Disappointed (Vent your PR frustrations here)

[Craftdiggity]

So I had a big casting session where I casted my first coffee bean blanks, my first shredded money blanks, my first pasta blanks, and a bunch of different snake skins that I never tried before.

The skins turned out okay, although I am now seeing what some of you saw in my other post. There is what looks like air around and above the scales in some areas. It was so consistent in my first blank that I didn't even realize how bad it was. I don't know what causes this. I painted on two thin layers of resin prior to this session, so I felt like nothing could go wrong, but...alas.:frown:

The coffee bean blanks look great, but I blew up two in a row before giving up on ever completing a pen from one of them.

The shredded money blanks look fantastic.:biggrin: Very few visible bubbles, but when I got one turned to final shape and sanded down and polished I realized that there was not all that much money left. Many spots are clear resin with no shredded money. I don't know how I could jam more into the mold and still get it all to stick together, but I guess I'll have to try.

On a positive note, the pasta blanks are awesome and I got a Sierra out of one of the smaller ones.:biggrin: I'll get a pic posted at some point.

Anyway, I just wanted to vent a little. Feel free to add your frustrations to this thread. The hijacking rules do not apply here. Take it away. :wink:

 

[David M]

was the money blanks solid then drilled . if so paint the inside and the tube gray and it should look okay ( money not packed tight ) .

 

[wolftat]

It takes some time and pratice to get them right, just keep trying and eventually it will be easier and more productive.

 

[bitshird]

Chris I love doing Pasta and the Snake skins, I've never tried the shredded money and the stuff like rice, coffee and peppercorns, I don't know how to keep it from Floating to the top.

 

[Craftdiggity]

was the money blanks solid then drilled . if so paint the inside and the tube gray and it should look okay ( money not packed tight ) .

Yes, the blank was solid, then drilled. I painted the inside and the tube blank for a contrasting background, but the problem is that there is no money in some parts. I'll post a pic soon to show you how bad it looks. I couldn't even bring myself to put the pen together.

That reminds me, I also casted some burl pieces too and they turned out like crap as well. I used a pearlescent blue color and swirled in some silver and somehow there are large areas where the color doesn't show up, as though I didn't mix it all the way. This has never happened to me before, even when I first started. I usually mix the colors pretty thoroughly, but I guess not this time.

 

[ed4copies]

I can't BEGIN to tell you the number of failures.

This is why I always get a "kick" out of the threads that tell you how much each blank costs, counting the resin and a little dye. No one ever mentions the gallons that did not turn out!!!

Each ruined snakeskin has a value--so they don't turn out. The pasta ($1 a pound) TURNS OUT GREAT!!!
Why is it that the cheap stuff has a minimal failure rate and the skins succeed at a rate inversely proportional to their cost. (the more expensive the skin, the fewer turn out!!) Of course, if you are willing to accept bubbles, air, "gray scalies", etc as "normal" you can redefine your success rate to improve!!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

So, keep casting!! The first hundred gallons are the tough ones!!!

 

[Smitty37]

WOOD

I can't BEGIN to tell you the number of failures.

This is why I always get a "kick" out of the threads that tell you how much each blank costs, counting the resin and a little dye. No one ever mentions the gallons that did not turn out!!!

Each ruined snakeskin has a value--so they don't turn out. The pasta ($1 a pound) TURNS OUT GREAT!!!
Why is it that the cheap stuff has a minimal failure rate and the skins succeed at a rate inversely proportional to their cost. (the more expensive the skin, the fewer turn out!!) Of course, if you are willing to accept bubbles, air, "gray scalies", etc as "normal" you can redefine your success rate to improve!!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

So, keep casting!! The first hundred gallons are the tough ones!!!

I think that's why I only make pen barrels from wood....

 

[toyotaman]

Makes me think. I should leave the casting to the pros and just buy mine from the stores.I know it's not the same but there is no money wasted there.,plus there are alot of nice colorations.
Toyotaman

 

[avbill]

What why I buy my the acrylics!

 

[atomic ray]

Could you cut your seconds into manageable pieces/cubes/rings/etc. and make new casts...creating a mosaic type of project...then the light areas will not matter at all...could be a wonderful experiment!

I hate the idea of lost time, effort, money, resources, as well as the psychological wear and tear...take a portion of all those back and make something great out of it.

Good luck! :bananen_smilies046:

 

[Brooks803]

I have a box full of frustrations when it comes to casting. Either they set too quick or not quick enough, pressure leaks making ruined blanks. I haven't done any $ or pasta. I did try casting red pepper flakes, only it was my first try with alumilite...same problem as with your $ blanks. not enough coverage. The blanks that I deem not suitable for sale I've offered to new turners here that aren't familiar with PR blanks or any type of acrylic. Although in doing this I've seen some posted that ended up awesome after being turned.

 

[jttheclockman]

I think that's why I only make pen barrels from wood....

How boring.

Casting is a learning experience and I hope we don't get alot of posts such as Smittys telling us why they don't cast. Us casters are not interested. Yes we all get failures and I as well still get my share. So many factors come into play when casting but we learn as we go as the failures will lessen. Asking questions will definetly help you as you grow into this field of blank making. It is a greatful feeling when that special blank does come out well and you can say you casted it and made it from scratch. Keep the faith and keep trying. No different than blowing up an acrlic blank or having a wood blank split on you. These are failures also. Good luck.