Alumilite and Coffee Beans

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Padre

Padre

Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
1,841
I just ordered some white alumilite, and I also went to the supermarket and purchased some coffee beans.

Question: before putting the coffee beans in the resin, should I bake them or try to dry them out in some way? I know they are already roasted, but that does not necessarily mean they are dry.

Any helpful ideas? Thanks.
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
They are roasted AND oily! I don't know what everyone else does but I rinse mine in lacquer thinner before casting. It seems to have made a difference as to how well the alumilite adheared to the beans.
 
They are usually pretty dry when you get them and at this time of the year I wouldn't worry about humidity so you should be okay with them.
 
I agree. I dont wash them or anything. I buy mine at a place called the bulk barn and select what type I want from about 20+ kinds there.. I actually find the "morning blend" the best to use, dont look near as oily as others. Never had any problems yet with them..

Make sure there is no moisture in your air compressor.
 
Thank you for the replies! I do have an air dryer on my compressor that my son got for me. It is a very nice unit. I will try it without washing them first.

I do have a question for texatdurango: if I do find they are oily and rinse them in laquer thinner, do I just rinse them? Soak them? Do I put them in an oven and dry them afterwards? Thanks.
 
Padre said:
Thank you for the replies! I do have an air dryer on my compressor that my son got for me. It is a very nice unit. I will try it without washing them first.

I do have a question for texatdurango: if I do find they are oily and rinse them in laquer thinner, do I just rinse them? Soak them? Do I put them in an oven and dry them afterwards? Thanks.
Click to expand...

PLEASE DO NOT PUT THEM IN AN OVEN AFTER RINSING IN LACQUER THINNER! I actually had a batch of plexi/acetone stabilized blanks that I wanted to speed up the "drying" process so I put them in my toaster oven. About 5 minutes after putting them in, my toaster oven "exploded", flinging the door open. All of the blanks were on fire and I had to use my extinguisher to put it out. Lacquer thinner is very volatile and will most likely render the same results!
 
MesquiteMan said:
PLEASE DO NOT PUT THEM IN AN OVEN AFTER RINSING IN LACQUER THINNER! I actually had a batch of plexi/acetone stabilized blanks that I wanted to speed up the "drying" process so I put them in my toaster oven. About 5 minutes after putting them in, my toaster oven "exploded", flinging the door open. All of the blanks were on fire and I had to use my extinguisher to put it out. Lacquer thinner is very volatile and will most likely render the same results!
Click to expand...


Boy I am glad Curtis said this. I could not type fast enough. I sure hope he checks back here before doing anything. Ouch.
 
Padre said:
Thank you for the replies! I do have an air dryer on my compressor that my son got for me. It is a very nice unit. I will try it without washing them first.

I do have a question for texatdurango: if I do find they are oily and rinse them in laquer thinner, do I just rinse them? Soak them? Do I put them in an oven and dry them afterwards? Thanks.
Click to expand...

I just have a bowl with laquer thinner in it. I dump in a cup or two of beans, swish them around for a bit then lay them out on an old bath size towel to air dry. On a sunny day I will take them outside to air dry but as stated, would never put them in an oven.

When I say they are oily, I don't mean they are so oily that they feel slippery but they are oily nonetheless and the more oil you get out, the better the alumilite will adhere to the bean rather than have the beans pop off as you turn the blank to size.

If you want to see just how oily they are, take a handful of beans, toss them in a dry skillet on the stove and shuffle them around a bit like you are popping popcorn and see how the oil comes to the surface!

I'm just sharing what works for me!
 
Texatdurango said:
If you want to see just how oily they are, take a handful of beans, toss them in a dry skillet on the stove and shuffle them around a bit like you are popping popcorn and see how the oil comes to the surface!
Click to expand...

Texatdurango ... IMHO I do believe this would also 'speed up' the process of eliminating the oils. After heating the beans immediately pour them into the cleaner/thinner (Be outside of course!)

I also agree on the warning to NEVER put anything soaked in any type of cleaner/thinner/solvent/etc. as that would (a) catch on fire as Curtis discovered, (b) create such a stink in the shop or SWMBO's kitchen/house and most importantly (c) I am also quite positive that IF anyone did put them in an oven or whatever and be inside the home, then SWMBO would go ballistic and there goes the peace in your life for days on end.

Gads, how bad could that possible be! :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom