Resin Injector

[Vodkaman]

I was just asked about my method of using a cake syringe for injecting a thick resin and micro balloon mix. I remembered writing a whole article on the subject but could not find it on a search. I searched my computer and found the article and photos, so obviously never posted it. Better late than never:

Cake syringe for resin/microsphere injecting

The first time you try injecting, you spend about half an hour trying to clean everything up and soon realize that this is not the way to go. Also, the pour is not efficient, with a lot of waste filling the gaps and crevices. The three images show two identical syringes, one unused.

The secret is to fill all these gaps and crevices. This serves two purposes:

1 – greatly reduces wastage, improving efficiency.

2 – clean-up is reduced to a minute or two after very little practice.

First job is to fill the end of the plunger. Image No2 shows the recess in the end. Fill this flush. You can use the resin or some other filler.

Second job is to fill the unused space inside the barrel and nozzle, as seen in image No3. The best way to achieve this is to have a dummy run. This also covers the clean-up procedure. You need half a jar of solvent, I use cheap paint thinners. An old rag and a scraper, I use an old knife.

1 - Spoon in some mixed resin, insert the plunger and squirt out of the nozzle.

2 - Pull out plunger, scrape off excess and wipe with the rag.

3 - Re-inset plunger, draw up some solvent and squirt back into the same jar, repeat about 20 times.

4 - Remove the plunger and allow to set.

The syringe is now ready for injection. The clean-up solution can be used many times. The sediment settles and can be decanted. You can see in image No1 that there is a build up over time. The syringe in the image has been used more than a hundred times, so you can see that the syringe is good for at least 500 operations. You could extend this life by figuring out a way to efficiently wipe the inside to prevent the build up, but I didn’t bother as the syringes are so cheap anyway.

You never need to remove the nozzle.

Hope this helps, I am not famous for explaining things clearly.

Dave

[Tim2199]

Thanks Dave

[Vodkaman]

I would love to have had a play with those. I have done a few projects that needed larger syringes, not just the resin injector. I am thinking of the vacuum assisted molding of plastics.

 

Dave

[flyonline]

Dave

 

try a vet, I've picked up 100mL syringes from one if that's big enough for you. This was a country based vet, but you might get lucky and find an elephant vet locally in Indonesia    

[Vodkaman]

Flyoline - a very good suggestion. I don't recall ever seeing a vet sign, so I googled and there are a few.

 

I bought two cake syringes, expecting only to be able to use a few times. I never opened the second one. It worked so well, I doubt I will try anything else unless I fall over something interesting.

 

Dave

[mark poulson]

You can also find big syringes like that at medical supplies.  They are used for amniocentesis on pregnant women.