I have been mixing my epoxy for aproximately one minute, but have come to the conclusion that I am mixing too fast. Around 60 stirs w/ paint stick per minute for about 35 oz. It just seems if you stir slower it isn’t mixing as well as it needs too.
What are you all doing?
I mix mine until it looks completely mixed. Then I continue mixing for a couple more minutes. Usually, 3 or 4 minutes I guess. I don’t look at my watch. When it’s cooler it takes longer. Hot, a bit less time. Better to mix it longer than not long enough. Mike
100 slow stirs around and then scrape the sides & the bottom and give a few more stirs. 35 oz, though, what are you glassing, a sailboat? 
Even a 2 x 6 oz lam on a 10’ board is only about 18 oz including hardener…
60 slow whips in bucket number A with emphasis on pulling everything off the sides and an up/down whip. Dump everything into bucket B for 30 more whips. Ive never had a problem with tacky anything and it keeps bubbles to a minimum. But I heat it first in a hot bath for hotcoats/glosscoats.
I just busted out my notes. Keep track of all my mixes to keep waste to a minimum. My latest 9-1 longboard using a 3:1 epoxy used 27 oz resin/9 oz hardener, 1 layer of 6 oz S cloth–notes say perfect amount. Sure some on floor, but I know otherwise it would have been dry.
Top-2 layers 6 oz S cloth–30 resin/10 hardener–just right.
Hot coats top 15/5 – barley enough
bottom hot 18/6 – good
now, these number represent pumps on my pump, but experience tells me that one pump equally 1 oz, or real close to it.
Maybe it is the s cloth, I don’t know how you guys do with less. I’ve tried before, just to come up short. What’s the secret?
Dump into bucket B-- I assume this is to eliminate any unmixed resin stuck to the sides?
35 and 40 oz of resin does sound like a lot to me.
But Benny, how on earth are you doing a 10’ board with 18oz of resin? I just got the 7’6" I made for myself with about that much. What’s the secret?
yulp
resin research
says rick holt to me a week or so ago
6 minutes
I started watchin me watch…eeeegads
six minutes is along time
two sealer coats and two hot coats on a 9’ solid balsa later
15 0z. by the way w/ half a cappa f
thats 5+10 hard to resin
the protracted mix feels more secure
just enough to cover
sealer at 12 oz.
and 15 oz. plenny to coat an outside box bottom with remnants
the wax gets cloudy right away
and then the whole conglomeration goes kinda creamy
like some sixties creme shampoo
then the it kinda lays in and stays kinda opaque
until pour out whe it goes clear well
but to the point I am trying to go to 6 minutes but I get to about 4 mebe 5 minutes
…ambrose…
And I cut my tongue depressor mixing sticks so they have a flat end to get at the resin on the bottom of the cup and in the crease between the wall of the cup and bottom. I scrape the bottom thoroughly in one direction, then turn 90 degrees and scrape the bottom in that direction. And scrape off the resin from the stick (both sides and the edges) a couple of times and tilt the cup over so it mixies with the scrapings.
And then I bury the wings of a butterfly under a drain pipe and turn three circles on one leg. And never on an even hour of the day.
You’ll learn what works after a little experimentation.
Dump into bucket B-- I assume this is to eliminate any unmixed resin stuck to the sides?
precisely
60 slow whips in bucket number A
bucket “number A”?..do you then transfer it to bucket “letter 2”
I guess its about sealing the blank. And if you consider that step, for which I mix one ounce of (mixed) resin per foot of board, you’d add 10 oz to my totals Over straight EPS (even 2#) I seal with 1 oz/foot + cabosil to thicken. Over balsa skins, just paint on the resin with a brush, but get it very warm first so its thin & soaks in. After that, laminating takes so little resin its rediculous. And no bubbles or dry spots or pin airs, no matter what the temperature is doing.
Edit: I cut my popsicle stick ends square as well
Tell us about the TWINS !!
Using bote-cote I mix for a minute or two… Until it looks right and then a bit more.
Then work it into the cloth, just keeping alittle extra in the pot (5%-10%).
Main thing seems to be getting the cloth evenly wet out.
Not too long…
Acouple days maybe…lol.
LOL! Funny Herb.
I shoulda read the original a bit more thoroughly, I guess.
I don’t stir fast, because I am mindful of air bubbles… Although the vac tends to pull them out in my experience.
I also found that working the epoxy into the cloth as I was folding it up and then again as I was unfolding it seemed to produce a better result. I got a few dry spots when I didn’t do this that now require touching up.
Using RR, 4-5 mins,
I put hardner in first as its less visous, top up with resin and add F.
I use the handle of a wooden spatular to stir, 25p each 5 for £1 from wilkos get 2 or 3 uses out of each one then chip it. tape up the hole in the handle. After scrping the sides,ill pull resin up and around the sides and let it run back down, this helps et rid of bubbles.
I let it stand for another min to get rid of bubbles.
I always leave a bit in the bottom in the jug, working in cool temps, not had any problems so far.
Mixing? I beat it like it owes me money. I mix for 2 minutes or until my arm is sore, whichever comes first.
35 oz? That must be a big board or lots of glass.
um… I mix it till I think I mixed it enough. Usually I’ll mix it again some after that… Depends on the epoxy though I’ve noticed some that change color when mixedd properly and others that start to smell bad and then the really goodd epoxies that are totally clear before and after mixing and odourless… these are tough and I mix these twice to be sure… probably about 2 minutes or so and then let it sit for a minute and give it another swirl for a minute or so.
Mmmm… The smell of good epoxy.
Bote-Cote has this faint, sweet, fruity odour… Love it!