Easy way to measure epoxy

[JEM]

Epoxy is made of 2 parts: Resin and Hardener.

Most epoxies call for a 2:1, 3:1, or 5:1 ratio of Resin and Hardener. One way to measure the appropriate amount to use metering dispensing pumps that are offered by many suppliers. Another method is using a graduated measuring cup.

These pumps typically are very reliable but they do break down after a while and let air into the pump. This causes the pump to "burb" and give an inaccurate amount of Resin or Hardener. So if you don't have reliable metering pumps or just want to use a more visual method, here's an easy way that doesn't require using pumps (or purchasing graduated measuring cups).

Helping in the demonstration is our 8-year old assitant who happens to be the "E" in JEM (JEM Watercraft). :D

Please note: This method shows how to mix a small amount of epoxy with a 2:1 Resin-to-Hardener ratio. This can be adjusted for more epoxy or different ratios.

You'll need some clear plastic cups and a permanent marker.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/images/Tutorial/Resin/MeasureA.jpg

Place one cup inside another.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/images/Tutorial/Resin/MeasureB.jpg

Decide how much total epoxy you want to mix at one time. In this example, we selected about 1/2 of the plastic cup.

With the marker, draw a line on the outer cup. Label it "H" for Hardener.

For a 2:1 ratio, you have 3 total parts: 1 part Hardener and 2 parts Resin. So we marked our line about 1/3 up toward half the cup. If your epoxy is 3:1, then you'll have 4 total parts. Mark about 1/4 the way up.
http://www.jemwatercraft.com/images/Tutorial/Resin/MeasureC.jpg

In this next part, we use water. Much cheaper and easier to clean up if you make a mistake.

With an empty cup still inside the marked cup, fill to the marked line.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/images/Tutorial/Resin/MeasureD.jpg

Remove the inner cup and set aside. Measure 2 more parts so you have a total of 3 equal parts.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/images/Tutorial/Resin/MeasureE.jpg

Place a cup back inside the marked cup, and pour the 3 equal parts into the cup.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/images/Tutorial/Resin/MeasureF.jpg

Mark another line on the cup and label it "R" for Resin.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/images/Tutorial/Resin/MeasureG.jpg

So when your ready to mix, first fill the inner cup with Hardener up to line H, then fill with Resin to line R. Remove the inner cup and mix. Save the marked cup for the next batch.
http://www.jemwatercraft.com/images/Tutorial/Resin/MeasureH.jpg

Easy! :D

[Dale R. Hamilton]

Gee whiz Jem- that seems like a lot of fooling around. Why not just use a graduated cup the epoxy people sell- If you fill it to 2 ounces with hardener, then bring the level up to 6 ounces with resin- you have your 2:1 ratio and 6 ounces mixed. If you are really cheap about that one cup- you can even use it over after its dried.

[JEM]

Grauduated cups cost much more than cheap plastic cups. This set up takes maybe 3 minutes and once you have it, you're done.

It's not the solution for everyone. Just an option.

[CAPNBIL]

A pair of old soup spoons has worked for me for small jobs. Never had a failure yet.

[Tar Devil]

Thanks, JEM.

Later,

Phil

[George Roberts]

Those lines look a bit wide. I guess one could to some measuring and determine the maximum error that the lines allow. (Most epoxy is forgiving of mix ratio errors.)

I have a $50 scale. I could never recover the cost of the scale if I used such a simple method. :)

[TomF]

Method looks great to me! Thanks

[Popeye]

i once wanted to be a hand model

but there's always someone out there doin it better

[warthog5]

I get 3 or 4 use's out of the same 4oz graduated cup's.
I still mark them with a sharpie so I can see better.

I never use pump's!
the 2 common problem's with epoxy is failure to get the mix correct and not enough stirring.

My epoxy come's in 1gal round can's. I use these mixing lip's from a auto paint supply store to make it easy to pour. the stirring paddle has been removed. The opening's are spring loaded to get that nat's a$$ amount of a pour.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Warthog5/fae4f378.jpg

[Steve Lansdowne]

A similar method using these cups that allows various total amounts to be measured is to measure off oz on the outside cup, such as 1 2 3 4 5 6, by pouring water an oz at a time into the inner cup. A 2 part hardener to 1 part resin totals 3 oz, so you pour in hardener to the 2 line, then resin to the 3 line, or whatever your mixture requires (or for more you pour 4 oz hardener and then 2 oz resin to get to the 6 line). The hardest thing about this is remembering to remove the inner cup from the outer before you get googe all over the outer cup.

[igatenby]

Keep it simple principle.

I use yoghurt containers - we have a brand here that is flat bottomed, straight walled and icecle (paddle pop) sticks.

Decide how much you want to mix - mark the stick with a biro / pencil and divide into the correct ratio for 5:1 I just divide the amount in half, then that half into thirds. Fill the cup to 5/6 then add hardener. I use 20 litre (5 gallon) resin containers with a tap. It is simple to just hold the cup and stick with one hand and operate the tap with the other.

Simple, accurate, fast, able to cope with varying quantities. I hate the pumps - totally useless pieces of crap.

Ian