Apparently, it was too warm to cast tonight...

[TimS124]

Finally got a chance to try some more casting experiments. Somehow, the mold I've been using was missing so I grabbed another (larger) one that hadn't yet been used.

I also didn't have my notebook with my notes from prior experiments...which would've helped quite a bit with figuring out how many grams of resin to use for the mold...

Ah well, it's a different/larger mold so the numbers would've been only partially helpful. Time to wing it.

Measured out two matching sets of Part A & Part B (white Alumilite), added dyes to the Part A cups, poured one of the A cups into the B and stirred for 30-45 seconds (guessing the time...didn't use an actual stopwatch this time around).

Then poured the other A into the remaining B and stirred for 30-45 seconds and reached for the first cup to pour/swirl them into the mold.

Ooops, the first cup had gone off already. Sheesh! It had been mixed for maybe a minute, surely less than two...but it was already un-pourable.

Slapped the still-liquid second cup's contents into the mold and got it under pressure.

The mold leaked and I underestimated how much total resin to mix. So, the second color produced a 1/4" thick slab and the first color produced a cup-shaped block. Both colors came out lighter than I wanted (I'm still working out how much dye to add to overcome the effects of the white in white Alumilite).

The cup-shaped block maybe become a tiny bowl or a wine stopper. That depends mostly on how deep the remains of the stir-stick run (yep, it was stuck in there when the mix went off). :big grin:

The slab I'm not yet sure what I'll use it for, but I'm certain I can find something.

The resin was in my garage today and today's high was about 72 degrees F. I'll bring it inside (where it's air conditioned) and try again tomorrow night.

 

[robutacion]

Finally got a chance to try some more casting experiments. Somehow, the mold I've been using was missing so I grabbed another (larger) one that hadn't yet been used.

I also didn't have my notebook with my notes from prior experiments...which would've helped quite a bit with figuring out how many grams of resin to use for the mold...

Ah well, it's a different/larger mold so the numbers would've been only partially helpful. Time to wing it.

Measured out two matching sets of Part A & Part B (white Alumilite), added dyes to the Part A cups, poured one of the A cups into the B and stirred for 30-45 seconds (guessing the time...didn't use an actual stopwatch this time around).

Then poured the other A into the remaining B and stirred for 30-45 seconds and reached for the first cup to pour/swirl them into the mold.

Ooops, the first cup had gone off already. Sheesh! It had been mixed for maybe a minute, surely less than two...but it was already un-pourable.

Slapped the still-liquid second cup's contents into the mold and got it under pressure.

The mold leaked and I underestimated how much total resin to mix. So, the second color produced a 1/4" thick slab and the first color produced a cup-shaped block. Both colors came out lighter than I wanted (I'm still working out how much dye to add to overcome the effects of the white in white Alumilite).

The cup-shaped block maybe become a tiny bowl or a wine stopper. That depends mostly on how deep the remains of the stir-stick run (yep, it was stuck in there when the mix went off). :big grin:

The slab I'm not yet sure what I'll use it for, but I'm certain I can find something.

The resin was in my garage today and today's high was about 72 degrees F. I'll bring it inside (where it's air conditioned) and try again tomorrow night.

I can't help you with the "times" for the Alumilite as I never used it nor I can get it here, I use only Polyester...!

As for the pieces that you cast, the round one looks a good candidate for a pendent, if too thick, make 2 out of it. As for the ceramic tile look alike cast, I don't know how thick it is but, from where I seat, it looks about 7mm or there abouts, one way of using it is to put it back into the mold, and pour another contrasting colour on top, this can be done again with another colour if the thickness is about 1/3 of an average pen blank, you make a sandwich with the 3 colours, cut it into pen blanks, and you made yourself a stripe acrylic blank. if what you've got is about half of a pen blank thickness, 2 colours would be also, OK...!

There are so many things that you can use that cast for, think outside of the square, you may come up with something interesting, yourself...!

Cheers
George

 

[BSea]

Alumilite is affected by the temp. You really need to get yourself an accurate timer. I poured some last night, and it set off about a minute faster than usual. I was still ok, but I was doing a 4 color pour. I use alumilite clear and I had almost no spare time with this one. :bulgy-eyes: Since I have an estimated 7 minutes, and you have only 2.5 minutes under normal temps, I can see why you had an issue with the temps.

