Easton HIIT epoxy issues

BBob

WKR
Joined
Jun 29, 2020
Messages
4,730
Location
Southern AZ
Or is it operator error?
Just like the Loctite issues we hear about, likely operator error :)

I’ll add to my previous, I don’t use the epoxy because I find the Black Max easier and faster to use than mixing epoxy not that epoxy isn’t any good. I clean and scrub everything with acetone prior to gluing making sure the dust from cutting is removed from inside the shaft and any sort of mold release is also removed.
 
Joined
Jan 26, 2017
Messages
3,288
Location
PA
The closest I could find to a real number for the easton hit epoxy last year when i really dug into insert epoxy issues was in the 2000-2500 psi range (I was not able to replicate this information today, so going off memory). Golf club epoxies ranged from 4000-6000 psi.

On a hit insert where you only have 0.03-0.1 in^2 of surface area to engage, the difference in absolute shear strength between a 2000-2500 psi epoxy and a 4000-6000 psi epoxy is noteworthy, and in my experience, it is the difference between inserts remaining in the shaft, and inserts spinning free.

Rip tkos built by me:

process:
square arrows
22 cal brass bore brush, 10+ strokes and twists
clean inside of the shaft with acetone soaked q-tips until clean, typically 5+ qtips per shaft
wipe inside of shaft with both ends of a dry q-tip
clean inserts with acetone
allow everything to dry
install with easton epoxy per the lancaster archery youtube video on hit installation

using this process, 11 of 12 inserts twisted out within 2 weeks, the 12th one lasted until week 3

Using the exact same process but substituting in high impact shafting epoxy, 0 loose inserts in over 20 months of continuous use.

rip tko's built by adams archery
20 of 21 hit inserts twisted out the first time a field point was installed
redone using the above process with high impact shafting epoxy, zero inserts have spun free in 12 months of (admittedly light) use. these are my broadhead and hunting arrows, the 3 that have been recovered after kills have been returned to service without issues, 1 is still lost on the mountain somewhere.

Axis arrows seem to have a more porous structure that may allow increased adhesion over what is possible with the rip tko, but for the rip tko application, the easton hit epoxy has proven that it is not up to the task. This is a well known issue, with multiple people posting about issues over the past handful of years. Miraculously, switching to stronger epoxy eliminates the issue in all cases.
 

bigbuckdj

WKR
Joined
Jul 29, 2019
Messages
761
I have been using kimsha hotmelt for 3-4 years and I don’t think I have had one come loose yet. I do a little extra prep on them but it’s been working great.
Same for me. I’m pretty sure Kimsha is what Iron Will sells for hot melt as well. I’ve used both and haven’t had issues.
 
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