Polyester Resin Catalyst Percentage Chart

[NatedoggAZ]

Hey all,

Thought I would share this... getting to be summertime for most of us, and like me will be performing glass work in the heat.

These numbers are a guide and there may be a little wiggle room in the amounts - but a great starting point in working with the quantities of resin and catalyst:

 

[jbcurt00]

Nice chart but its significantly eaiser to use the metric system: 100cc polyester resin to 1cc hardener for 1%, for use in higher temps or for a slow kick @ complicated layups.


Even if you're not metric savvy, most mix cups show both standard (english) and metric volumes....

handy chart though....

 

[froggy1150]

You should be around same Temps as vegas..... I do some first thing in morning then/or some after about 830 when it's a few degrees under hell:target: also be careful the heat will sneak up on you quick. 1% at 8 am will be ok then by 930 your rushing to get resin down before it gels 3/4% is suppose to be the lowest you should go but I have "fudged it" a little lower .......

 

[gm280]

When I first started mixing poly and MEKP, I was absolutely prefect in every batch mixed with teh absolute proper amounts. Now I can easily eye ball it and never have any issues. But I did switch from oz, quarts and such to CC measurements since all the mixing cups display both and CC is easier to work with. JMHO

 

[froggy1150]

For the mekp I got a medicine syringe from wallyworld that is in cc's for babies. It has 4 set stopping points @ 2.5 , 5 , 7.5 , and 10. I also get their cheap plastic measuring cups that go to 1000 cc. They are .70 cents I think. When in a hurry it's easy to just pull plunger til it stops and squirt . The cups I get several uses before they get too caked with resin then chuck em. They do break sometimes when trying to knock cured resin out of them ..

 

[JASinIL2006]

I used one of these MEKP measuring bottles, and it was super easy.

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Cool - great ideas... I purchased 2 syringes that measure in CCs as well... hopefully they can last a bit.
Also hoping to get at least 2-3 uses out of the cups I bought... If they break while knocking the old stuff out... Ces't la vie...

 

[froggy1150]

If they are the walmart cups Wipe them as the resin gells to get the thick stuff. I use paper towels. Half the time they crack when you flex them. As far as the syringe I only bought one and it's going strong

 

[NatedoggAZ]

The cups I am starting with are the Advantage brand... with all the measurement markings on them.
I have some rather large areas to cover in single jobs (one of them is a 5'x 2' space) so I got the quart cups.

 

[gm280]

I use the measuring cups from the local PPG auto paint store. And to get the solid poly out I use my air compressor. The air removes the poly like magic. I can get the old stuff out and reuse the cups a lot of time before they are useless. Just make sure you are wearing safety glasses...

 

[sphelps]

Hmmm haven’t tried the air compressor trick yet ... Thanks GM ...

 

[Woodonglass]

Remember when Glassin' in Hot Weather, you can trick the resin by sitting the mix buck in a pan of ice in the shade and using 1% catalyst. It really works!!