curing epoxy and nail polish. I haven't used the product long enough to tell if it will keep its colour and hardness over the long haul so I can't give it a total unqualified endorsement, yet. Can anyone tell me how it will last over the long haul?

Thanks.

Guy

[maineguideman]

Ill bet it was a chemical reaction to the cure or die used in the materials. I was making some double bunnies one time for brown trout, I used a little epoxy to sick the two bunny strips together they started to smoke and get real hot it was the strangest thing I ever saw man did that stink. although the mold sounds reasonable. I have been using a slower epoxy 1/2 hour it comes in two separate bottle, instead of a syringe, was origionally purchased for rod building (Z systems) have to use a wheel

[clife]

It's most likely mildew, :mad: and yes I've had it happen too. --124-3

It happened to me when I didn't do a good job of getting the epoxy into the fibers. The flies got wet in wicked down pour, I dumped the water out of the fly box and threw it into a dark storage box in the boat (#$119) . I pulled it out a day or two later, and they were mottled black under the epoxy and some of the feathers were discolored. Also, some had a little whiteish mold.

I immidiatly dunked the whole fly box in salt water. The white mold went right away, the black never got any worse.

The flyies I saved still caught fish the rest were junk. I think in my case a lot had to do with mid summer heat in a dark storage box.

yeah it sucks.

[Sentience]

I use 30 minute epoxy now. It hardens crystal clear and stays that way longer.