converting weight to volume formula

CompletelyClean

CompletelyClean

New member
Can't find the thread and I know it's here somewhere...

Does anyone know the formula for converting an ounce of weight to an ounce of volume? I need to know how much volume is the equivalent of 8 oz. (weight). Please don't tell me I need to get a scale...please.
 
For 2.99, get a scale, cheap and fast....

Matt
 
Depends on what you are weighing which is related to the specific gravity of the solution.

Specific gravity is related to water which weighs 1 kg. per litre at 20 degrees C or 10 pounds per Imperial gallon or 8.345# per US gallon. Another 'Rule of Thumb' is a pint is a pound the whole world round.

Once you know the specific gravity of the solution (usually stated on the MSDS) you can do some math to arrive at the exact number you seek.

Using a less than precise scale can get you into trouble as mixing chemicals is like baking; varying from the recipe is always an invitation to disaster.

Hope this helps? Cheers.
 
get a scale, it will save you money. you can get a diet scale at a super market for a few dollars. that is what I used until i recently picked up a nice digital one.
 
As Michael from EPPS stated, the conversion using specific gravity works only on liquid forms, since liquids can easily take the shape of a measuring cup (other materials can also when they are converted to liquid form). Everything is compared to water (at a specific temperature as temperature has an effect on weight) and water has a specific gravity of 1. MSDS should provide you the specific gravity of the liquid you are trying to work with. As others have said, the conversion will be much easier with a scale.

But, if you still want to proceed down the path of numerical conversions here are a couple web sites that maybe of help.
www.essex1.com/people/speer/density.html and www.matweb.com

I've copied a piece from the Essex web site that may be of some additional help:

"One of the fundamental properties of any particular material is its 'heaviness'. In solids we think of materials like cork or styrofoam as being very 'light' and lead and iron as being 'heavy'. Actually we have to consider the volumes in this discussion. We could have a ton of styrofoam, or a half-gram of lead. It depends on how large a sample we are using.

To calculate 'heaviness' or density we divide the mass of material in grams by its volume in cubic centimeters. (We might just as well divide the mass in kilograms by the volume in liters, or the mass in metric tons by the volume in cubic meters, the answer in each case would be numerically the same.

The densities of ordinary substances here on earth (as opposed to such things as gases at very low pressures or white dwarf stars) vary from the least dense, hydrogen gas, with a density of 0.000 089 grams per cubic centimeter to the element osmium which, at 22 grams per cubic centimeter, is only slightly more dense than gold or platinum. Density is such a characteristic property of each substance that it may even be used to identify the substance. A student of mine once brought in a heavy metal bar which he thought looked like gold. Measurement of its volume and mass yielded a density of about 8, the density of brass. We always laugh at the old movies in which a stagecoach is being robbed of its gold shipment and the bad guys are tossing the boxes of gold around. An ordinary suitcase full of gold bars would have a mass of a ton or more. A bank once had a cubic foot of gold in its vault and offered to give it to anyone who could carry it out of the building. A cubic foot of gold is 1200 pounds, about the same as three steel oil drums filled with water.

Since the gram was defined as the mass of a cubic centimeter of water, water must by definition have a density of 1 gram per cubic centimeter. It actually varies a little with changes in temperature, but its density is exactly 1 somewhere around 3 or 4 Celsius degrees above freezing.

Specific gravity is the heaviness of a substance compared to that of water, and it is expressed without units. In the metric system specific gravity is the same as in the British system. If something is 7.85 times as heavy as an equal volume of water (such as iron is) its specific gravity is 7.85. Its density is 7.85 grams per cubic centimeter, or 7.85 kilograms per liter, or 7.85 metric tons per cubic meter."

Regards,
 
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how about a chart to convert liters to gallons and such.
i think that would be volume from english to metric, and vice versa.
 
Good job Mike!

Sometimes it's just too easy to post on the BB's and we forget how easy it is to find info on the Internet Highway.

There are some catalogs I'll list here that are great for having info in them and I'll list later - heading out the door right now.

Regards,
 
It's my pleasure. Most days we learn together.
 
Follow up on references I promised:

The know it all reference book used by mechanical designers and engineers is the Machinery Handbook. The contents are extensive. It contains: conversion charts, material selection and properties, geometry formulas, HP formulas, pulley and belt length calculations, tap drill and tap size charts, trig formulas, stress, deflection and other formulas, etc., etc. This is the Bible and major reference book of all mechanical designers and engineers. It is expensive in the $100 range, but it's a reference book for a life-time.

