Polymerization Is Too Fast or Too Slow
Temperature is almost always the cause. We give the times on the label and the technical sheet for 23°C. Warmer is faster, and colder is slower.
What Temperature Does
Above 23°C, polymerization is faster and the working time is shorter, so mix and apply the product quickly. Below 23°C, the reaction slows down, so allow extra time before extraction. Below 10°C, it is much slower.
A cartridge that comes out of a cold storage room behaves like a cold workshop. Let it reach workshop temperature first.
Do Not Trust the Clock Alone
Far from 23°C, do not rely on the label. Press your fingernail on the test drop. If it leaves no mark, the impression can be removed. Plastiform polymerizes as a whole, so if the surface is hard, the core is too.
Other Causes
Manual Putty kneaded in your palm warms up and polymerizes faster. Knead it with your fingertips instead.
An abnormally long polymerization, or a change in appearance or consistency, can mean the product has deteriorated. In that case, check the expiration date.
Some products are also slow by design. You can remove M80 LP after 25 minutes, and XL products after 20 to 40 minutes. P51 SD is fast by design and can be removed after 1 minute.
In a Hot Workshop
If the working time is too short for the job, a product with a longer polymerization, such as an XL product, gives you that margin back.
