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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Steve Thornton on January 11, 2012, 09:28:06 AM

Title: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Steve Thornton on January 11, 2012, 09:28:06 AM
Anyone have a technique for applying epoxy to fuselage formers, motor crutches, etc.?  Are there applicator tubes or devices to use?  I use an old drivers license to spread it thin but I seem to wind up with the stuff all over my hands and work area, which leaves prints on the plane.  Bad news if my nose itches.
Thanks Steve 
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Randy Powell on January 11, 2012, 10:55:44 AM
Steve,

I use nitrile gloves. And a dental tools like the ones pictured for applying it.
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: FLOYD CARTER on January 11, 2012, 12:16:21 PM
Naw.  I use a 12" flexible machinist's ruler (stainless steel).  Great for mixing and spreading.

But I sometimes have to scrape the cured epoxy off the end if I want to measure something. (not often)

Floyd
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Bill Little on January 11, 2012, 12:22:02 PM
Hi Steve,

For wide areas,  I take a piece of scrap 1/16th" ply about 3" wide and use the band saw or scroll saw to cut small notches along the edge.  In other areas I use cotton swabs (Q-tips) or acid brushes like plumbers use (both being disposable)..

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Rafael Gonzalez on January 11, 2012, 01:05:11 PM
I go to the typical HD, Walmart,etc. or a car part store. Find the stiff body putty applicators (usually 2 or 3 bucks for a set) then throw them away if you wish. The epoxy goes on easy. The other alternate is a 6" putty knife for joint compound. This is what my preference is for spreading any glue on large flat areas. Just make sure on this one, you wipe everything off! HB~> HB~>

 D>K
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Dick Pacini on January 11, 2012, 01:27:43 PM
Popsicle sticks work well.  You can either save them from your freezer treats or you can buy a bag of them from any craft store.  Some hobby shops carry them too.
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: John Desrosiers on January 11, 2012, 04:48:07 PM
I use 1 inch foam paint brushes. Pull the foam brush off  and you will have just what you need.  get them at home depot or walmart for less than 50 cents.
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: PJ Rowland on January 11, 2012, 05:01:32 PM
I use nitrate gloves for everything - cant stand glue of my fingers at all.


I found a photo of Randy in his workshop.
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Guy B Jr on January 11, 2012, 11:03:04 PM
Artists who paint with oils have a spatula that is just what we need and that gave me the idea. So I took a stainless steel flatware table knife and bent two bends to make it an angled spatula.

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Kind of like this.
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Douglas Ames on January 11, 2012, 11:29:32 PM
Scrap Balsa? Works for me.
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: louie klein on January 12, 2012, 06:27:20 AM
All of the above plus some wax paper laid out to protect what ya wanna protect.----LOUIE  H^^ H^^ D>K
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Ward Van Duzer on January 15, 2012, 11:52:37 AM
Popsicle sticks or solder brushes for application. You can shape the tips to match your situation. Buy a box of thousands in an art supply store for peanuts. Don't pay $3.00 a dozen.

OR

Don't you guys get hundreds of fake credit cards in the mail? These are great spreaders. You can notch them like glue trowels
 
if you feel the need.

Ward-O
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Randy Powell on January 15, 2012, 12:26:35 PM
I bought a set of dental "spatulas" at some expo show years ago. They ran from about an 1/8" wide to an 1" with a square end on one end and a rounded one on the other. Good for all kinds of stuff but I mainly mix fillers and epoxy with them and use them for applicators. The 1/4" wide one is the most often used.
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Brett Buck on January 15, 2012, 01:15:59 PM
Signature Inn room keycards!

   Brett
Title: Re: epoxy applicators?
Post by: Joseph Lijoi on January 19, 2012, 10:03:00 PM
Playing cards are great for this.  I use them for mixing small amounts of glue and as applicators.  They also make great shims for jigging, are disposable and can be cut and laminated to suit.  Fairly cheap and you can get them at the casino for free after you loose your ass at black jack!  This really puts your cost effectiveness ratio in the can!  It doesn't help that I am superstitious and will only use dueces and face cards suited hearts or diamonds.