Epoxy Thickener?

[Min]

I need to thicken some 15 minute epoxy for joining small pieces of porcelain (unglazed) with driftwood (some pieces are super porous) I’ve never done this before and reading up on it there seems to be a lot of choices for thickeners. It needs to dry clear, is there something that works best? 

 

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Tim T]

I've used epoxy a lot in boatbuilding, and al the fillers used (microballoons, microfibres, colloidal silica) make it opaque - though there may be some specialist ones that don't do this.

The simplest approach is to lower the temperature - depending on the temperature round you now, put the epoxy outside overnight or in the fridge before mixing, then mix it up and keep it cool at least for the first part of the set.

But do check the data sheet, as a lower temperature will significantly slow down the cure time, and if too low it may effectively stop altogether.

To ensure a full cure, once it has gelled and so is no longer going to run it is probably worth raising the temperature to at least room temperature.

[Magnolia Mud Research]

If what you need is a "filler" to take up space in a porous object, consider adding crushed porcelain powder. 

The epoxy will remain clear but the filler will be the color of the porcelain.

 

LT

[Guest]

Are you wanting the epoxy thicker so the parts stay in place while drying?

 

If so this is what I've done with wood in cases like this. Please note that I've never tried this with ceramic and wood.

 

I place a small dot of thick cyanoacrylate (thick crazy glue) in the middle of the piece and surround the glue with epoxy then quickly apply the part since cyanoacrylate will speed up the drying. Cyanoacrylate will dry pretty fast while holding the item in place while the epoxy dries. I've also did with Elmer's glue and yellow wood glue (AKA: tinted Elmer's glue) with success.

 

If you are looking for a filler LT idea would work.

 

As always, test on some scrap first.

[Min]

Thank you gentlemen, all solutions I wouldn't have thought of myself.

[neilestrick]

I just let the epoxy set up a little bit before applying it.

[Mark C.]

I  would use colloidal silica as I have some from fiberglass work-boats and surfboards. Never used it in epoxy-most of these filers are white and will opaque your clear epoxy somewhat.

[perkolator]

I too am a fan of using CA glue (SuperGlue/KrazyGlue) to anchor items while the 2-part epoxy sets.  

 

Tape also helps to hold stuff together while the epoxy cures