On the other end of the financial scale (FREE), lot of product manufacturers place charts and formulas in their catalogs. I always make it a habit to get a paper catolog even when on-line access is available - I don't always want to take my laptop into the shop. Here are a two that have a wealth of info on parts, materials and references:

Dultmeier (www.Dultmeier.com) - Distributor of a wide range of excellent product and parts for the pressure washing and other service industries.
- Nozzle Volume chart
- Nozzle Pattern chart
- Hose Friction chart
- Water through Hose Flow Data graph
- Viscosity Measures
- Pipe and Tubing chart
- Pump and system hook-up diagrams
- Motor Frame charts
- Pulley selection chart
- Weights & Measures
- Conversion Factors and Formulas

ChemMasters (www.ChemMasters.net) - Mfg. of concrete products such as repair mortars, cures and seals, concrete and masonry sealers, coatings and toppings, cleaners and solvents.
- Conversion charts (about 15 pages worth)
- Building material weights
- Water/Cementweights - Temperature Conversion
- Concrete Estimator
- Solids Coating Coverage

Call them or e-mail them for a copy of their catalogs.
 
Good deal! I highly recommend it for that price.

Thanks! That's a great find - I didn't realize they had a condensed version.
 
Paul, this is a little unrelated, but I don't remember if you wanted to travel up to the cleveland area for work. I have been washing a lot of homes and decks recently in a particular new develpment and noticed tons of mortar tags on all the brick homes. I spoke with a woman who wanted them removed but I don't do that. She explained the builder had someone do it for a few people and the company that did it supposedly ruined the brick with acid, her words not mine. So if you are interested I could find out the builders name for you.
 
Mike,

Thank you, but I'm strictly local in the Southwest corner of our state. I cover about a 50-60 mile radius, maybe a bit further for large projects but that's about it.

Why are you not doing these?
I can't say it's easy work but with a subdivision of homes (if they pay at least $30/1000) it could be a decent money maker.

Thanks again!
 
From among all the others, there is one more catolog I want to list here for conversions. Tamms Industries (www.Tamms.com)
It's a construction products handbook. The handbook contains area, volume, weight, linear, temperature conversions and other items such a square feet of concrete at any thickness from 1 cubic yard of concrete, coverage of coatings - mils to sq ft and some other misc conversions.

Not only do you get the conversion charts, but the small book contains a couple of good products worth mentioning (I think).

Dural 1004C - This is a solvent based aliphatic polyurethane coating for concrete floors. It is available in several colors including WHITE. The product is used on concrete floors of airplane hangers, manufacturing plants, warehouses, clean rooms and laboratories due to its resistance to chemicals and serves also as an anti-graffitti coating on walls. The topcoat costs about $59 per gallon and it does require a primer (which runs about $44 per gallon). Duraprime 50 coverage is 200-400 sq ft per gallon and the topcoat is 300-450 on primed concrete.

The other products I like are:
Luster Seal 300 - non-yellowing, film type exposed aggregate and stamped concrete floors, driveways, etc.

Tammscoat - a water based acrylic decorative and protective coating for masonry & concrete surfaces. It comes in several colors at about $80 per 5 gallons and applies at a rate of 80-120 sq ft per gallon. This product I recommend for a decorative (first) / protective (second) coating for smooth vertical concrete surfaces on houses. The area of application in specific is the concrete foundation or basement exterior walls (between the grade and the brick or siding). Provides a nice blend from the house to the landscape. An added nische if you are working concrete coating already.

A couple other products for the folks that are in the concrete coating / sealing side of the business are:
Tamms Thin Patch - a cement based (polymer modified) product for patching concrete from feathering to a 1 inch thickness application.

Tammspatch II - a cement based (polymer reinforced) product for patching concrete from feathering to a 2-1/2" inch thickness application.

One of the keys to business success (my opinion) is to sell more of your services to the same customer as this can increase your time on the same job site (therefore reduce travel, set-up and other costs) and of course can lead to repeat business (think of it as one stop shopping from your customer's perspective - same as the grocery store that has the deli, bank, pharmacy, bakery, garden products, etc.). I call it: Brute Force Cybernetics - "Create a Need and Fill It!"

Happy converting and think about expanding your services to fill a need.
 
Two reasons...
I am too busy with the residential and commercial aspect of my biz.
Second reason is that I have never done it before and I don't like to do things that I can't be the best at. Granted, I could learn but I don't want to learn by teaching my self. I don't know enough about brick to offer those services, that's why I gave you the heads up.
If I hear of anything down near you I will let you know.
 
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