does the 2 part sculpting compound all game have a shelf life?I left some in my garrage and it froze I think and when I brought it in it seemed still tough to get out of the cantainer even after thawing and returning to room temp.Also does this stuff have any kind of shelf life maybe I have had it too long.Thanks,
patrick
Return to Gamehead Taxidermy Category Menu
called the company and they said 2 years as long as its as room temp.
You can soften the epoxy putty by heating it. I am sure that there is a shelf life, but the stuff never lasts long enough to find out how long. I have some colored that is five years+ old and I only have to heat to get it workable. Low heat in the oven or a minute or so in the microwave, will usually do it depending on how much you are heating. I find it best to heat just what I need, not the whole container.
Epoxies get pretty stiff in the container at temperatures below about 65 degrees F. In fact we have problems dispensing the resins out of drums at temperatures in the 60's, it gets pretty thick like molasses. Shelflife is another thing entirely. Since all types containers leak to some extent including metal cans, the materials have a tendency to dry out after a period of time. If you don't keep the containers tightly closed epoxy shelflife is reduced drastically. A rule of thumb is that if you can get the material mixed it will generally catalize working well. Heating certainly will loosen up the material so it can be mixed easier. The addition of Xylol 10-15% by volume will thin the material if it gets to tight. Be sure to do the thinning "after" you finish heating, and allow the epoxy to cool down some before stirring the Xylol. Hope this helps some.
I fill a bucket with hot water and put the epoxy in it for a while. If the lid is loose on the epoxy container just put it into a large Ziplock. You don't want water to get inside.