Measuring Glue

[matts2]

How do you measure out your glues?  For stuff like smooth-on that calls out a 1-1 by volume, but that stuff is so thick, its hard.  I normally try to measure by weight, but usually the resin and hardener aren't the same to begin with.  Just not sure if there is an easy way or not.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I use a teaspoon and get it close as I can. My personal opinion is it doesnt have to be labratory close to work jsut fine. URAC is 2-1 and I use my teasppon measure with success.

[T Folts]

You can also get a cheap digital scale from harbor frieght. I use a scale for my measurements.

[Bradford]

I have built over 10 bows with smooth on.. and have always eye balled it... never had a separation problem yet.

I use scrap wood to scoop out and make a clump of each and just make sure both clumps look about equal..

I also look for the overall color when mixed.. should be a milky yellow for smooth on.. if it is to white, add more yellow... too yellow.. add more white.

Again, never had a problem.

[Lee Robinson .]

For Smooth-on we are often told it is best at a 50/50, but on the can it says to improve bonding characteristics you can add more of the white stuff than the yellow...as much as 2 to 1. So, when I mix it up, I shoot for the 50/50 but if I have doubt I will add a bit more of the white just to make sure I don't go on the low side with the white stuff. I probably end up with about 55/45 or something like that. When my cans are almost empty, I will have a little of the yellow left over, but not much at all. If memmory serves me correctly, that is part A...but double check please. It's been a while since I read the can.

[Robertfishes]

I use 3 fluid oz plastic cups, the ones used in bathrooms.. filled to the top..I have been using large wooden popsicle sticks to put glue in cups. I use 1 and 1/2 cups of each part but mix two 3oz cups of each part.. yes I waste plenty of glue but so far no problems

[CaptainJ]

I go down to the pharmacy and get some oral dosing syringes.

Use one syringe for each part of the epoxy. You can draw the fluid right out of the can and measure it precisely.

Very clean and accurate. Sometimes I clean them, sometimes just throw them away. The pharmacy just gives them to me.

CJ

[**DONOTDELETE**]

If you measure by weight the ratio is 100:83 resin to hardener. it takes about 1800 grains for one bow if you spread it real thin with a putty knife.

[don s]

Originally posted by PEARL DRUMS:
I use a teaspoon and get it close as I can. My personal opinion is it doesnt have to be labratory close to work jsut fine. URAC is 2-1 and I use my teasppon measure with success.

PD,urac is 13 to 100. not 2 to 1. thats 13 powder to 100 liquid. i use a digital scale set to  grains. for example if i am glueing on just handle laminates. i will measure out about 21 grains powder to 150 grains liquid. this will be enough to do the job with little or no waste.don

[PEARL DRUMS]

My can's must be mis-marked, or Im getting real lucky that anything has stuck over the years? The instructions I have say one part hardener to two parts resin? Who knows....

[Walt Francis]

You guys a are comparing two different measurements, one is using weight and the other is using volume.

[PEARL DRUMS]

You may be right Walt. Volume is what I use with my teaspoon science!

[SEMO_HUNTER]

2:1 ratio is still 2:1 whether you use volume or weight, as long as you stick with the same standard when mixing. Unless the instructions specified to use a certain unit of measure then that part is up to the user depending on how much you need to mix up. 2 teaspoons of this, plus 1 teaspoon of that. Or 2 ounces of this, plus 1 ounce of that.....it's still 2:1 ratio.

I've used plastic throw away cups with graduations on the side so I can tell how much I'm mixing, but I used to get those free from work so getting the cups wasn't a problem then. I imagine you could buy them at anywhere that sells painting supplies? I'd try just a dab first to make sure it wouldn't eat through the plastic though before I mixed up a whole batch.

[don s]

Originally posted by Walt Francis:
You guys a are comparing two different measurements, one is using weight and the other is using volume.

your right walt. the urac can says both. 13 to 1 by weight and 1 to 2 by volume. sorry PD. my bad.don

[PEARL DRUMS]

I was just about ready to drive to Buffalo Don......................but the roads suck!

[don s]

they suck here too. snow covered at the moment.don

[CaptainJ]

Originally posted by SEMO_HUNTER:
2:1 ratio is still 2:1 whether you use volume or weight,.. 2 teaspoons of this, plus 1 teaspoon of that. Or 2 ounces of this, plus 1 ounce of that.....it's still 2:1 ratio.

No. Just no. If 'this' is a different density than 'that' then volume ratio and weight ratio are very different!
With URAC one part is dry and the other wet. You will have very different weight or volume ratios!

One teaspoon of 'this' may weigh twice as much as one teaspoon of 'that'. In such a case the volume ratio would be 1:1 and the weight ratio 2:1 for the same exact materials.

Consider mixing lead shavings with aluminum shavings for example.

CJ

[T Folts]

I have one comment to add as far as appearence.
When properly weighed out and mixed it will be milky white, if it still is yellowish or streaky it is not mixed enough. I weigh my parts A/B exact and Ive mixed by hand moderately and with a mixer blade on a drill and I see a difference. I can get the same good mix by hand you just got to mix it alot more so dont scrimp here.

[PEARL DRUMS]

2:1 ratios are all the same, after all ratio is ratio. But volume and weight ratio's do not translate equally. I was going to argue with you Chris, but I seen your profile pic and you got me by about an 1" and about 25#'s! Daddy didnt raise no dummy!

[CaptainJ]

Wait. Perl, are you saying I'm in trouble here?

C'mon guys, I was just tryin' to help.    
[looks around nervously] :rolleyes:  

CJ