More Casting Questions

OK.

I finally got around to making some new molds....well A new mold. I'm working on the wheels for my 1:12th Camaro. I now need to look into getting a scale and some other supplies. Here are my questions.

1. Can someone recommend a good scale? I've seen plenty of those pocket jeweler's scales on ebay for like a penny. But I'd rather get something that is of good quality.

2. I need something to transfer the resin from the bottles to the measuring cups (plastic bathroom cups). I seem to be making a mess of the lip on the bottles and consequently the threads by pouring it. I've been looking for a suitable solution for cheap pipettes but havn't found anything yet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

When you say scale, do you mean something to weigh out volume or do you mean something to measure with? (excuse the question but I find Americans calling many different measuring tools a 'scale')

As for the pouring dilemma, I just clean the top of the bottles with paper towel before I put the lid back on and I don't have any issue.

Russell,

I use the wife's digital kitchen scales which measure down to 2g which is accurate enough for me - you can get them quite cheaply nowadays.

As above, I just wipe the threads down with tissue. Not sure what resin you're using but my stuff mixes 50/50, so if I'm doing small amounts I half fill two plastic film cannisters pour into another put the cap on and shake. For larger jobs I use clear plastic drinking cups so I just match the levels for a 50/50 ratio. Chemists usually carry cheapo plastic syringes for babies, but they're usually only a few inches long - no good if you've got large pots though.

John S.

Scales:
Look in Staples or other stores for small postal scales. There is a Pelouze digital scale on their website for $35 that is good for 0.1 ounce accuracy. You can get into the tenths of a gram if you want to spend twice as much, or the half-houce accuracy with a dial-scale for under $20.

Pipettes:
If you can't find any elongated glass pipettes in scientific supply places (Or ask the chemistry lab instructor at school for a couple: We just threw out the glass parts and reused the rubber bulb) or a large medicine dropper, try using some shortened drinking straws: Stick it in the liquid, hold your finger over the top, pull it out, put it in the mixing cup, and take your finger off the top. Theoretically it should give you a fairly accurate mixture too, if you start with the same amount in a bottle and use the same number of steps.

thanks for the input guys. I had thought about just wiping the threads. but a lot of time I am pouring small parts or this or that, in between doing this or that. Very little spare time these days. I just need to invest in some cheapo paper towels from wal mart.

Steve. I hadn't thought about measuring that way. as long as the straw was submerged an equal distance into the liquid each time, it would give almost an exact mix.

Thanks for all of the help
Russell

Since resin is hydroscopic like brake fluid and absorbs water, it's best not to keep opening and closing the bottle anyway. Just buy two cheap mustard and katsup bottles from the store and put enough resin for your project into them and work from there. The narrow tips will make it easy to dispense the resin parts.