#m 5200 curing

[SailingChris]

I generally do not allow 3M 5200 near my boats because it's too tenacious and irreversible. But I have a tube of black that I used for a rubber repair on an old car. My recall is that it took longer to cure than I had expected. I have since used it to repair boots with sole separation and it worked very well.

The boots developed a further separation in a different location and I glued 'em up again. 3 days later the 5200 was still gooey to the touch. They were in my heated shop here in Michigan in midwinter so the relative humidity was probably very low. I sealed them up in a plastic bag with a wet sponge inside and a couple days later they seem to be fully cured.

Have others had experience with 5200 requiring a very humid environment to cure properly? In a summertime, marine environment there's probably enough humidity to set the stuff off properly, or so I'm guessing. What do you think?

Chris Campbell
Cal 20 # 1220, Martha C (1967);
Seafarer Polaris # 13, Baker's Dozen (1961)

[Scrimshaw]

Hey Chris

As stated on its label, 3 M 5200 takes seven day to cure. It is the "gold" standard when used for its intended purposes. The company also makes similar a fast dry product. Practical sailor Magazine highly rates 5200, but does not give high marks for 3M the fast dry product.

Scrimshaw
Cal 34, Mark III
Warren Fox
Marina del Rey, CA