New Resin Application Trick

[dave0]

I had some small holes to fill in one of my projects, the never ending one! This morning I decided to try something new. Since I was working with a small hole to fill in wood I opted to try out using a syringe and a small amount of resin (G-Flex in this case). I put the syringe in the bench vice and removed the plunger and then added my resin. It just so happens a popsicle stick fits inside the syringe with enough room for mixing. I did use some tape to cover the ends so the resin wouldn't drip out. Pulled it out of the vice, slowly put the plunger back in and applied. Worked extremely well and I had almost no waste, maybe a few drops. What I like about this is I don't have to transfer from a small cup to the syringe which is a PITA and creates more waste. Cleaned out the syringe with acetone and it'll be good for future uses. Wish I thought of this before!

dougd

 

[Alan Gage]

Sounds like it worked well. I've used scrap slivers of wood to drizzle unthickened epoxy into holes/cracks in wood but that only works if it's a straight vertical shot and if you need a lot it takes a while.

A trick I've been using for a few years for applying beads of thickened epoxy is to put it in a zip-lock baggy and nip off one corner with a scissors so it can be used as a piping bag. A very easy (and clean) way of laying out a perfect bead of thickened epoxy that can easily be finished off with the wipe of a finger or, if you get lucky, requires to smoothing and is good to go out of the bag.

Alan

 

[pblanc]

It is actually a pretty old trick. West Systems actually sells so-called "dental syringes" for this purpose, with a rather long, drawn-out and tapered tip, very useful for injecting epoxy into small holes. A couple of these syringes are also included in their G-Flex epoxy repair kits.

I mix up the epoxy first, remove the piston from the syringe and position the syringe barrel open side up, then pour the mixed epoxy into the open barrel. Carefully reintroduce the piston into the barrel just enough to close it, then invert the syringe and allow the air bubble to migrate up to the tip end. Expel the air bubble and you are ready to go.

I clean the syringes out with white vinegar after use and find I can usually get a half-dozen or more uses out of them before the vinyl stopper on the end of the piston plunger becomes too distorted to continue to function.

 

[Boatman53]

Those work great, I've used them for years. I also use artist palette knives of different shapes to coax or force epoxy or caulking compounds into small cracks or to smooth things up.
Jim

 

[Mihun09]

I use syringes all the time, especially when filling cracked inwales or for putting glue on strips. I have a piece of Styrofoam I embed the syringes into to load them, no need for tape as they won't flow with the ends covered.

 

[dave0]

Learn something new everyday! White vinegar to clean is a whole lot cheaper then acetone, styrofoam for the syringes, the bag trick, like cake decorators do (not that I use thickened epoxy a lot but like that idea)! I kinda figured this was an old trick but new to me. For straight up I have always used slivers of wood like Alan mentioned but this is a piece that is off kilter and I figured I'd make more of a mess if I did it that way. Gotta love this forum, always good advice!