Epoxy...

[LVZ2881]

I am just about to run out of the Devcon 5 minute stuff I'm using, and I'm wondering if there is anything better.

the reason I ask is twofold.

1. this stuff STINKS!!!!

2. the tubes are messy to use..

are all hobby epoxies smelly?? anything easier to use.

I see tubes that look like ketchup bottles in my LHS, but not sure what the stuff is.

[Aaronw]

All the 5 min epoxy I've ever used smells like feet, so I'd say yes it all stinks. Funny thing is casting resin really doesn't smell except for the clear stuff which will curl your toes, its like a perm solution and acetone cocktail.

I recently bought some 5 min epoxy at Hobbytown, it came in two squirt bottles like you describe, kind of like ketchup bottles. I like it, its easy to use and doesn't seep out like the twin syringe style tubes do since they sit upright when not in use.

[bobss396]

I use the Devcon and it doesn't really smell that bad to me, maybe I've burnt out the fine windings on my sniffer?

I just use a dot and dot of each, mix it, use it and toss the leftovers. I keep the tubes in their original package so they won't touch, carefully roll them up as I use them and keep the works in a plastic bag. I usually get to the bottom of each tube without them being too much of a mess.

The big bottles you describe are for the RC car crowd, definitely a bargain but can you dispense a small dot of each?

Bob

[VW Dave]

There's not much you can do about the smell, unfortunately....epoxy is epoxy, no matter the brand.

I actually prefer the 'syringe' style of epoxy tube, as there's a lot less fussing with making sure the two parts are equal. To help avoid seepage, I pull the plunger back in after dispensing what I need; I also make sure it stays upright at all times by storing it in an empty soup can.

[robertw]

I switched over from the small tubes that you buy at the hardware store to the squeeze bottles from the LHS a couple of years back, and don't regret it.

They last a lot longer, are cheaper in the long run and I find them less messy. I also don't find them quite as smelly but maybe I've just gotten used to the stuff. Depending on the size of the hole that you make in the bottle you can have a lot of control on how much comes out. I'll usually squeeze out two amounts smaller then the head of a match then mix them on my pallet. The mixing pallet I use are the plastic lids off Pringles potato chip cans. They are small, flat and a chisel point craft blade easily takes off the dried epoxy at the end of my modelling session.

Rob W

[MikeMc]

I switched over from the small tubes that you buy at the hardware store to the squeeze bottles from the LHS a couple of years back, and don't regret it.

They last a lot longer, are cheaper in the long run and I find them less messy. I also don't find them quite as smelly but maybe I've just gotten used to the stuff. Depending on the size of the hole that you make in the bottle you can have a lot of control on how much comes out. I'll usually squeeze out two amounts smaller then the head of a match then mix them on my pallet. The mixing pallet I use are the plastic lids off Pringles potato chip cans. They are small, flat and a chisel point craft blade easily takes off the dried epoxy at the end of my modelling session.

Rob W

far less mess and it works!!!

[jbwelda]

yep i started using the ketchup bottle type epoxy a few years ago and like it. you can get small amounts much more consistently than with the devcon which i used previously, esp if you keep the tops clean like mentioned above.

i like to color epoxy with some india ink if i want black or some tamiya clear red/green/orange/etc for other colors. it works fine, just put a bit on the pallet before you mix the two parts.

speaking of pallets, i used cd blanks that either dont work when i burn them or that i burn doubles on. they work great and you can get 100 for 5$ at frys these days and they are worth it just for mixing pallets...who woulda thunk that day would come?

[m408]

Ive had good results with "quick cure" 5 epoxy. Two part squize bottles. Easy to control, and not very smelly. You can regulate the "5 minute" cure time by adjusting the amount of hardener.