I've been using systems 3 mirror coat for a while without any problems.

Last night I was finally ready to do a batch, and as I was putting it on it seemed like the epoxy did not want to cover the plug. I would brush it on so the whole plug was covered, and then 10 minutes later you could see little bare spots where it looked like the epoxy pulled back and left little holes. I'd go over it again, come back, same thing, more little uncovered holes.

I was doing this over the same scratch coat (hemsmans clear spar varnish) I used all winter and never had this happen before. I did 4 plugs, it happened on all 4. I finally ended up just wiping it off and hanging them up to dry and I'll go back and put e-tex on them tonight.

I'm not sure if this is related or not, but when I looked at the resin it is now cloudy, it used to be clear. Anybody have anything similar happen ??? Can epoxy resin go bad ??

what was the temp/humidity where you were coating it?
also, how old is the epoxy?

I'm working in the basement so its not too hot,maybe its 65-70, but it is humid down there now. I bought the epoxy this winter, jan or february...

Part A being "cloudy" is not an indicative of a problem, at least according to Systems Three. Along with the question of humidity, I'd ask "how fresh was your scratch coat? If your topcoat of paint hasn't fully cured, the residual chemicals can cause the epoxy to "fisheye" or crater... so will oil from your fingers, but I'm betting that you just need to let the paint cure a few days, and things will be fine.

Whenever epoxy becomes cloudy , most likely from a temperature change, take the bottles and place them in some warm water to warm the epoxy up. It works, the stuff gets crystals in it from cold, then when it warms up it clears up.
Don't use it when it is cloudy.

Maybe the varnish has gotten old, try some fresh stuff, maybe that is why the adhesion trouble.

whenever i have problems with fisheyes, its because I didnt wipe the plug down well enough with alcohol....

just my 10 cents.

It was a brand new can of varnish, and I did them sunday morning so it had 2+days to dry. Only thing I can think of is that I sprayed them outside, maybe polen or catapillar crap or something got into it when it was wet and it can't stick to it.??

I'll try and warm it up the epoxy tonight and see if that clears up the epoxy.

I scuffed em real good, but maybe something did get got on em outside so I'll give em the alchohal rub like Eben said and see if that does anything.

The spots were small, like size of pinheads, so its not like it was from my hands, whch would have made nice big finger sized problems....

Thanks for the help, i'll post some pics when they're done...

sounds like you have an alcohol problem... :hihi:

always always always rub it down, even if you sand.

ya what Eben said, not enough alchohol. :spin:

its all in how u handle your plugs I have no problem with none of the products I use.
try not to handle the plugs.
i dont clear coat my plugs thats what the epoxy is for

I just had a problem with staying tacky (mirror coat)... running air conditioner in same room as the epoxy being stored on the bottom shelf of cabinet. I think because both parts were chilled before I mixed them chemical reaction was lame .. Happened twice in a row .. never ever had a problem with that stuff .. Tried some clear coat I had stored in the basement (no ac)hard next morning ..no tacky ..

sounds like contamination. Wash your hands often or wear surgical gloves. Not the powdered ones.