Reuse old epoxy cups and mixing sticks

[Jon Matcho]

I reuse my epoxy cups all the time, getting about 3 uses from a single cup, and nearly unlimited uses from mixing sticks. The best part is they work better the 2nd time around.

 

Just let the epoxy cure to a smooth surface in your cup. After 24 hours, do the scratch test to be sure you don't need to throw the part you just made in the garbage. The cured epoxy takes away some volume of the cup each time, and so an added bonus is additional motivation to help not waste epoxy. Don't bother trying to save flox cups, or micro cups for that matter.

 

Mixing sticks can be just wiped clean and let cure, and sanded smooth (if necessary) prior to their next use.

[Wayne Hicks]

Try using the smaller, "mouthwash" type dixie cups when mixing flox or dry micro. You don't use flox in large quantities. The smaller cups "prevent" you from mixing too much. You also don't waste a larger cup in the process.

 

The more the mixing sticks get covered with epoxy, the stronger they get!

 

I usually save my cups and brushes by cleaning them with acetone. Somewhere in my hangar I still have the very first cup and mixing stick I used. I was given a box of 100 brushes at the start of the project. I bet I still have 25 left to go. Doesn't really make much sense really. The money saved on cups and mixing sticks is most likely offset by the cost of acetone.

 

BTW, I did the scratch test often in the beginning chapters. I stopped doing it once I gained total confidence in the pump ratios. I checked the calibration on my pumps before the canard and wing layups, also yearly.

[Jon Matcho]

Try using the smaller, "mouthwash" type dixie cups when mixing flox or dry micro. You don't use flox in large quantities. The smaller cups "prevent" you from mixing too much. You also don't waste a larger cup in the process.

Curious... it just occurred to me that the only thing I use those cups for is for scooping out micro & flox for mixing, pouring hardener (scale method), and mixing 5-minute epoxy. I'll have to try the flox bit, but I'd expect micro to "blow up" all over the place in those tiny cups.

 

Doesn't really make much sense really. The money saved on cups and mixing sticks is most likely offset by the cost of acetone.

I now have 1.5 cans of acetone: 1 clean, and 1 dirty. I clean brushes with either, depending on how I feel, but always dump into the dirty can. Contaminants seem to settle to the bottom of the dirty can, which I use to clean brushes with often. I no longer leave a tin can of the stuff open to evaporate.

 

BTW, I did the scratch test often in the beginning chapters. I stopped doing it once I gained total confidence in the pump ratios. I checked the calibration on my pumps before the canard and wing layups, also yearly.

I don't have a pump, and am thinking that I won't be needing one at this point. I see how crapped-up the hardnener gets when exposed to air (it crystalizes), and don't want to deal with cleaning that poison or having crystal flakes in my resin. I know all of the pump-using world can't be entirely wrong, but so far this is working for me. It's not a matter of time savings -- the time is in the mixing, not the pouring.

[Wayne Hicks]

I see how crapped-up the hardnener gets when exposed to air (it crystalizes)

 

-----> Oh, that's right. I keep forgetting about you MGS users. I use EZ-Poxy and have never had a crystallization problem. My pumps are over 20 years old and I haven't had a problem with them either. (The point being there are epoxy systems that don't crystalize.....)

[airwrench]

I see how crapped-up the hardnener gets when exposed to air (it crystalizes)

 

-----> Oh, that's right. I keep forgetting about you MGS users. I use EZ-Poxy and have never had a crystallization problem. My pumps are over 20 years old and I haven't had a problem with them either. (The point being there are epoxy systems that don't crystalize.....)

I was amazed as well, been using my pump over six months with ez poxy and never a glitch!! (been through about 9 gallons) Very pleased with the inexpensive and reliable hand pumps, just wish the dispensed a little quicker!

 

As far as reuse of cups go, well, with epoxy 2 or 3 times, never after flox or micro........The real art is to know how much you need, make it and have nothing more than a few tablespoons left!!(not an artist)

[Jon Matcho]

Try using the smaller, "mouthwash" type dixie cups when mixing flox or dry micro. You don't use flox in large quantities. The smaller cups "prevent" you from mixing too much. You also don't waste a larger cup in the process.

Somewhere along the way I forgot about using these cups for anything more than scooping micro or flox, and mixing 5-minute epoxy. This weekend I mixed some micro and a small batch of epoxy when I needed. The result? About 3 grams of excess epoxy compared to 1/4" thick at the bottom of one of the big cups. Good one!

 

I also was able to get about 8 of the 12 cuts of glass needed for the LWX/LWY layup in chapter 5 by going through my excess BID box. Morale? Don't be afraid to save your leftover BID triangles by rolling up and putting into a box protected from dust.