My Quantum Quandary

[RottenRodney]

On some o’ y’all’s recommendations, I’m finally gittin’ ‘round to tryin’ out Quantum 1. I’m the lucky recipient of the squashed can (a lot can happen to a package in transit), but it wasn’t smelly and seemed to still be sealed, so considerin' the distance ‘tween NJ ‘n’ CA, I’m goin’ forward with the skim.



There’s no P-sheet, or instructions in English on the can’s label, but I clearly recall hearin’ that Quantum 1 requires 4-times-the-catylist. Now ordinarily I’ll squeeze one line o’ catalyst from one edge o’ the lump o’ filler to the other. Since Quantum 1 requires 4-times-the-catylist, I kind o’ figgered that’d mean squeezin’ four lines o’ catalyst. Then just as I was about to squeeze my fourth line, I noticed that the orifice in the catalyst tube is way larger than what I’m used to, therefore already squeezin’ a thicker line. Whoops! Now I’m deeply in doubt. After attemptin’ to remove a couple o’ my lines, I’d succeeded in makin’ a fine mess. During the time I’d spent ponderin’ my predicament, the lines o’ catalyst had already begun to affect the filler, thus creating “hitchhikers" and things was gittin' ugly.



So, what did I do? I began to panic, of course!



See the little Euro symbols? Me too, and one seems to be suggestin’ that a single line squeeze is the method o’ mixin’ at 10:1 or so. Still, I’m not sure enough to spread it on the car—I don’t care how spendy the stuff is. I’ll experiment with it on a sheet o’ paper first.



Anyway, we now 'ave a particularly expesive test panel to play with. I'm lookin' for feedback from y'all. Please let me know what ya see me doin' right or wrong regardin' quantity o' catalyst; one line, or four? How does the color look here?

Thanks,

RR

[Bob K]

I don’t use Quantum yet but my last can of Rage Xtreme is getting low and when I run out I plan to make the switch. I mix my filler on sheets of paper that come in a 100 sheet tablet for mixing filler (Coated paper that doesn’t absorb the liquid in the filler). Any way I thought it out and have a plan. My wife has a little scale for measuring food when she is in diet mode. It’s called a Dietetic Scale. It measures a little over a pound and has two sets of numbers in the read out. The ounces aren’t very useful to me but the metric side goes up to 500 grams so figuring 10% is very easy. She put it on a shelf in the basement and it’s not much of a stretch to think that scale is going to reside out in my paint shop pretty soon. Sheet of paper on the pan weighs about a gram, glob on some filler and add the hardened to get the mixture done. So 200 grams of filler and 20 grams of hardener and I have an 8 ounce batch of filler ready to stir up. The only thing that may come up and bite me is maybe the filler is too runny to measure out on the paper. In that case a little cardboard on the scale pan first. The nice thing about the scale is there is an adjustment wheel on top of the scale so I can set the tare weight of the paper and cardboard. Hope that helps, and if you try it out and find a flaw in my plan then let me know before I waste a batch.

Bob K

[Len]

I don’t use Quantum yet but my last can of Rage Xtreme is getting low and when I run out I plan to make the switch. I mix my filler on sheets of paper that come in a 100 sheet tablet for mixing filler (Coated paper that doesn’t absorb the liquid in the filler). Any way I thought it out and have a plan. My wife has a little scale for measuring food when she is in diet mode. It’s called a Dietetic Scale. It measures a little over a pound and has two sets of numbers in the read out. The ounces aren’t very useful to me but the metric side goes up to 500 grams so figuring 10% is very easy. She put it on a shelf in the basement and it’s not much of a stretch to think that scale is going to reside out in my paint shop pretty soon. Sheet of paper on the pan weighs about a gram, glob on some filler and add the hardened to get the mixture done. So 200 grams of filler and 20 grams of hardener and I have an 8 ounce batch of filler ready to stir up. The only thing that may come up and bite me is maybe the filler is too runny to measure out on the paper. In that case a little cardboard on the scale pan first. The nice thing about the scale is there is an adjustment wheel on top of the scale so I can set the tare weight of the paper and cardboard. Hope that helps, and if you try it out and find a flaw in my plan then let me know before I waste a batch.

Bob K

While the Quantum 1 works somewhat differently than other fillers once you use it a few times you'll figure out the new variables and understand their value. My favorite characteristics of Q1 are the ability to cover a large area smoothly because of the extended work time AND how well it sands. Good stuff!

I'm looking forward to more feedback from Rodney as he gains more experience with this filler.

Don't forget that, like other fillers, the exact measurement of the hardener isn't necessary, you can get away with a little more or less but it varies the time for hardening.

[Jayson M]

Why do you guys push Evercoat fillers so much?Have you tried any of the other products that are out there for comparison?

[Len]

Why do you guys push Evercoat fillers so much?Have you tried any of the other products that are out there for comparison?

Yes, I've used some other products but the Evercoat products have worked quite well. Was it Marson Platinum that you liked? I think Platinum is a 3M product now.

[RottenRodney]

Bob, I use "Clean Sheets" too for the smaller smears, but for the more industrial jobs, ya can't beat the concave curvatures of a 1975 Toyota Corrolla TE-31 quarter glass. Anyway, I've been called a "niggler" (look that up in your Funk 'n' Wagnall) for my excessive attention to details, but you 'n' your scales are more like a full-blown mad scientist -- or more like a mad chemist, maybe. I could admire ya for that.

