Coffee Beans and others

[JustInside]

I need some advice please, how do I stop things like Coffee Beans and other items from either floating in PR or sinking in Alumilite?
We have tried both of these resins, but they either sink or float, my son has a decent sized order for coffee beans, and we need to make them ourselves, as if we bought the blanks it would not be cost effective.
We are using a HF pressure pot, and using a pressure of 40 psi, is that right or should it be something else?

Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

[leehljp]

I pack beans into the mold and make sure that then beans are fairly level with the top; Next I pour the PR over until it is full, lay wax paper over that immediately and put a board over that and weight on top of the board. The beans can't float then. That shouldn't take but an extra 20 seconds if you have the quick set type. Pressurize and wait.

This is how I do it, but there may be better or more effective ways out there.

Another way to beat the "floats", but is more wasteful - get a 1/16 to 1/8 in larger/deeper mold (if you make your own) and even if they do float up a tad, you will have enough to make a pen with. You will have to make adjustments in drilling the blank to compensate also.

 

[sbell111]

I just fill the mold with beans, top it off with PR, and set a piece of UHMW on top after I place it in my pressure pot.