And don't throw your casts away. Like George said, you may have a purpose for them down the road. Or at least experiment with them.

 

[rblakemore]

Wow, great lesson learned; I getting a casting set up ready and I am already 90 + degrees; I will have to cast about 2 AM when I start.

 

[Janster]

..please excuse me, gotta go clean the the coffee off my screen after this
sentence.


The cup-shaped block maybe become a tiny bowl or a wine stopper. That depends mostly on how deep the remains of the stir-stick run (yep, it was stuck in there when the mix went off). :big grin:

 

[TimS124]

I can't help you with the "times" for the Alumilite as I never used it nor I can get it here, I use only Polyester...!

As for the pieces that you cast, the round one looks a good candidate for a pendent, if too thick, make 2 out of it. As for the ceramic tile look alike cast, I don't know how thick it is but, from where I seat, it looks about 7mm or there abouts, one way of using it is to put it back into the mold, and pour another contrasting colour on top, this can be done again with another colour if the thickness is about 1/3 of an average pen blank, you make a sandwich with the 3 colours, cut it into pen blanks, and you made yourself a stripe acrylic blank. if what you've got is about half of a pen blank thickness, 2 colours would be also, OK...!

There are so many things that you can use that cast for, think outside of the square, you may come up with something interesting, yourself...!

Cheers
George

George,

Your guess on the thickness of the green tile/slab is very close. It's about 1/4" which Google translates to 6.35mm.

As for uses for it, thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking maybe using it for segmented work but stacking it in layer with other colors might prove interesting. I think that would work better for larger work like wine stoppers or a pen case than for a pen's body...

The pendant suggestion is excellent....thank you. That might even let me avoid the embedded stir stick since I think that's mostly towards the center of the purple block. :biggrin:

I have no intention of throwing either "failed" piece away. They're challenges that will plush me to try new solutions (and will remind me to make sure the mold's screws are fully snugged up next time).

 

[TimS124]

Alumilite is affected by the temp. You really need to get yourself an accurate timer. I poured some last night, and it set off about a minute faster than usual. I was still ok, but I was doing a 4 color pour. I use alumilite clear and I had almost no spare time with this one. :bulgy-eyes: Since I have an estimated 7 minutes, and you have only 2.5 minutes under normal temps, I can see why you had an issue with the temps.

And don't throw your casts away. Like George said, you may have a purpose for them down the road. Or at least experiment with them.

I have clear resin as well and prefer it, but wanted to figure out some color recipes with the white....given the weather, I may have to go back to the clear resin until winter. :biggrin:

I have an accurate timer, but didn't use it. I've used it on all of the other casting work I've done but decided to skip it this time. I don't think it would've mattered as I'm confident I was well within the time I expected given that this was a simple two-color setup.

No doubt having an accurate thermometer on hand would be good for future castings to remind me when I need to stick with the clear...

I have plans for those blocks....but I'm open to suggestions as well. Thanks.

 

[TimS124]

..please excuse me, gotta go clean the the coffee off my screen after this
sentence.


The cup-shaped block maybe become a tiny bowl or a wine stopper. That depends mostly on how deep the remains of the stir-stick run (yep, it was stuck in there when the mix went off). :big grin:

Sorry about your screen...and the coffee...

 

[Marko50]

Cast inside

Wow, great lesson learned; I getting a casting set up ready and I am already 90 + degrees; I will have to cast about 2 AM when I start.

Cast it inside, where you can manage the inside air temp. I cast in my kitchen, pour the mold(s), put them on my mold carrier and walk it out to my the pressure pot in my shop. Iv'e never had any problems with pre-mature set up.:wink:

 

[TimS124]

Wow, great lesson learned; I getting a casting set up ready and I am already 90 + degrees; I will have to cast about 2 AM when I start.

Cast it inside, where you can manage the inside air temp. I cast in my kitchen, pour the mold(s), put them on my mold carrier and walk it out to my the pressure pot in my shop. Iv'e never had any problems with pre-mature set up.:wink:

Just make sure your mold doesn't leak....strategically placed duct tape might do the job (in my case, I think I had a screw loose, literally, and the end wasn't making full contact along the bottom edge).