icemanrrc Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I am having difficulty pouring a small amount of Etex when I am just wanting to coat a couple of lures. I have tried an ear dropper, but that doesn't seem to work very well. What would be the easiest way for me to be able to mix up just a small amount of etex? Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boskabouter Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I and many others use syringes to measure equal small amounts both harder and resin. Works great. Grtz Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 Do a search here for 3cc syringes. The ones I use are Flexcoat mixing syringes, and I got them from Netcraft. Look under rod building supplies, and then epoxies. I use them, and leave them in tight fitting holes drilled in the caps of the resin and hardener bottles. I leave them sitting upside down in the tops of the bottles when I'm not using them. They don't allow air in when they're sitting there, and you can just turn the bottles over and pull out equal small amounts whenever you like. Just be sure to have one hand on the syringe so it doesn't fall out. And don't mix them up. I do one at a time, so it's idiot proof. Since I've started using them (thanks to everyone who suggested it) I haven't had a single bad batch of epoxy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allstate48 Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 You can get syringes at drug stores. Save on shipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbduc Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I've been using the syringe technique with the hole drilled in the cap. Label one of the syringes so you don't draw from the opposite bottle and start a chemical reaction. Works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diemai Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 @ icemanrrc I do my epoxy mixing in small transparent plastic jugs , that are normally used for medicating patients in hospitals . Got that idea many years ago , when my wife needed some surgery . I asked her to gather these for me , and she brought home dozens and dozens from the entire floor of the hospital , which I all cleaned up thoroughly . After they were used up , I ordered new ones from the local chemist's(drugstore) . I find these jugs very handy , since they have 1-millilitre steps divided marker lines . I poor in the epoxy straight from it's container , requires some patience , since the stuff is not that liquid , just to settle straight level to spectaculate on the marker lines . After just stir up the mixture and brush on:) ! good luck:yay: , diemai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downriver Tackle Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 If price is not an issue, use a grain scale. I've been measuring my clear with an $80 digital grain scale I picked up at Cabelas. One of the better investments I've made. Perfect proportions every time and very little waste because you can calculate what you need for x-number of lures once you get the hang of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 Like Diemai I too use plastic cups, but I get mine from a restaurant supply house like Smart & Final. They are sold as desert cups, they are translucent and come in different sizes, usually 250 or more for a couple of bucks. I choose the appropriate size and set them on the counter side by side. Then I pour equal amounts in each cup then pour one cup into the other, mix and apply. Just be careful as they don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 I and many others use syringes to measure equal small amounts both harder and resin. Works great.Grtz Paul these work good for myself also but be sure to mark which one you use for the hardener and the one for the resin and dont get the two mixed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 I bought a 100gm electronic scale on 'FleaBay' for A$18 (US $12.60), best investment I have made in lure making, you can weigh blanks, ballast, split rings, hooks, or etex, pour part A in and double the weight with part B and even I can't go wrong.pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMAXX Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 Easy way for me to do this is clean out an empty Devcon double tube syringe and pour the etex into it. No measuring just one syringe....quick easy and simple:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodieb8 Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 we use shooter cups from the buck store. you get 40 shot cups. just pitch them after a mix. works great for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philB Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 (edited) Syringes work for me Great idea from VMAXX by the way, not tried it but sounds feasible Edited December 20, 2008 by philB addition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverMan Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 You want to use syringes.......they are very accurate and easy to use. Keep in mind that Etex calls for equal parts by "volume" not "weight" so using a scale is not a good idea. If you don't believe it, weigh out 20 grams of A and 20 grams of B in seperate dixie cups and then place them side-by-side on the counter and you will see that although they are equal by "weight" they are not equal by "volume". Jed V. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21xdc Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 You want to use syringes.......they are very accurate and easy to use. Keep in mind that Etex calls for equal parts by "volume" not "weight" so using a scale is not a good idea. If you don't believe it, weigh out 20 grams of A and 20 grams of B in seperate dixie cups and then place them side-by-side on the counter and you will see that although they are equal by "weight" they are not equal by "volume". Jed V. Great post... I thought the same thing, But never weighed them.... I would not use weight of two different materials thinking the volume would be the same. I use measuring medicine cups as well... It's how you mix them is the key as well. Environmental Technology Inc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 Good one Jed, never thought there would be any difference, will have to get the syringes. pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downriver Tackle Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 Great post... I thought the same thing, But never weighed them.... I would not use weight of two different materials thinking the volume would be the same. I use measuring medicine cups as well... It's how you mix them is the key as well. Environmental Technology Inc. You are absolutely correct. That's easy to solve though. I offset mine by density. Just request an MSDS from the manufacturer or call them and proportion according to density listed. It will generally be something like 1.1 g/cm for the catalyst and 1.3 g/cm for the resin, depending on the brand. I dropped the two side by side in Excel, then just drug it down and it gives me proportions from 1.8 grain all the way to 180 grain mixes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 You are absolutely correct. That's easy to solve though. I offset mine by density. Just request an MSDS from the manufacturer or call them and proportion according to density listed. It will generally be something like 1.1 g/cm for the catalyst and 1.3 g/cm for the resin, depending on the brand. I dropped the two side by side in Excel, then just drug it down and it gives me proportions from 1.8 grain all the way to 180 grain mixes. Downriver, I have no doubt your method works, and, for your work, it's a natural kind of thing. But, since I've followed Jed's advice and bought a couple of sets of syringes, I haven't had a bad batch of epoxy. I like the KISS method. Especially since I'm usually the second S when I try to be "clever". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borderbasser Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 Get the syringes and do exactly like Mark said with the hole in the cap. If you search, I have a picture somewhere here that shows what I mean. It is extremely fast and extremely accurate. You will have zero issues and almost no expense. I would however purchase the ones from flexcoat. Syringes from a medical supply store (ones with the rubber plunger) can be lubricated with silicone and WILL cause fisheyes. Better safe than sorry. Epoxies with a need to measure by weight need to be done obviously with a scale, but for a 1:1 by volume, the syringes are the way to go! TJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 I prefer the scales method, it is more accurate. When I used RTV, the weight ratio was on the label (116:100). So I would to as downriver suggests and request the information. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diemai Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 By all of you guys posts I now see the sense in measuring in weight , not in volume , it's just logical ! And the two ingredients definately do have different weights , since in my small mixing cups the hardener always swims above the resin(or vice-versa ?) . I can clearly observe this , when waiting for the stuff to fall level to the cup's marker lines , the catalist has a slighly darker color ! It's just like oil swimming on water ! But for the very small amounts , that I mix for one painting proccess(max . 0,006 litres !) , the error measuring by volume would not be that much in relation to mix larger quantities that way , I guess(ever been poor concerning maths:huh:) ? And I have made my experiences doing it that way , at first once or twice the finish remained tacky , but now I get it straight time after time . greetz , diemai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boskabouter Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 Easy way for me to do this is clean out an empty Devcon double tube syringe and pour the etex into it. No measuring just one syringe....quick easy and simple:) That's a good one I love. How come I never thought of that Thanks for the tip! Grtz Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
