Disposable Epoxy Mixing Tray with Snap-Off Applicators

I made this because I was tired of mixing epoxy on scrap cardboard like some kind of medieval adhesive peasant.

This is a small disposable mixing tray for epoxy, CA glue, wood glue, JB Weld, and other small-batch shop adhesives. The tray includes two built-in snap-off tools: a wider mixing/application paddle and a smaller precision pick. Mix your adhesive in the tray, snap off the tool you need, and apply it without sprinting through the house looking for toothpicks while your five-minute epoxy is already plotting against you.

The idea came from seeing someone use the end of a filament spool to make quick shop consumables. I liked the concept, but wanted something purpose-built for the way I actually use epoxy: small amounts, controlled mixing, and cleaner application.

Features

• Small raised-edge mixing tray

• Snap-off wide paddle for mixing and spreading

• Snap-off narrow pick for detail placement

• Chamfered pseudo-point on the pick for controlled dabbing, dragging, and scraping

• Breakaway tabs designed to hold during printing but separate by hand

• Compact, fast print

• No supports needed

• Great for small epoxy jobs, magnets, leather, inserts, repair work, and general bench nonsense

Why I Made It

My old method was a piece of scrap cardboard and a popsicle stick. It worked, but badly.

The cardboard would spread the epoxy out too much, so I usually dispensed more than I needed. The popsicle stick worked fine for mixing, but once epoxy got all over the edges, it became a terrible application tool. Then I’d end up grabbing a second stick, cutting one down, or running inside to find toothpicks because apparently adhesive work must include a side quest.

This tray keeps the epoxy in one place, gives me a dedicated mixing surface, and includes the applicators right there with the tray.

Design Notes

The tray started with a golden-ratio-inspired footprint, mostly because I wanted it to feel intentional instead of like a random rectangle that wandered into CAD and got extruded.

The larger paddle has a drafted face and a lofted transition from the paddle end into the handle. That gave it a cleaner shape and made it more useful as both a mixer and applicator.

The smaller pick is 2 mm thick and 3 mm wide, with chamfered edges at the tip to create a pseudo-point. I avoided making it needle-sharp because tiny FDM points usually print like disappointment with layer lines. The faceted tip gives it a more practical shape for placing, dragging, scraping, and guiding adhesive into small areas.

The breakaway tabs were revised after the first prototype. They were moved farther away from the working tips so leftover nubs would not interfere with mixing or application. The attachment width was adjusted to 1.5 mm as a safer middle ground: easier to break than 2 mm, but less fragile than 1 mm.

• PLA but PETG works best

• Layer Height 0.20

• Orientation flat on the bed

• Random Seam

• Wall loops 2

• Top/bottom Shell 2 (or more)

• Infill 10-25 (or dealer's choice)

• Supports Off

• No Brim

Use Notes

For best results:

1. Dispense small equal amounts of epoxy into the tray.

2. Mix with the paddle or pick while keeping the adhesive inside the raised rim.

3. Snap off the applicator you need.

4. Apply epoxy with the wide paddle or use the pick for tight spots.

5. Toss the tray when done, because scraping cured epoxy off things is how people slowly lose joy.

Suggested Uses

• Two-part epoxy

• JB Weld

• CA glue with baking soda or filler

• Wood glue

• Small leather projects

• Magnet installation

• Threaded inserts

• Model making

• Small repairs

• Any situation where a popsicle stick is somehow both too big and immediately ruined