Trailer Suspension
As I mentioned in an earlier article my Jarcat trailer was built to Ross’ plan including Al-Ko suspension. I did change the wheel size though, I don’t like those little 10” wheels. They’re expensive, the tyres are not cheap; also because the wheels are so small they spin very rapidly at highway speeds shortening bearing life and they fall into quite small pot holes.
Selling WEST SYSTEM Epoxy in a retail environment for more than 20 years, the most common question I receive is:
Do I really need the Mini Pumps?
We’ve all been in a situation where the salesperson is trying to up sell us or has no clue what we really need. In the case of Mini Pumps, however, the salesperson is trying to do you a favor. You really do need Mini Pumps unless you already have a set of them, or you plan on using a scale.
Why Use Pumps?
WEST SYSTEM Resin and Hardener—like any epoxy—must be mixed at the correct ratio to cure properly and with the published physical properties. Too much or too little hardener will not change the speed in which it cures but instead will prevent it from properly curing. Too much hardener means once all the resin has reacted with the hardener, the extra hardener has nowhere to go. This extra hardener in the mix results in softer epoxy, or what the industry calls a “plasticizing cure.”
We formulate the ratio for 105 Resin and our 200-series hardeners to have a “fudge factor” but get outside of that forgiving stoichiometric range and problems will occur. Mixing on ratio is always ideal, but with WEST SYSTEM products, hardener lean is better than hardener rich. This is why you really want to buy a set of calibrated 300 Mini Pumps. One full pump stroke of resin to one full pump stroke of hardener will yield the proper volume of each.
WEST SYSTEM is based on the 105 Resin and four 200 series hardeners (205 Fast, 206 Slow, 207 Special Clear Coating, and 209 Extra Slow). WEST SYSTEM pumps are supplied in the following pack sizes which have been calibrated to the 5:1 mix ratio for 105 Resin with 205 Fast and 206 Slow hardeners, and 3:1 mix ratio for the 105 Resin with 207 Special Coating and 206 Super Slow hardeners:
Getting the most out of Mini Pumps
Now that you made the right decision and bought the pumps, here’s how to make the most of your purchase.
When you first install the pumps, check to make sure the resin pump is ready to use. Hold the white cap that screws onto the can and the clear plastic pump barrel and make sure they are screwed together snugly. You will also want to check on this from time to time.
Priming the pumps before the first use is simple but important; the instructions in the package explain how to do this. You will want to check the prime if the pumps been sitting for a long time, or when changing containers.
That’s right, when changing containers. No need to buy new pumps every time you buy a new pack. Store the pumps on the container and when you run out of WEST SYSTEM Epoxy you can move your pumps to the new resin and hardener.
If the pumps have been sitting for a while, they may develop a crust on the end of the spout. Hardener pumps particularly seem to do this. The crust is easily cleaned away: just break it off and wipe the spout. You can use warm water to clean the hardener pumps and acetone or denatured alcohol for the resin pump, if needed.
Use only full pump strokes and do not pull up on them, let them return on their own. Alternating one stroke of resin and one stroke of hardener eliminates the need to count strokes and reduces the time spent waiting for the pumps to return to the top of their stroke. Slow pump return can be an issue when using epoxy in cooler weather when the epoxy becomes “thicker” (actually, more viscous as our chemists would say). Try to keep your resin and hardener warm even if what you’re working on isn’t. Mix your epoxy indoors if you’re working at low temperatures in the garage. In the boatyard, an empty cooler and a shop light with an incandescent 15-watt bulb will keep your resin and hardener nice and warm.
Remember, warm epoxy will cure faster until it hits the cool/cold surface. Call and talk to one of our Technical Advisors about cold temperature bonding applications, or check our User Manual & Product Guide, visit westsystem.com.au, or see “Cold Weather Bonding” by Don Gutzmer in Epoxyworks 43. Extract from the Gougeon Brothers publication EPOXYWORKS Issue Number 47:Fall 2018. Reprinted with the permission of WEST SYSTEM Inc, USA.
(07) 5563 1222
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www.atlcomposites.com
ATL Composites is pleased to announce the launch of the new updated website specifically dedicated to DuFLEX Composite Panels www.duflex.com.au
The site includes information on the panel options available in the range, basic applications techniques, down-loadable data sheets and projects.
DuFLEX Composite Panels were developed by ATL in the early 1990’s to reduce construction time and optimize structural weight in the production of lightweight composite structures. Time consuming laminating, coring and vacuum bagging steps normally required to fabricate high performance composites are avoided, and material waste, labour and tooling costs are greatly reduced. Over the years, DuFLEX has become widely accepted in the marine industry, and hundreds of projects have incorporated the system, both in Australia and Internationally.
In more recent years, lightweight DuFLEX panels have been incorporated into architectural and transportation applications where is also a demand for lighter, stronger, stiffer, more durable structures. Complex forms can be created relatively easily, broadening design freedom and offering rapid processing and construction to significantly lower fabrication costs.
Standard DuFLEX panels are 1200mm x 2400mm cored with rigid end-grain balsa or structural foam cores, and laminated with a high-performance epoxy resin reinforced with multiaxial E-fibreglass or carbon fibre skins. Fibre orientation and ply schedules are based on design or engineering specifications to best meet weight targets, stress and impact loads, and other design parameters.
Our product range is continually assessed and revised, and in addition to the Standard Panel range and CNC Routed Kits, new value-added services are now available to expand the advantages of using the DuFLEX System. High Density Inserts and Full Size Component Packs can now be supplied to reduce build times for fabricators working to tight build times.
ATL Composites is ISO 90001:2015 certified and our production facility and techniques have been audited by International Certification Group DNV-GL and have been issued with Shop Approval # KBZ 1095 for The Production of Composite Panels. DuFLEX Panels are manufactured in a controlled environment and under-go strict Quality Inspections at all stages during the manufacturing process to ensure customers consistently receive high quality products and services.
To view our new website and read more about DuFLEX Lightweight Panel Solutions, please go to www.duflex.com.au
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