I have only made a few bows but have always mixed my smooth on evenly on mix ratio. I put A in one cup and B in the other. I draw a line on each cup and fill them to a premeasured mark on the side of the cup. Then combine the two cups into a bowl and mix. The other day i was reading the label and it said if you mix at a 2:1 ratio (can't remember if it was two parts A to one part B , or viseversa) , you get a stronger , more heat resistant bond. Does anybody do this ? And do you see any benefit? Or should I stick to what I have been doing? Thanks
Mix slightly more A than B . (form the chemist mouth at smooth on)
I have worked with epoxies since the early 60's and if the mixing ration was 2-1 then it was packaged that way. I mix smooth-on E40 1:1 and never had a failure.
James
I always mix 1:1 based on volume (which comes out to a ratio of 100:83 based on weight). 100 being the heavy dense white, 83 being the lighter wieght yellow).
I always go heavy on the A not quite two to one but about half in between.More resin , less hardner.
God bless you all , Steve
1:1 here.
Thanks for the responses. Sixby, have you always mixed that way or did you have some problems with 1: 1 and found better results with how you are doing it now?
I am getting things together to build some laminated bows myself and was not aware that there were variances in the way to mix smooth-on other than according to package directions. When posting, could you guys also post why you use the ratio that you do? It would help us "rookies" make an informed decision on best practices. I know the old saying about opinions but if they have a factual reasoning behind them it is really helpful to those who don't have the depth of experience that you proven bowyer's do.