Anyone try the new Pac Bay Mixer? Is it worth getting?

I have been using mine since they hit the market - I love it!!! Well worth the $$$. I have rigged mine with an arm that holds a spatula (made from Loc-Line and an aligator clamp), and I can mix Flex Coat liquid epoxy glue in it as well as rod finishes.

If you build regularly I would say yes, it's worth getting.

Marc

I'm still not in love with mine. I don't get any fewer bubbles than mixing by hand. I've started using more finish as the large cup and large bearing hold a little too much finish and what gets poured out on my pallet is sometimes not quite enough finish. I'm trying to give it a fair chance but after 6 rods now, I'm underwhelmed.



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Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

If you're getting any bubbles at all then something's bad wrong. You shouldn't get any bubbles, zero, with a mixer that's built and used correctly.

Check the angle and speed of their unit. I haven't used it personally but know it was patterned after the one we showed in RodMaker a half dozen years ago. But I'm not up to speed on the angle of their cup or mixing speed.

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I love mine. No bubbles.

I love mine also for mixing the problem is getting the metal rod out of the cup when you're done without making a mess.

Mine works great. After mixing I pour epoxy and rod onto aluminum foil. The rod stands straight up and is easily removed from foil after coating is complete.
Larry

We agree with Tom and the others who like it. It works. We make up as much epoxy as we need and we waste very little in getting out out of the cup and onto our tinfoil plate. No bubbles. Way better than hand mixing, if only for the consistency. And it doesn't matter which epoxy brand we're talking about.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Hi,


My unit came with a 5/8" Diam. rod 5/8" long. It rotates in the mix cup and works.

I have found that Flex Coat has a longer work time than when mixing by hand. I guess the beating by hand heats up the mix more.

Yes, in the cold weather you may see a few bubbles. After I pour the mix into an aluminum tray I breathe on the mix and the bubbles disapate.

After the thread we had a couple weeks ago about measuring the parts A & B, I decided to try using syringes again. It is always good to go back and revisit older ideas. Now I empty Part A into the mix bowl. I let it spin for a minute and then drop the rod into the cup. Next I add Part B to the cup slowly and let it rotate for 4 minutes. By adding Part B slowly into the mix cup I have found that I get a more thorough mix.

Capt Neil Faulkner



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2008 06:21PM by Tom Kirkman.

I have one and use it for all my mixing. No problem at al!!!

Bill in WV

I love my mixer. I have used left over finish to glue a smaller cup into the center of the mixer. This way I don't have to make up as much finish per batch. As per cleaning the roller: I dampen a paper towel with denatured alcohol, I first wipe the roller with dry paper towel followed by an alcohol wipe. Never had any problem!

Ed Smith

Although I don't have the Pac Bay model, I have built my own version of the finish mixer. No bubbles - none! I use a steel ball to mix in the cup and just pour the finish and the ball onto my flat surface. I then finish my wraps before worrying about cleaning the ball. I then use a small magnet to pick the ball out of the waste finish, and wipe it off with paper towels dampened with denatured alcohol. Works well for me.

Rog