With Drum Adapter
This 313 High-Capacity Pump with Drum Adapter dispenses three parts resin and one part hardener (3:1) by volume. It consists of two separate parallel pump systems, one for the resin and one for the hardener. The two systems are operated simultaneously by a single lever. The pump delivers 2.3 fl oz of resin and hardener per full stroke of the dispensing lever. For use with 105 Epoxy Resin and 207 Special Clear Hardener or 209 Extra Slow Hardener.
The 313 High-Capacity Pump is robust and dispenses epoxy faster than any pump we’ve ever offered. It works by trapping a fixed amount of resin and hardener then forcing (displacing) that trapped volume into the discharge pipe or system. This offers improved epoxy pumping performance because changes in viscosity due to temperature change are no longer an issue.
The pump is calibrated for WEST SYSTEM 3:1 ratio epoxies (with 207 Special Clear Hardener or 209 Extra Slow Hardener) and is easily identified with a red base. (The 315 Positive Displacement Pump is calibrated for 5:1 ratio epoxies with 205 Fast Hardener or 206 Slow Hardener and has a blue base.) Pricing on high-capacity pumps is listed on the WEST SYSTEM Price List.
The 313 High-Capacity Pump comes with fittings that connect directly to your WEST SYSTEM Resin and Hardener drums so there is no need to decant materials. This set up conveniently streamlines the metering process for high-volume users, saving both time and money.
Tips for blending large epoxy batches
Mixing Thickened Epoxy
Mixing large batches of thickened epoxy can be messy work. Drill motor mixers spinning at high speed tend to drive light-weight fillers into the air. Clumps of thickened epoxy are flung from the mixer during the blending process, creating a sticky mess in the area. You can minimize these problems by planning ahead and using common sense in your approach.
To prepare for making thickened epoxy:
- Pick a location that is out of the way, yet near enough to offer easy access to your project and your epoxy and filler materials.
- Mask off the floor with cardboard or a plastic drop cloth. Tape the edges down to prevent tripping.
- Use a five to seven gallon lidded plastic pail. Cut an opening in the center of the lid, just large enough for the drill motor mixer to pass through. If the mixer is a type that is flat (the modified paint roller type with extension is an example of this type), cut only a narrow slot in the center of the lid. The lid will be used to keep the light-weight filler in the bucket during mixing, so a small opening is best.
- Select a mixing paddle that is a foot longer than the mixing container is tall.
- Select a powerful drill motor for mixing thick batches. Cheap drills will burn up after mixing several batches of thickened epoxy.
- Apply wax and duct tape to the drill motor exterior to protect it during use. Triggers will likely lock up if precautions are not taken to keep the epoxy drool out. Stretch latex gloves over the handle and trigger area. Leave cooling vents uncovered so the motor can breathe. Now your equipment is ready.
Come up with a recipe
If your project calls for several batches of the same material, it is best to come up with a recipe. So much epoxy and so much filler per batch. Add measured amounts to the first batch until the viscosity suits your specific need, keeping track of the total amount added. For the remaining batches, all of the filler can be added at once, and the batches will be consistent in viscosity.
The WEST SYSTEM Technical Manual & Product Guide can help you come up with a mix recipe. Say you wanted to mix a large batch of epoxy with 403 Microfibers. The manual provides a Filler Proportion Guide that recommends two gallons of mixed epoxy and a 20-ounce container of 403 Microfibers to achieve a mayonnaise consistency. This guide includes recommendations for a variety of viscosities for each of our fillers. Keep in mind that it is just a guide. It’s a good idea to thicken the first batch in stages.
Mix a batch of thickened epoxy as follows:
1. Mix the resin and hardener together thoroughly before adding fillers. Use a paddle to scrape the corners and sides.
2. Add the measured amount of filler to the bucket.
3. Cover the bucket with the slotted lid prepared earlier.
4. Insert the mixer through the lid and into the epoxy.
5. Start the mixer slowly, gradually increasing the speed.
6. Move the mixer up and down and from side to side to blend the filler with the epoxy. Thick batches of epoxy will labor the motor initially as the filler starts to blend in. This will ease up as the mix becomes smooth and creamy.
7. Remove the lid and mixer from the bucket.
8. Scrape the corners of the bucket to blend any unthickened epoxy left there with the rest of the batch.
9. Put the mixer back in and stir briefly until blended uniformly.
Remember to get the finished mixture spread out or applied quickly so that it does not overheat.
Quality control
Before mixing that big batch, consider quality control. Resin and hardener must be thoroughly mixed. We all know this but tend to forget during big projects when we’re pressed for time. This is not the place to look for short-cuts. If you don’t follow certain guidelines, a fancy electric mixer will not make up for it.—Excerpted from Big Batch Mixing Methods by Tom Pawlak, Epoxyworks 9