Gelling agent

[Paul Downes]

I got my gelling agent in today and proceeded with great anticipation. The first cast was a disaster. i put in the amount perscribed on the bottle and wasn't quick enough to get both colors poured. The first color startred to gell and I poured it in the mould. I got the second color it was already a solid gell.

I then went to another cast and used only 1 drop per oz. It also set up rather quick and I wasn't able to get the resin colors to mix properly.

I'm casting 12 oz. blocks. How much of this stuff do you use? I want it to semi-gell so I have time to manipulate the mix. Any ideas?

 

[MobilMan]

My guess is smaller blocks or work faster.

 

[Paul Downes]

Yah, I'm waitin for the last cast to set up and then I'll try a cast with just a few drops in it. Maybe 2-3 drops per 6 oz. I juast hate wasting material and would like to benifit from someone elses mist..er experiance.

 

[redfishsc]

Lol, mine showed up last week and I had a bit of a gel-monster too.

I had one that was gelling right as I was pouring it--- that stuff works FAST once it starts to kick over.

The stuff went in a matter of seconds from being liquid....to thick...to a GLOB right in the middle of pouring it. Fortunately I was pouring into a mold and the glob plopped right in place, and the blanks looked fine.

Looked like a lemon-sized blue booger. Wierd.


I am going to use a plastic syringe to dose the drops next time. Mine showed up with NOTHING to dose it with, and the stuff doesn't have a predictable flow when pouring out of the cap.[B)]

 

[Paul Downes]

I had an extra glue bottle laying about so I decanted the stuff off into that. I mixed 3 drops per oz. the first pour and it turned into a glob right quick. Funny, mine also was blue. I have an order for a real pale pink (like a clam shell)& highlite blue pen. I just did the 3rd cast and it looks a little better. I think I may forgo the gell agent in one color and just use it in the other(s). I'm looking on the bright side, If I was cooking I'd have to eat the experiments.[:0]

I'm a little disappointed though. I had hoped it would just thicken up the mixture and still allow plenty of time to swirl/manipulate the mix.
I have some ideas I'd like to do if I can figure out how to keep the colors from mixing. I may just have to do it the hard way. real small batches poured on top of each other.