Finished report!

I finished writing my report! I still need to edit it, but it is done. And I learned how to make graphs on Microsoft Excel that actually work!

Results!

Glue type Surface type Time
Trial no. -- weight held in grams
Average -- Average of three trials (in grams)


Wood glue Porous 30 min
Trial 1 -- 500
Trial 2 -- 1000
Trial 3 -- 1425
Average -- 975

Wood glue Porous 60 min
Trial 1 -- 1500
Trial 2 -- 1900
Trial 3 -- 1200
Average -- 1533.333

Wood glue Porous 180 min
Trial 1 -- 1500
Trial 2 -- 2000
Trial 3 -- 1000
Average --1500

Wood glue Non-porous 30 min
Trial 1 -- 125
Trial 2 -- 175
Trial 3 -- 125
Average -- 141.6667

Wood glue Non-porous 60 min
Trial 1 -- 75
Trial 2 -- 100
Trial 3 -- 100
Average -- 91.66667

Wood glue Non-porous 180 min
Trial 1 -- 210
Trial 2 -- 0
Trial 3 -- 400
Average -- 203.3333

Tarzan's Grip Porous 30 min
Trial 1 -- 150
Trial 2 -- 100
Trial 3 -- 300
Average -- 183.3333

Tarzan's Grip Porous 60 min
Trial 1 -- 300
Trial 2 -- 325
Trial 3 -- 200
Average -- 275

Tarzan's Grip Porous 180 min
Trial 1 -- 800
Trial -- 900
Trial 3 -- 850
Average -- 850

Tarzan's Grip Non-porous 30 min
Trial 1 -- 0
Trial 2 -- 100
Trial 3 -- 75
Average -- 58.33333

Tarzan's Grip Non-porous 60 min
Trial 1 -- 0
Trial 2 -- 50
Trial 3 -- 100
Average -- 50

Tarzan's Grip Non-porous 180 min
Trial 1 -- 50
Trial 2 -- 250
Trial 3 -- 150
Average -- 150


I couldn't get them to go into a table. All the numbers are weights in grams; the amount of water held.

Experiment is Done!

All 36 trials are done (2 glues x 2 surfaces x 3 drying times x 3 trials).

The good news is my bath is usable again!

The bad news is I still have to write my report!

Is it nerdy that I'm actually looking forward to doing the poster? I had this really fun idea for it!

Experiment Photos

I'm sick today, but I thought it was time for more experiment photos.

The two glues for testing.

The Official Experimental Set-Up

The Official Experimental Timekeeping Device, which may be haunted, due to its tendency to randomly play the radio and refuse to turn off.

The Official Experimental Bit of Paper for Putting the Matchsticks/Nails on to Make Sure They're Exactly 2cm Apart. This has become maths grid paper as it's easier to measure out.

Tarzan's Grip/non-porous/60 min Trial 2 (nicely due at exactly 5pm)

The Leaning Tower of I Was Bored, with pen for size comparison/strength demonstration.

I hope the line breaks work out okay in this, as I had to do them with HTML because the text wrapping is messy.

Trial 1 results!

Trial 1 took place over several days*. A few things had to be redone, due to alarms not going off, missing the time when it was due to be tested etc. But overall it worked out well and all the glue held more than I expected (I thought glue was pretty weak, despite the guy on Better Homes and Gardens always saying "now the nails are just there to hold it till the glue dries").

The two glues I'm testing are wood glue, designed for porous surfaces only, and Tarzan's Grip, designed for all surfaces.

Anyway, these are the results. I don't know how to do a table on Blogger.

WOOD GLUE
Porous
30 min -- 500g
60 min -- 1500g
180 min -- 1500g

Non-porous
30 min -- 125g
60 min -- 75g
180 min -- 210g

TARZAN'S GRIP
Porous
30 min -- 150g
60 min -- 300g
180 min -- 800g

Non-porous
30 min -- 0g (did not hold weight of empty bag)
60 min -- 0g (held empty bag but collapsed as I was getting the funnel into position)
180 min -- 50g

The wood glue has a tendency to snap while I'm refilling the 500mL measuring jug, which is why it has so many exact 500g increments. I think it can sometimes handle a certain amount of weight, but not for too long. This experiment could be improved if I had something that could pour continously and measure the flow, but I don't have a meter of this sort.

*I'm going to email Ms Zhang to find out whether this is bad.

An unscientific wasp

Picture the scene...

I am sitting in my room, laying out more experiment trials. My bin contains at least 100 000 matchsticks, nails, and bits of paper covered in glue dots. A Dr Karl podcast is on pause beside me so I can more fully focus on the delicate process of pasting matchsticks together.

Suddenly, a loud buzzing interrupts my gluing. WASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I run out of the room, leaving wood glue/matchsticks, 30 min (trial 2) unfinished.

The wasp was deterred by some spraying, so I have resumed my experiment. More on that in a second.

Wood glue is quite amazing...

Wood glue has become the first glue to be tested on the "wrong" surface -- a nail (it's meant for porous surfaces). It held on well considering, bearing 125 grams plus the weight of the bag*.

*This is not included as the bag weighs the same for all tests; hopefully it won't break or I'll have to look for an identical one.