: Every time I mix a tiny batch of epoxy, I have to throw away a flux brush and
: a plastic cup. I bought some good rubber gloves and don't throw them away
: any more. Is this the best way to go? Does anyone have any other methods?
: Do you have ways to clean this equipment? Do you clean brushes of the
: epoxy? Do you make disposable epoxy applicators? Any ideas to make epoxy
: use efficient without throwing so much stuff away?

Hi Dan

I usually use chop-sticks for very small batches, and toung-depressors for large batches for stirring. I keep a roll of paper towels on the bench and when I'm done, I just wipe the stick off and lay in on some wax paper or plastic. I use the plastic mixing bowls also ( some I got from RAKA and some from Smart & Final, a local discount store ). The epoxy won't stick to the plastic so just bending the cups around a bit usually breaks the epoxy loose and it falls out. If I'm going to have a little more excess, I lay the cup at an angle so it all collects in a corner and stick something like a scrap of wood in it. When it hardens, I just pull it out, all in one block and toss it and reuse the cup.

For spreading, I always use the yellow bondo spreaders and since they are plastic as well, the epoxy will chip off when it is cured.

I do, however, use the latex surgical gloves and toss them each time. But, for $4.00 for 100 gloves, I can be a bit more " wastefull " here.

Are you mixing your epoxy with the flux brush? Does it create a lot of bubbles in the mix? That's kinda why I went to the chopsticks for little batches. The round surface doesn't create quite as many bubbles as the flat ice-cream sticks. For batches in the teaspoon range, I use that and also use a glass jewelite cup to mix in. Been using the same one for 3 years now. When I clean the sticks after mixing, I wipe out the jewelite as well, and they are ready for the next batch. Only takes 10 seconds and I usually set the epoxy down for a minute or two before dumping anyway. Gives some of the bubbles a chance to rise and the epoxy a chance to start reacting.

You can clean brushes if the epoxy is still liquid, but I can't remember what they use.... Acetone or Mineral Spirits... ??

I found when I tried it, I was working the epoxy until it started to cure ( kicked off ) and by then it was too late to try and clean the brushes. They were gone. I quit using brushes then. Pop-cicle sticks ( bought at the local craft store by the 100's ), or toung depressors ( bought at the same place ) or chopsticks ( from my local market ) are much cheaper and can be reused many times.

Hope this helps!

Rehd