The timer
Runs in your browser. Leave it open on the bench; it updates every 30 seconds.
What pot life means
The FAA Airframe Handbook (FAA-H-8083-31, Chapter 6): adhesive pot life is the “time elapsed from the mixing of the adhesive components until the mixture must be discarded, because it no longer performs to its specifications. The manufacturer’s product data sheet may define this as working time or useful life; once expired, the adhesive must not be used.”
“Pot life is a product of time and temperature. The cooler the mix is kept, within the recommended temperature range, the longer it is usable.” The data sheet gives it at a stated temperature and batch size; a warmer shop or a bigger batch shortens it.
Sealant data sheets often call the same idea application life. Use the figure the product gives for the class you mixed.
Worked example
A sealant mixed at 10:15 with a 30 minute application life on its data sheet.
- Discard at 10:15 + 30 min = 10:45.
- At 10:38: 23 minutes elapsed, 7 minutes left, past the 75 % mark.
Finish the seam you are on and mix a fresh batch for the next one.
Limits — when NOT to use this
- The data sheet governs the pot life, the temperature it is given at, and the batch size.
- A timer, not a test. A mix that thickens early is finished whatever the clock says.
- Keep the page open. Nothing runs when the tab is closed.
Questions people actually ask
Is pot life the same as cure time?
No. Pot life is how long the mix stays workable in the cup; cure time is how long it takes to reach its properties once applied. Both are on the data sheet.
Sources
- FAA-H-8083-31, AMT Handbook — Airframe, Volume 1, Chapter 6, Definition of Terms Used in the Glue Process — pot life defined from mixing to discard, working time or useful life on data sheets, must not be used once expired, product of time and temperature.