Coffee Bean stabilizing-How Long?

[Tim'sTurnings]

I am going to try and cast some coffee beans in some PR to make pen blanks. I read that the beans will stay solid when turning if you stabilize them first. I have some soaking in MinWax Wood Hardener.
Does anyone know how long I should soak them?

Any replies would be appreciated.

 

[Tim'sTurnings]

I soaked them for about 4 hours in wood hardener. I applied a little vacuum for about a half hour. I don't want it to be necessary to dribble or apply multiple coats of CA. The fumes give me a headache and I do not want to wear a mask as I do not use CA as a finish and I didn't want my shop to smell like CA. That is why I was trying to stabilize and solidify the beans. I may post a pic if I ever get around to casting them. I am waiting for much warmer weather to do any casting.
Tim

 

[Dai Sensei]

I soak them for 4 hours, then under alternating vacuum (5mins) and pressure (10mins) for another hour, then leave for another hour or so to soak some more. By then they are usually a bit soft. Quick rinse to clean off the lumps, the wood hardner starts to set on the putside, then leave to dry for a week or two (it takes time at depth).

 

[Tim'sTurnings]

Thanks Dai, that is basically what I did. I didn't think about letting them dry for a week though. I think I will do that, I didn't plan on casting them right away anyway.

 

[MesquiteMan]

Just remember that Minwax Wood Hardener is 72% acetone, 3% methanol, and 82% volatile. This means that 82% of the volume you get into the beans will be evaporate, leaving only 18% in the beans. Also remember that acetone is VERY volatile and flammable at normal pressure and even more so under vacuum.

 

[toyotaman]

I took mine out of the bag and soaked them in Acetone for about 15 minutes. Laid them out on a dry paper towel to dry overnight and casted them in PR. Never had a problem.

 

[pensbydesign]

i tried it in the the past with the minwax stuff, never thought it did much, was wondering if any one used cactus juice , i know when i used it on wood their is always some that come out and crust on the out side when it catalysis what would it do to the coffee beans when you cast them wouldn't there be a crust on the out side that would be unsightly.