I’m not trying to be critical or suggest you shouldn’t switch, but if it didn’t harden more and adhere that is a strong sign that, regardless of your previous 5/6 positive experiences, this time you may have any combination of the following:

- not had accurate/precise amounts of resin and hardner
- possibly not mixed well/long enough
- the previous surface was contaminated/not bare wood, etc.

What did you use for release agent?

It’s not uncommon for fishing rod builders to run into the exact problem you described when making batches of finish and epoxy, as with those the accuracy/precision needed is greater.

Last edited by hinesf4i; 09/12/22. Reason: Info added