Casting Help Please!

[mitchm]

Being in SA the products mentioned in most forums are just not available in SA. I have managed to locate a retailer for Polyester Resin (PR), Polyurethane Resin (PUR) and silicon for mold making. NOW THE PROBLEM.....

They have a multitude of different PR & PUR types, some softer and others very hard, they have liquid pigments but not powders and no pearls.

Can anyone please give me some info on the contents (chemical make up) of the PR and PUR used to make the great blanks I see here so often. I understand that mixing colors is another story but would at least like to get the correct Resin and Catalyst to start with.....as for a pressure pot..still searching SA up and down! :frown::coffee::coffee::coffee::coffee:

Thanks in advance!!

 

[spiritwoodturner]

Hey Mike!

I am no expert by any measure, but have been fiddling with it for a few months now. Are you buying this stuff from a craft store or a plastics distributor? I found I have a distributor not far from me, and they've been a wealth of info. Bottom line is, you need laminating resin for something 3/4 to an inch thick. If you tell a distributor that, they should be able to put the right stuff in your hands, whatever they call it. The catalyst is easier. Some here would disagree, but my distributor says MEKP is MEKP, whatever brand name you slap on it. I buy Silmar 41, but I'm guessing they don't call it that where you're at.

Wish I could have helped more, many here are outright pros and will be more technical, although that may or may not help you either. That's why I personally think a distributor is your best bet. And just Google "Mica powder", it doesn't have to be Pearl-X.

Good Luck!

Dale

 

[maxwell_smart007]

http://www.delviesplastics.com/msds/Casting-Resin-MSDS.pdf
http://www.delviesplastics.com/msds/Casting-Resin-Catalyst-MSDS.pdf
Catalyst is Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide.

 

[mitchm]

Thanks for the info and links guys! Do you know if Alumilite is the Polyurethane Resin they are talking about?

 

[spiritwoodturner]

Thanks for the info and links guys! Do you know if Alumilite is the Polyurethane Resin they are talking about?

It's not. They're completely different.

 

[maxwell_smart007]

Alumilite:
http://www.alumilite.com/MSDS/Amazing Crystal Clear A&B.pdf

 

[dalemcginnis]

A pressure pot is not mandatory to cast. I cast many of my blanks without using the pot and they turn just fine.
As for colorings, you can use powder coat pigments (try auto supply store), "stamping embossing powder" (from crafting store) or even oil based acrylic paints (artist supply store). Those are just some of the ones I have successfully used.

 

[td]

Yes Mike, Alumilite is a Polyeurethane Resin

 

[spiritwoodturner]

I totally misread what Mike was asking. I thought he said polyester resin. Time for some new flippin' glasses...

 

[jason_r]

Hey Mike-

On the mixing of colors, I've put together recipes on some
of the things I've done.

They're in my color library.

Even if you can't match brands/etc, the data on curing times and pigment amounts should be useful.

 

[mitchm]

Many thanks for the help and comments, will email the data sheets to the distrubutor and hopefully get the casting bug going! Jason I am sure those recipes are going to be a great help. :biggrin: