> The researchers at 3M must have spent a lot of time & effort
> developing a rubber formulation for the elastic bands on their respirators
> and dust masks. How else could they get the #@$#! things to break reliably
> after 3-4 wearings!

> I was REAL careful with the bands, cuz I've had this problem with 3M junk
> before. After the 3rd or 4th wearing, for no reason,
> "poinnnngg!" and the %?@! thing falls off your face. That's 2
> in 2 days. Never again. $6 down the drain.

Hi Spidey,

Sorry to hear about your problems with 3M latex, but I have to defend 3M #2216 epoxies ... got a couple gallons of "outdated" stuff cheap, and after experimenting with it,especially the leftovers in the bottom of the mixing cup, it seems to be flexible, yet a lot "tougher" to rip and break than some other vendors. Seems like the new stuff I paid full price for tends to "crack like plastic" after being flexed beyond a certain point, while I can't tear or break a piece of 2216 by hand. And of course bonded wood seams I tested break in the wood, not the epoxy/wood interface. Unfortunately, the 2216 seems too viscous to wet out fiberglass on the hull, but I'll definitely use it for fillets, joints, etc.

John