Question:

I want to use your Seal Tite pond coatings for my koi pond. How long do I have (what is pot life) once I mix the A & B liquids? Do you have any recommendations about batch size?

Answer:

The pot life of our Seal Tite, Spray Lining and Coatings, and Diamondback Linings products varies. In general, pot life depends on a number of factors:

1. The actual product being mixed in a single batch
   1. Larger batches generate more heat, and the heat accelerates cure
   2. If too large a batch, you can find that the coatings cure before you can spray them onto surface
2. The amount of lacquer thinner (if any) being added in order to spray
   1. Lacquer thinner slows the cure somewhat
   2. The thinner will evaporate quickly at warmer ambient temps, so it is important to spray before evaporation occurs
3. Amount and type of Poly Powder (if any) being used.
   1. The Poly Powder included with many of our DIY and dealer packages not only thickens, but can accelerate the cure as well
   2. The finer powders such as 80 mesh or 120 mesh accelerate the cure more than the coarser 40 mesh powders
4. The temperature of the product before mixing
   1. Related to item 1, if the liquids are warm already, the cure time will be shorter
   2. Shorter cure times mean that the products will begin thickening faster and become difficult to spray
   3. Avoid allowing your liquids to get over 80° F in general before mixing

Batch size is  generally recommended to be about 3 to 5 cups maximum on the initial batch. This allows you the chance to get familiar with spray techniques and your spray equipment. You will usually find that the pot life is approximately 15 – 20 minutes after mixing. This presumes you mixed it properly, and the temperature is about 75 degrees.