Zhivago Balance Page 2 (continued)
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Bend the hook to shape with needlenose pliers to the stage shown, below left. Insert it into the block to test for parallelism. If necessary, tweak the bend at the bottom of the hook until the side of the hook lies parallel to the side of the block, not canted in or out. In use, it is easy to see (just by looking down, without having to crane your neck into an uncomfortable position) when the hook is parallel to the faces of the block, which indicates that the rod is horizontal and in balance.

A nut and washer will lock the pivot block in place on the thread-ed rod, maintaining the zero adjustment and keeping the cup loop in its horizontal orientation.


Then bend the tail stop that keeps the hook from falling out and falling over. A thin, temporary spacer will keep the first tail bend far enough from the block that it won’t interfere with the free swing of the balance. The last bend in the pivot hook limits the swing of the hook, keeping it in a handy position, and making it easier to control the balance as you are pumping epoxy into the cup. Adjusting the angle between the hook and the tail will give the hook an equal amount of movement on either side of center.

Round off the ends of the coat hanger wire so that you can’t snag your protective gloves on the sharp ends.


Making The Weights
The two weights together should be almost as heavy as a full cup of epoxy. For an eight-ounce cup, it worked out well to use 2x3 spruce, 5 inches long for the resin weight, 1 inch long for the 5-to-1 catalyst weight, and 1.43 inches long for the 3.5-to-1 catalyst weight. The slot should be about three-quarters of the length of the resin weight (see Figure 1 and Figure 26), so that the center of gravity of the two weights combined is below the rod, keeping the weights upright.
The ears above the slot retain the catalyst weight in the correct position—at the same distance from the pivot as the resin weight—and are easily fabricated. I cut these from a paint stirring stick. Epoxy them into position, using a rubber band as a clamp (Figure 21). Remove any squeeze-out from the top of the weight. After the epoxy is cured, a couple of light swipes with a file will give the catalyst weight enough clearance to drop into place.
Zhivago Balance (continued)
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Epoxyworks 20 / Fall 2002

Copyright © 2002, Gougeon Brothers, Inc. All rights reserved.
This page is maintained by Gougeon Brothers, Inc. Last Modified on 10/28/02.
Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, is expressly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. EPOXYWORKS, Gougeon Brothers, WEST SYSTEM, Episize, Scarffer and Microlight as used throughout this publication, are trademarks of Gougeon Brothers, Inc., Bay City, Michigan, USA.