Glen-L.com

Any compatibility problems using a West resin pump (still "wet" with resin) in a new PoxyShield can of resin, and same with related hardener pumps? Or do I need to carefully clean the pumps first before transferring (doable, but not exactly super easy)?

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Art Shand

I would clean it or buy a new set of pumps. I went from MAS to West to Glen-L and back to MAS epoxy and I bought new pumps each time. I see you are in Big Canoe, we have a place on Lake Chatuge on the GA side in Hiawassee. What boat are you building?

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
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I would say save yourself the potential headaches of ending up with a "bad" batch of epoxy somewhere on your boat, and just buy a new set of pumps.

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Jeff

My Celerity build.

Hi Jeff. Yeah, a new set is best I'm sure. Just means a 3 hour r/t drive to Atlanta to get 'em. I'm building a Bullet. Coming along nicely. I'm pretty familiar with Lake Chatuge, as I have an aunt in Hiawassee.

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Art Shand

To save yourself the trouble, just pump some acetone thru the pumps. It will clean it out in a hurry. At least you an order the new set and get it delivered instead of driving 3 hours.

I clean mine out regularly with acetone just be pumping thru it about a cup volume. No problems whatsoever and keeps the stuff from gelling in the mechanism.

dave

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Dave

My Riviera build - the Midnight Cry Project

Video of Midnight in Action
Blog

Few things in the world measure up to the thrill and satisfaction of boating in a boat that you built.

Cut a simple stick of wood and take a measuring tape and mark equal increment lines that correspond to the ratio. Then blend on a straight sided container after pouring the resin and hardener to the appropiate line that corresponds to the resin and hardener. A two to one blend or even a five to one blend which is west's pumps for their regular hardener such as 205 or 206 is easy to work using this method. Of course the smaller mixes is a bit more difficult. But for small amounts I use bathroom dixie cups and use the same method. Stir and drag the components off the stick and let it go back into the bottom of the cup and stir again. I have never had a problem using this method and basically did away with the pumps. Just practice on smaller batches if you are afraid of messing up. I also pour smaller batches of both from the larger containers into different containers that are clear with tape lines and you can just pour both products into one mixing container using the tape lines as your guide too. This does away with the issues of handling the larger containers such as the jugs and getting too much poured too or have a lot of product running down the side when the bigger jugs are especially full or new.

I bought some 60 ml. plastic irrigation syringes from an on-line medical supply house. They are calibrated in 2 ml. increments. I have gone through almost 20 gallons of Poxy-Shield epoxy in my nearly-complete Monaco with no bad batches. If I want 500 ml.of mix I measure out 7 full syringe loads of part A and one load plus another 24 ml. of Part B to a total of 504 ml. I keep the syringes for the two resins separate, of course. I mix the combined resins in a plastic cup with an electric drill and a stirrer made from a bent piece of welding rod. Every so often i beat the stirrer with a hammer to remove the accumulated hardened epoxy buildup. I stir in #1 Silica for adhesive use, wood flour for filler and nothing for coating/fiberglassing. The syringes have lasted a very long time.

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Bill

Built a Monaco named: Princess

Thanks guys, all excellent suggestions. I just thought of another measuring technique I haven't read of (but certainly well known by some I'm sure). Reading the fine print on the Poxyshield containers (always a good idea) I see the resin and hardner can be mixed by volume or by weight. Having a digital gram scale, I figure I can put any reasonable shaped mixing container on the scale, zero the scale, add resin noting the weight, zero the scale again, then add hardner at 1/5 the resin weight. Haven't tried it yet... am I missing anything? Obviously I need to ensure I don't exceed the max weight capability of the scale!

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Art Shand

I just use the tape on the side of clear plastic container method Oyster mentioned.

I pour water of the resin amount I need from a measuring cup ,draw a line with sharpie,then add water of the amount of hardener I need,draw another line,then dump the water and dry the cup.

I mark several cups beforehand, and if I need another batch say for laying large surfaces of cloth, it's just as fast to pour into the pre-marked containers as to have pre-measured resin and hardener sitting around just waiting to be knocked over!

I also notate on these the mix ratio,(1/5,1/2,1/1 as I use different resins for different jobs (or what I have on hand)

Never had a bad batch this way

I use pour spouts on some of my containers too

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Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

I've only used the digital scale.
it works the best - and you can create *custom* batches easily.

It works simple with 2-1 ratio epoxies (System 3, MAS) If you use West - I'd make a cheat sheet using Excel or something.

Never a bad batch this way. The pumps are too unreliable.

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Regards,
Bob Perkins

My Current Projects
http://h12restoration.shutterfly.com/
http://nutshellpramconstruction.shutterfly.com/

My Completed project
http://biscayne22.shutterfly.com

I too only use digital scale. Even if you accidently pour too much you can add more of other part with quick recalculation

Hi i was mixing epoxy in plastic cups and i had to throw them away after every use, Jamie put me on to these proper
measuring cups, they are marked on the inside...2"1....to....7"i...mix they are quite soft and when the epoxy hardens
you can pull it out and re ,use them, at a dollar each that is good value

Old Aussie ...Peter

I use old yogurt containers for mixing small batches, and shredded cheese containers for bigger batches.....both types are clear and I use the tape marking method

You might be a boat builder if you shop for food depending on how flat the bottom of the containers are and would they be good for mixing epoxy!!!

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream