SCALES

[P Doug (WA)]

I'm curious, for those of you that measure your epoxy mixes by weight, what kind of scales do you have.  I started using a little plastic scale my wife had for measuring food, and I think I have much better mixes than just relying on the pumps. I'm thinking of upgrading to better scales, that may be easier to read (got old eyes) and a larger platform to put the mixing container on.  Kind of a balancing act with the one I am using.  Been looking at some "postal" scales, think they would work?

[Roger Peterson]

I bought a set of digital scales from Office Max for about $25 and I wish I would have spent a little more and got the scales that were accurate to one tenth of a gram. After using the scales to mix a gallon of epoxy in small batches, the part "A" was empty but I still had about 4 to 6 oz. of part "B" left over. Most of my mixes were 6 oz. or less. I had a few mixes that took a very long time to cure. I do prefer the scales to the pumps. I am planning to upgrade my scales this fall for the winter building season. System 3 has a set that should be good for about $78 if I remember correctly. I think the upgrade cost is worth the money if you build more than one boat. Scales are the only way to go if you use system 3 Quickfair fairing compound.

Just my 2 cents

Roger

[P Doug (WA)]

Looks like their scales are $83 now.  After reading some of System Three's literature, I probably was not mixing correctly using the scales.  It says 2:1 using volume and 100:43 using weight.  Makes it a tad more difficult.  I was useing RAKA epoxy and weighing at a 2:1 ratio.  Never had any trouble but I guess I had better see what they say.  I will be using Raka for the rest of this boat, being I just ordered more from them the other day.

[Charlie Jones]

I guess I really don't understand this. I've been building with various epoxies since 1976. WEST, MAS, Raka, Graham's, a little Sys 3. I've ALWAYS used the pumps and never had a problem when *I* did things correctly. I HAVE not put in hardener on occasion- makes a real mess and does NOT cure :

Other than that, I've never had a problem with pumps. I will admit that I will occasionally just toss a set after a year or so and start using new ones, but then I use a good bit of epoxy in a years time.

[Charlie Jones]

Exactly  - my method- one resin, one hardner, counting all the time

[P Doug (WA)]

I agree, pumps are great.  However, I don't build boat after boat, like you guys do.  This is not my living, it's a (one of many) hobbies, for fun.  I am building one boat and it has been, so far, over a period of 2 years.  Now the pumps get kind of gooey when they sit for long periods and collect dust, and when the jugs get low of epoxy and hardener, they suck some air.  I started measuring by weighing because my jugs are low (I can hear it now!).  The weighing worked real well for me.  So would measured marked cups.  And when I get my new order of epoxy stuff I will probably clean up the pumps and use them again.  I won't keep buying new pumps though unless I start building more boat, and my wife is not to awful keen on that, we will see!

[capt jake]

I use the graduated measuring cups that you can get through medical supply houses or boatbuilder.org.  They are paper, so they  get used a few times and tossed.  When mixing very large amounts, a simple paper cup suffices; just fill 'er to the top each time.

I us the pumps primarily for small amounts lately, but like you, they are clogged presently.

[Hirilonde]

We use the dual pump at work.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=3766&familyName=WEST+System+306+Pumps

Its a bit pricey for the home shop. 

Repetition is one of the greatest causes for losing focus.  I like (need) idiot-proof.