Finish Systems (C.A. Technologies) Pressure Pot

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kevrob

kevrob

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Joined
Jul 16, 2010
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352
Location
Manhattan, KS 66502
I finally decided to purchase a pressure pot. After reading all the different methods of casting, I decided that the pressure pot would work best for everything I might want to do in the future. I had read all the reviews on the HF Pressure pot - along with all the failures - and it had me concerned. So...I decided to find the safest pot I could find. I ran across the Finsih Systems pressure pot and it looked like it was sturdy and well built - so I spent a little more than others I have seen and purchased it (http://www.finishsystems.com/resincastingpressurepots.html).

I thought I was getting a pot that I could take out of the box and put to use without having to make any modifications. However, now that I have unpacked it, it appears as though I will need to plug a few holes...maybe? Do any of you have this pot to tell me what I might need to do?

My first question is the air release value (see picture below), does it need to be plugged? OR If I need to leave it in for safety, do I need to just make sure it is screwed all the way in?

Second question - see the picture of the regulator. I am planning on attaching a quick disconnect to one end of the regulator. The directions show the other end being connected to the air hose (if I were using it as a paint sprayer), because I am using it for casting, do I just add a cap to block that end from allowing any air to escape?

Thanks for the input!
Kevin
 

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wow! I just spent the weekend looking around and ordered the exact same setup. It states its for casting with molds...I also assumed it was good to go out of the box:rolleyes:...please keep us posted on how it works.
how long did it take to arrive? is it as nice as it looks? did not want to blow up my shop so i did not cut corners..:biggrin:

Thanks,
Dan
 
Dan, it does seem to be very well built. I chose it for the same reason you did. i figured the less I had to adapt, the better off I would be (less chances of killing myself). It didn't take long to arrive. I know when I placed my order the website said they were on vacation and wouldn't be back until Monday of this last week. I think i ordered it a week ago Friday. I left for vacation on Tuesday of last week and when I returned today it was waiting for me. My best guess is that it came on Wednesday. I hope someone can help me figure out how to set it up, I am ready to cast a few steampunk blanks! :)
 
Wow. That pot is about $210.00 more than I have invested in the HF pot that I have used to cast or stabilize hundreds of blanks without a single problem.
 
I use these pots, best pot out there in my opinion. Do not remove pressure valve and air release screw stays. Plug the paint exit hole only. Don't install wheels. Go to hf or auto store get the hose piece that has a pressure guage and a trigger and an attachment to fill tires. Remove tire piece from hose and will screw right into lid! Put quick connect on other end of tire filler thing, done. That whole piece is $10 at hf. Quick connect a buck, plug lessd than a buck. That's all u need. Pull trigger fill pot. Turn screw on lid release air or pull trigger to let air out.
 
Jeff,

Thanks for the information. However, one question - do I need to get the attachment with the pressure gauge - doesn't the pressure gauge already on the unit measure the pressure in the pot? What is the purpose of the purchased gauge?

Thanks!
Kevin
 
kevrob said:
Jeff,

Thanks for the information. However, one question - do I need to get the attachment with the pressure gauge - doesn't the pressure gauge already on the unit measure the pressure in the pot? What is the purpose of the purchased gauge?

Thanks!
Kevin
Click to expand...
I think what he's saying is to buy that part to use as a pressure relief valve. That way, you'd at least have something that's useful for something else. The fact that it have a gauge doesn't matter. But it will be helpful if you use it to air up your tires.
 
I'm saying buy and use that instead because it is simpler to use and install and because its flexible it won't risk getting banged up. You can use parts that came with pot just need a valve to turn on off and quick connect. Thing is though, now u build a tower of metal fittings and the more connections more risk of leaks in system and if u wack the tower by mistake like say swinging a sheet of plywood around in shop you can break the parts off. You decide how u want it, its just my opinion the tire filler thing is easier and works great. The guage is built in and so is trigger, I think its sweet and its cheap. When you see article and pic you'll understand.
 
If you had an HF pot, you'd have had to build a tower of parts off the lid in order to keep the safety valve. The CA pot is different, it has a seperate safety valve built on to the lid and is far less flimsy than the HF one. Your going to like this pot. It is a touch shorter pot but its a bit wider and wider matters more than height.
 
Does anyone have any pictures or a tutorial on setting up the CA pot with both preasure and vacuum? I just got the pot and it is nothing like the HF setup.
 
toyotaman said:
I've been looking for a HF pot for some time now and so far they are still "OUT of STOCK". If I can find one I would buy it.
Click to expand...
While it is on backorder, their website will still allow the purchase. Given that it is currently on sale making the final price after the 20% coupon code $67.99, I might go ahead and buy it now, if I were in the market.
 
Does anyone know what the release valve is set to? I have the pot holding at 52psi and if I go to 53 the vavlve triggers.
 
The "built in" safety valve on mine goes off at 80 lbs. There is a screw on it that adjusts it is there not? I haven't had to fiddle with mine, but it seems to me there's a knurled knob on it that you can tighten up more.

With PR, 52 should be more than plenty, with Alumilite, that is the recommended pressure as well. I typically run 60 lbs.

