How much epoxy to mix at one time

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How much epoxy to mix at one time

Postby Bill Fernandez » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:51 am

Do I mix epoxy for all two sides and 2 doors or what?
How much epoxy will it take for to do all of it?
Thanks

Bill :thinking:
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Postby Juneaudave » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:25 am

Bill...here is a pretty good site on epoxy particularly if you are using glass. Michne Think small batches and mix well...
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size of mix

Postby Bill Fernandez » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:49 am

Do i try to mix for one side at a time? how much would it take?
what do i mix it in glass or metal or plastic container?

Bill
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Postby Juneaudave » Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:17 am

You only mix just what you can use before it starts to get hot, and that depends on the speed of the hardener. Mix up about half a cup to a cup, see how it goes...you can always mix more. I use plastic cups and squgee the excess into old orange juice cans I save for disposal.

When mixing, stir a full two minutes. Scraping off improperly mixed epoxy is a mess. The Michne site has a good method for calibrating your mix ratios so you get the proper amount of hardener.

For multiple coats, I let the first coat harden to where it is not sticky, but is still soft enough that you can dent it with your fingernail. That's overnight for MAS epoxy with the slow hardener. That's about 4 hours (as I recall, been awhile) with West System epoxy. The thing is that you want to get the next coat on in time that you get a chemical bond. Otherwise, if let it sit so long that it hardens completely, you have to rough it up with sandpaper for a physical bond.

Be sure to use rubber gloves (those cheap disposable glove are great) and don't itch your nose with epoxy on your hands. A long sleeve shirt is a good idea too. Exposure to epoxy can cause sensitivity and a rash. I had to switch from West to MAS because I developed a sensitivity over time.

When you get around to sanding the epoxy. be sure it has completely cured. About a week minimum. It's inert then. Use a respirator when sanding, clean up your shop afterword, and take a shower. Epoxy dust is nasty stuff and gets on everything.
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Postby Dale M. » Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:53 am

When working with epoxies ( and fiberglass resins) always use disposable tools and implements....

PAPER CUPS... Some have wax coatings which you do not want and some plastics react to epoxies or resins and melt...

THROW AWAY paint brushes and roller sleeves...

RUBBER GLOVES....

PAPER TOWELS....

PLASTIC SQUEEGEE

Put down paper or disposable tarps on floor below work area...

Plenty of solvent for "clean ups"...

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size of mix

Postby Bill Fernandez » Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:58 am

Do i try to mix for one side at a time? how much would it take?
what do i mix it in glass or metal or plastic container?

Bill
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epoxy

Postby Bill Fernandez » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:08 pm

Dale thanks sir I'm going to get ready for all that, have gloves, have mask, have paper now with all the help I also have a little knowledge
lets see if I can put it all together. :? :shock: :R :cry:
Bill
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Re: size of mix

Postby Juneaudave » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:17 pm

Bill Fernandez wrote:Do i try to mix for one side at a time?

Bill


You only mix enough that you can comfortably work within about a 15 minute time...you can mix another batch when you run out.


Bill Fernandez wrote: how much would it take?

Bill


That depends on what you are doing. If you are just sealing a wood surface....maybe a half gallon for an entire Tear. If you are using cloth and doing extensive epoxy work, I bought three gallons.


Bill Fernandez wrote: what do i mix it in glass or metal or plastic container?

Bill


You can use glass, but I recommend plastic. I buy the 1 cup graduated plastic containers at about 15 cents a piece. That lets me check the mix ratio. I have often used plastic drinking cups in a pinch. Do not use waxed papaer cups.
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epoxy

Postby Bill Fernandez » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:33 pm

Thanks Dave wish me luck around 4 today im going to start.
8)
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Postby angib » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:45 pm

A few tips:

- You will mix too much epoxy at some point - throwing away the stuff that's gone solid in the bottom of the pot is how you learn not to mix so much next time......

- If applying epoxy to a large area, I would mix less than a pint (or half litre) at one time. But to use that much, I would have absolutely everything that I would need lined up and ready for use.

- When mixing epoxy, concentrate on getting your stirring stick into the 'corner' of the pot, between the bottom and side - you have to scrape the neat resin off all the surfaces of the pot when stirring and the corner is where many people fail to do this. It's worth letting a one inch depth of epoxy go solid in the pot one time - then turn it out and see if the ring around the bottom 'corner' is sticky, which it shouldn't be if you stirred it well enough.

- As soon as the epoxy is mixed, pour it into a flat tray as this will stop it going off so quickly (more spread out = more surface area = less self-heating effect). A regular plastic paint roller tray is one of the best things to use as not only is it ideal for loading a roller with epoxy, but cured epoxy won't stick to it. Let any unused epoxy cure and then twist the tray to get the solid epoxy to 'ping' out.

- When coating a large area, it is usually possible to mix extra batches of resin (have them already measured out and standing ready) but still use the same roller, tray, etc for all the batches.

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epoxy

Postby Bill Fernandez » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:59 pm

Andrew Thanks every bit of information does help.
Thanks again

Bill :)
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Postby apratt » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:28 pm

And when you have left over exposy, like 2 cups or more. Place it in a non flambable area and container. The expoxy can get very hot and catch things on fire or melt things.
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Epoxy

Postby Bill Fernandez » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:38 pm

Okay arthur don't want to burn up my house thanks.

Bill :o
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Postby Arne » Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:37 pm

If you mix up too much, it will harden faster in the pot from the generated heat feeding on itself... it will start to smoke.... I rarely mix up more than 6-8 oz even on a bigger job, simply because I want time to work it..

Another thing is, I never put too much on, I squeege it flat.. I often wind up putting 3 coats on, but when done, it hardly needs any sanding at all.
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epoxy

Postby Bill Fernandez » Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:49 pm

Well I got one side with the first coat waiting till tomorrow to see how it came out.
Thanks everyone for all the help

Bill 8)
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