Took a shortcut with fiber termination and it paid off big time

I got a job last Tuesday where the customer wanted 12 fiber drops done by Friday. Everyone at our shop swore by the hot melt method for clean ends. I said screw it and tried the fast cure epoxy with a 30 minute oven cycle instead of the full 8 hour cure. All 12 passed the OTDR test with zero reflections. My crew lead was pissed I didn't do it his way but the results speak. Anyone else ever try bending the rules and have it work out better?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_craig281mo ago

Man tell me about it. I've been on the fast cure epoxy train for a while now and honestly never saw the point in waiting all day when the oven does the job in under an hour. The key is making sure your mix ratio is spot on otherwise you'll get cloudy ends that fail every time. Sounds like you nailed it though, sometimes the old school guys just can't let go of their way of doing things.

irisowens1mo ago

Ovens can mess with the chemical cure time though.

logan_mitchell1mo ago

But does the oven method actually hold up long term? I've heard mixed things about it causing microcracks in the finish once the epoxy fully cures, especially if you're doing thicker pours. Have you ever tested a batch after a few months to see if it's still solid or if it starts failing?