--- title: "Dual cartridges, mix ratios and dispensing guns | Lineside Dispensing" url: https://lineside-dispensing.com/guides/dual-cartridges-and-dispensing-guns/ description: "What 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 and 10:1 mean on a dual cartridge, how chamber size sets the ratio, and how to match manual or pneumatic guns, plungers and mixers." --- 1. [Guides](/guides/) 2. Dual cartridges, mix ratios and dispensing guns # Dual cartridges, mix ratios and dispensing guns Updated September 25, 2026 On this page 1. [What a mix ratio means](#what-a-mix-ratio-means) 2. [Chamber sizes in our cartridge range](#chamber-sizes-in-our-cartridge-range) 3. [Manual or pneumatic guns](#manual-or-pneumatic-guns) 4. [Plunger matching](#plunger-matching) 5. [Mixer fit](#mixer-fit) 6. [What to send for a quote](#what-to-send-for-a-quote) 7. [Where to go next](#where-to-go-next) [Get a quote](/quote/) Short answer A dual cartridge ratio such as 2:1 means two volumes of component A leave the cartridge for every one volume of component B, and the chamber sizes fix that ratio. Choose a gun built for that exact ratio and cartridge format, manual for intermittent work or pneumatic for long runs, and a mixer that fits the cartridge outlet. ## What a mix ratio means A two-component material is split into component A, usually the base or resin, and component B, usually the hardener or catalyst. The ratio on a dual cartridge is the volume of A that leaves for each volume of B. | Ratio | Volumes of A per volume of B | Share of B in the mix | What that means for the chambers | | ----- | ---------------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | 1:1 | 1 | One part in two | Two chambers of the same cross-section | | 2:1 | 2 | One part in three | A chamber has twice the cross-section of B | | 4:1 | 4 | One part in five | A chamber has four times the cross-section of B | | 10:1 | 10 | One part in eleven | A chamber is much larger; B is a narrow chamber | The ratio is a volume ratio. Both plungers travel the same distance on each stroke, so the cross-section of each chamber decides how much of each component leaves. If the material datasheet states a ratio by weight, check the volume ratio with the material maker, because the two components rarely have the same density. The static mixer does not set the ratio. It only blends what the cartridge delivers. ### Why the ratio has to match exactly The material maker formulates A and B to react in one proportion. A material dispensed from a cartridge with the wrong chambers arrives at the mixer off-ratio, and no amount of mixing corrects that. The usual symptoms are a bead that cures unevenly or stays soft. You can often read the ratio from the cartridge itself. On a 1:1 cartridge the two chambers look identical. On a 10:1 cartridge one chamber is plainly much narrower than the other. ## Chamber sizes in our cartridge range Every dual cartridge we list is 1:1, from 5 ml to 1500 ml. Both chambers share the diameter shown. | SKU | Capacity | Chamber diameter, A and B | Overall length | | -------------------- | -------- | ------------------------- | -------------- | | LS-DSP-211-5ML | 5 ml | 9.22 mm | 107 mm | | LS-DSP-211-14ML | 14 ml | 13.65 mm | 110 mm | | LS-DSP-211-24ML | 24 ml | 17 mm | 112 mm | | LS-DSP-212-50ML-GEN1 | 50 ml | 21 mm | 118 mm | | LS-DSP-212-50ML-GEN2 | 50 ml | 21 mm | 122 mm | | LS-DSP-213-100ML | 100 ml | 26.93 mm | 136 mm | | LS-DSP-213-200ML | 200 ml | 37 mm | 190 mm | | LS-DSP-213-400ML | 400 ml | 44 mm | 220 mm | | LS-DSP-213-600ML | 600 ml | 48 mm | 257 mm | | LS-DSP-213-1500ML | 1500 ml | 78 mm | 256 mm | The compact 5 to 24 ml sizes suit repair kits, sample packs and hand-dispensed filling programmes. The 100 to 1500 ml sizes are for users who dispense higher volumes per fill. Note the two 50 ml versions. They share a 21 mm chamber but differ in overall length, so identify the version as well as capacity and ratio when ordering. Outlet, plunger components and applicator fit are confirmed for each order. For other volumes or ratios, send us your requirement. ### Choosing a cartridge size Match capacity to how much material a user dispenses per job. When work stops long enough for material to cure in the mixer, that mixer is replaced and the material inside it is lost. A cartridge sized to the job means fewer part-used cartridges and fewer mixer changes. For a reseller, the cartridge size also decides the applicator the customer needs. Stocking cartridges and applicators as matched pairs saves the fit question at the counter. ## Manual or pneumatic guns We call dispensing guns applicators. Both types drive the two plungers forward together, pushing the components through the static mixer at the ratio set by the chambers. - **Manual applicators** use a hand trigger. They need no air line and suit bench work, repairs, site jobs and intermittent use. - **Pneumatic applicators** use compressed air to drive the plungers. They give steadier output with less hand fatigue on long runs or thicker materials. They need an air