Anyway, anyway, since my last postage I went back 'n' played with my test panel. 'Bout three hours had gone by, and the pale-lookin' mixture was still sticky-to-the-touch. However, it did sand okay with a spent piece o' 40-grit and the cloggage blew out o' the sandpaper fairly easily. I'll check it again in the mornin' 'fore I proceed with the job.

Len, what about the color o' the mixed mud on my test panel? Does that look right to you? Hum?

It's "game-on" tomarrow, so any info I can glean from those here who've pre-run the product would surely be appreciated.

Thanks again,

RR

[Jayson M]

Yes, I've used some other products but the Evercoat products have worked quite well. Was it Marson Platinum that you liked? I think Platinum is a 3M product now.

Yes marson platinum is one of the fillers I like better,not saying evercoat is bad just that there are better products out there.

[Len]

Bob, I use "Clean Sheets" too for the smaller smears, but for the more industrial jobs, ya can't beat the concave curvatures of a 1975 Toyota Corrolla TE-31 quarter glass. Anyway, I've been called a "niggler" (look that up in your Funk 'n' Wagnall) for my excessive attention to details, but you 'n' your scales are more like a full-blown mad scientist -- or more like a mad chemist, maybe. I could admire ya for that.

Anyway, anyway, since my last postage I went back 'n' played with my test panel. 'Bout three hours had gone by, and the pale-lookin' mixture was still sticky-to-the-touch. However, it did sand okay with a spent piece o' 40-grit and the cloggage blew out o' the sandpaper fairly easily. I'll check it again in the mornin' 'fore I proceed with the job.

Len, what about the color o' the mixed mud on my test panel? Does that look right to you? Hum?

It's "game-on" tomarrow, so any info I can glean from those here who've pre-run the product would surely be appreciated.

Thanks again,

RR

I had a quarter glass for a long time then I discovered large clean sheets.

Rodney you're using slow hardener, in the red tube, so it's going to take a while to harden. Put more in or use the faster stuff if you need to sand sooner.

What's the room temperature?

[Jayson M]

Rodney you have to put in more hardener than that,basically one tube of hardener for 1/4 of the can,sounds nuts but it will have to be a light blue or red to match the hardener.If it is white you have not put in enough hardener.The only thing epoxy based on the filler is the hardener.Good luck hope it works for you..

[RottenRodney]

Who here remembers when White Star was the premium plastic? I don't know why I'm so bashful 'bout mixin' mud now -- after slingin' so much of it over the years. Maybe it's the ol' dog/new tricks thing.



Anyway, Jayson, Eye 'ear ya 'bout the color. Maybe I should 'ave gone with four lines as I'd originally figgered. Still, I'd like to know what you guys make of this little Euro symbol (above). A 4-inch blob, with one thick squeezeline o' hardner, 'cross the middle from edge-to-edge? If that's the idea, would it also make sense that a larger blob could be hardned with one thick line? The larger-the-blob, the longer-the-line, all in proportion, right?

Where's my straightjacket? I'm goin' back to my padded stall.

RR

[Len]

Who here remembers when White Star was the premium plastic? I don't know why I'm so bashful 'bout mixin' mud now -- after slingin' so much of it over the years. Maybe it's the ol' dog/new tricks thing.



Anyway, Jayson, Eye 'ear ya 'bout the color. Maybe I should 'ave gone with four lines as I'd originally figgered. Still, I'd like to know what you guys make of this little Euro symbol (above). A 4-inch blob, with one thick squeezeline o' hardner, 'cross the middle from edge-to-edge? If that's the idea, would it also make sense that a larger blob could be hardned with one thick line? The larger-the-blob, the longer-the-line, all in proportion, right?

Where's my straightjacket? I'm goin' back to my padded stall.

RR

I think that the 10:1 mixing ratio says more than the diagram.

[RottenRodney]

Hey! I got an idea -- and no, it didn't hurt.



Since we know that four tubes of hardner is what it takes to kick a full gallon, and I'm doin' a big enough skim to justify mixin' a quart at a time anyway, I think I'll ladle out a quart o' mud into a 1-quart mixin' cup, then transfer its measured contents onto my reusable tempered glass Clean Sheet, and then squeezle in a pretty much complete tube o' hardner! Then once both components are mixed, I'll take a color picture of it, print that out later 'n' hang it on the wall so Eye can use that color as a guide for future smears!

I was rather proud when I came up with that. So proud in fact that I imediatly shared the idea with my coworker/buddy, Mrs. Rotten. "But you're colorblind," she said...

[Len]

Hey! I got an idea -- and no, it didn't hurt.



Since we know that four tubes of hardner is what it takes to kick a full gallon, and I'm doin' a big enough skim to justify mixin' a quart at a time anyway, I think I'll ladle out a quart o' mud into a 1-quart mixin' cup, then transfer its measured contents onto my reusable tempered glass Clean Sheet, and then squeezle in a pretty much complete tube o' hardner! Then once both components are mixed, I'll take a color picture of it, print that out later 'n' hang it on the wall so Eye can use that color as a guide for future smears!

I was rather proud when I came up with that. So proud in fact that I imediatly shared the idea with my coworker/buddy, Mrs. Rotten. "But you're colorblind," she said...

I guess that would work but you really don't need to be that accurate. Once you understand that it's going to take about 4 times as much hardener as other fillers you won't need to measure, just dump it in like usual just 4 times more.