If you want pressure and vacuum on that pot, it would be no different than any other pot with the exception that the safety release valve is not part of your tower of parts. You just install a T into the lid and a couple ball valves to separate off each side of the T so that one side is your air intake and the other is the vacuum.
 
Jeff - Thanks for your post. I noticed that my guage would stick at 52psi, so I put a new guage on it. Once I got the old guage off, I noticed that the back piece behind the needle was bent keeping the needle from moving and actually got stock on the indicator. Evidently I was putting more than 80psi in the pot. :eek:
 
sbell111 said:
I think that I would be peaved if I paid nearly three hundred dollars for a pot and it came with a bad gauge.
Click to expand...

You could pay 80G for a hummer and have a tire fall off 2 blocks from the dealer. Things happen. I would certainly hope that the new part came for free from the manufacturer. I wouldn't want to install a different kind of pressure relief valve anyhow, the one they provide is really good, and I like the location of it too. Did you get the new one from CA Tech?
 
Jeff, I called them and they got a replacement out the same day as my call. They took care of it and that is all that mattered to me. Would I buy from them again? You bet I would. Would I buy this pot again? After what I went through, I am very glad I went with this pot. What if that had been a bad gauge on a HF pot? I know I put 80psi in that pot and it held. I saw what Curtis' pot did, the extra money was worth the peace of mind
 
I think it would take a few hundred pounds to pop the lid off that pot with the way the bolts hold it down! It's great how there's still lots of great companies that jump to assist people in this country. Most times all you have to do is call and be calm and everything works out great. You can't hold a company accountable for a defect if they are willing to deal with it right away. You know my retarded bulldog ate the power cord on our reclining chair in the living room. I found a tag under the chair as to the manufacturer and called them to see if I could get a new cord..totally willing to pay for it. I told them, dog at the cord, must have been tasty! They simply said, what's your address, new one is on the way later today, no charge, have a great day.
 
IPD_Mr said:
I saw what Curtis' pot did, the extra money was worth the peace of mind
Click to expand...
If I'm not mistaken, Curtis 'splosion was caused by modifying the pot with so-called 'pot savers' and over-pressurizing it to 95 psi for ten minutes. Therefore, that incident is not such a great example of HF pots being a problem.
 
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sbell111 said:
IPD_Mr said:
I saw what Curtis' pot did, the extra money was worth the peace of mind
Click to expand...
If I'm not mistaken, Curtis 'splosion was caused by modifying the pot with so-called 'pot savers' and over-pressurizing it to 95 psi for ten minutes. Therefore, that incident is not such a great example of HF pots being a problem.
Click to expand...

I had an HF pot explode at 60 lbs and no mods to pot lid. That was several months before Curtis' pot. I believe my pot was out of round, but hard to say for sure, but when it happened, the lid pretty much folded in half and the pot was crushed in on two sides and out on two sides like an oval. I have another HF pot that has seen 3-400 pours and never failed. I much prefer this CA pot. When you see one for real, you can really see the difference. It's like pitting a motorcycle against a semi truck. The lid clamping system on the CA pot is heavy duty!
 
workinforwood said:
sbell111 said:
IPD_Mr said:
I saw what Curtis' pot did, the extra money was worth the peace of mind
Click to expand...
If I'm not mistaken, Curtis 'splosion was caused by modifying the pot with so-called 'pot savers' and over-pressurizing it to 95 psi for ten minutes. Therefore, that incident is not such a great example of HF pots being a problem.
Click to expand...

I had an HF pot explode at 60 lbs and no mods to pot lid. That was several months before Curtis' pot. I believe my pot was out of round, but hard to say for sure, but when it happened, the lid pretty much folded in half and the pot was crushed in on two sides and out on two sides like an oval. I have another HF pot that has seen 3-400 pours and never failed. I much prefer this CA pot. When you see one for real, you can really see the difference. It's like pitting a motorcycle against a semi truck. The lid clamping system on the CA pot is heavy duty!
Click to expand...

I'm a newbee and do not own a pot, but would like to pressure cast; however, I am now paranoid and scared to do so after reading about Curtis' experience and now seeing Jeff's post up above of the HF pot exploding even with no mods.

My concern is that sooner or later, mechanics fail and so does this mean we're all essentially playing Russian Roulette with pressure pots? What I'm worried about is a failed pressure relief valve. I do have a few questions:

1. How reliable are pressure relief valves? And how often do you have to replace them?
2. Do pressure pots eventually have to be replaced? What is the life cycle for one?
3. Are the C.A. Technologies resin casting pressure pots safer? Are there any known explosions with those?
4. Can pressure pots blow even at lower settings of 35-40psi?

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Michael
 
Since I have several HF pots and have pressurized them several hundred times each (oldest one is 5 years old) to high pressures and have not had any problems, I am still using them for my own use, but the pressure /vaccuum pots I make and sell are not HF due to the size restrictions and latch design.

If you modify something, don't blame the failure on the pot itself. Curtis made it very clear that his modification was not the proper thing to do and he found out what can happen and has learned fronm that, luckily noone was hurt during this. Buying a quality pot to start with is the best thing you can do.
 
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