supply, and we confirm the air supply requirements for each order. | SKU family | Cartridge | Drive | Ratio versions | Body | | ---------- | --------- | --------- | ------------------- | -------------- | | LS-DSP-201 | 50 ml | Manual | 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, 10:1 | ABS plastic | | LS-DSP-202 | 100 ml | Manual | 1:1 | ABS plastic | | LS-DSP-203 | 200 ml | Manual | 1:1 | ABS plastic | | LS-DSP-204 | 400 ml | Manual | 1:1, 2:1 | Metal | | LS-DSP-205 | 450 ml | Manual | 2:1 | Not listed | | LS-DSP-206 | 490 ml | Manual | 10:1 | Metal | | LS-DSP-207 | 600 ml | Manual | 1:1 | Not listed | | LS-DSP-208 | 50 ml | Pneumatic | 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, 10:1 | Aluminum alloy | | LS-DSP-209 | 400 ml | Pneumatic | 1:1 | Metal | | LS-DSP-210 | 400 ml | Pneumatic | Single component | Metal | The single-component pneumatic applicator dispenses from one cartridge and needs no static mixer. ### How to decide between them Four questions usually settle it: - **Is there an air supply where the work happens?** If not, the answer is manual. - **How much material per shift?** Long runs favor pneumatic, because steady air drive spares the operator’s hand. - **How thick is the material?** Thicker materials and longer mixers take more force to push, which again favors pneumatic. - **Does the tool travel?** For repairs and site jobs, a manual applicator is simpler to carry and set up. ## Plunger matching Each applicator version is built for one ratio. The plungers are sized to the cartridge chambers, so a 1:1 applicator carries two equal plungers and a 10:1 applicator pairs a large plunger with a narrow one. An applicator does not switch ratio on its own. A plunger that is too narrow for its chamber pushes unevenly, and one that is too wide will not enter at all. Either way the delivered ratio can drift, which is why fit is confirmed before supply rather than discovered on the line. Capacity alone does not guarantee fit. The plungers must match the chamber diameters and the cartridge format, and as the two 50 ml versions show, cartridges of the same capacity can differ in length. Before supply, send us your cartridge details and we confirm fit, or pair cartridges and applicators from our own range. ## Mixer fit The cartridge outlet decides which static mixer fits. Check three points: 1. **Outlet system.** A, B, C and F style inlets are not interchangeable. Confirm the cartridge system before choosing a mixer. 2. **Ratio.** At 4:1 and 10:1 the minor component arrives as a thin stream. Those ratios need a mixer shaped to steer it toward the center before mixing starts. 3. **Element count.** Pick the shortest mixer that gives a uniform color and a full cure in a test bead. More elements add back pressure, which is felt most on a manual gun. Where a cartridge and mixer were not made for each other, an adapter may bridge the gap. Our adapters include 1:1 and 10:1 converter heads for 400 or 490 ml cylinders. ## What to send for a quote - Mix ratio, by volume - Cartridge capacity, and version where more than one exists - Cartridge outlet style, or a sample cartridge - Drive: manual or pneumatic, and whether an air supply is available - Material type, for mixer element count - Quantity per SKU ## Where to go next Browse [dual cartridges](/dispensing/cartridges-and-applicators/#dual-cartridges), [manual applicators](/dispensing/cartridges-and-applicators/#manual-applicators) and [pneumatic applicators](/dispensing/cartridges-and-applicators/#pneumatic-applicators), then match a mixer from our [static mixers](/dispensing/static-mixers/) range. Send your list through our [quote page](/quote/). We quote per SKU and quantity. ## Questions What does 1:1 mean on a dual cartridge? Both chambers have the same cross-section, so equal volumes of each component leave the cartridge. The ratio is fixed by the chambers, not by the gun. Can one dispensing gun handle different mix ratios? No. Each version is built for one ratio, because the plungers are sized to the cartridge chambers. Order the version that matches the ratio of your material. When should a buyer choose manual over pneumatic? Manual guns need no air line and suit intermittent use, field work and repairs. For long runs or thicker materials, a pneumatic gun gives steadier output with less hand fatigue. Which static mixer fits our cartridge? Fit depends on the outlet style of the cartridge. We confirm the outlet and a matching static mixer from our range when you order. ## Related products - [Cartridges and applicators: dual cartridges](/dispensing/cartridges-and-applicators/#dual-cartridges) - [Cartridges and applicators: manual applicators](/dispensing/cartridges-and-applicators/#manual-applicators) - [Cartridges and applicators: pneumatic applicators](/dispensing/cartridges-and-applicators/#pneumatic-applicators) - [Static mixers](/dispensing/static-mixers/) ## Send us your part list. We quote each line. Samples before the first lot. Quoted per SKU and quantity. [Get a quote](/quote/)[All guides](/guides/)