RyanNJ
Member
I just started casting and i was wondering how i could cast round Alumilite Blanks
How Do you cast round blanks
- Thread starter RyanNJ
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NewLondon88
Local Chapter Leader
You can make a round blank and then cast silicone around it, leaving a round void.
Craftdiggity
Member
...or you can be a cheapskate and buy some PVC pipe and cut to whatever length you want the blanks to be. I use 3/4" PVC and cut a slit down the side so that I can pry the pipe apart a bit to break the blank free. Works great, but you're limited to the available sizes of PVC. This also presents some issues if you want to swirl colors together. You can see what it looks like until it's out of the mold. For this type of casting, I use a pan mold I made and cut them up square. It all depends upon how you want to work with the resin.
lorbay
Member
MesquiteMan
Retired Head Moderator
Alumilite does not work well in PVC molds since it shrinks way less than PR and will actually adhere to the PVC making it real difficult to remove. I would suggest a mold release if you decided to go the PVC route.
Craftdiggity
Member
Good tip. I have done well casting PR in PVC, but I'll remember that if I ever try Alumilite.
mervyn
Member
[FONT="]Hi I use PR in pvc pipe all of the time, the blanks I produce are 19mm, 29mm and 45mm if you use a honey wax release agent these will knockout the next day with no problems, and if you use a liquid colour you will have that swirly look.
I have done 1000s of these this way, but I do stress is to use a release agent and you will be fine.
Here are some examples I have done.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The shaving blanks are 50mm (2") blanks I then turn these down to 45mm for sale also to reveal the inner colour effect. I hope this helps little.[/FONT]
finished at 45mm
I have done 1000s of these this way, but I do stress is to use a release agent and you will be fine.
Here are some examples I have done.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The shaving blanks are 50mm (2") blanks I then turn these down to 45mm for sale also to reveal the inner colour effect. I hope this helps little.[/FONT]
finished at 45mm
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Thanks! I was gonna post a link to this but you beat me to it! This mold uses one tube of silicone per round mold. They are horizontal round molds, so you can cast stuff inside, swirl the colors easily, remove the blank with little problem, and all that. I use these molds to make my rolled cactus blanks.
AceMrFixIt
Member
I dont know if its a lack of one letter or not but, some have said that pvc warps due to the heat. This in turn makes it hard to get the blank out. CPVC is designed for hot water therefor the curing does not affect it. I use CPVC and havent had a problem yet. I made a board to hold several lengths of pipe and clamp it to the scroll saw to vibrate the bubbles out. Works great for me. I have never used a release agent.
ldb2000
Member
And your using Alumilite ?
AceMrFixIt
Member
I use PR but my point still stands, the heat will not be an issue. You may need a dowel to knock the blank out of the pipe though.
ldb2000
Member
Heat has nothing to do with it , Alumilite don't shrink like PR does and Alumilite sticks to almost anything so if you cast with any type of PVC pipe the blanks won't come out and you can beat it with a hammer till the cows come home and it won't help . I've used regular PVC pipe to cast PR with no problems but when I tried it with Alumilite the blank became part of the pipe . I even cut the pipe and tried to pry it out with no luck and I finally just put it between centers and turned it off .
MesquiteMan
Retired Head Moderator
Alumilite WILL NOT come of of PVC or CVPC without some type of release agent. Even then, the results are spotty.