Inlace & PR Difference

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rej19

rej19

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I just purchased some inlace for infilling purposes. I'm no expert but it looks like PR. What if any is the difference? I know what I paid for the inlace I could have bought almost a gallon of PR. I just going on the theory if it looks like a duck, acts like a duck, and in this case smells like a duck it might just be a duck!
 
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Inlace is PR. The only difference (other than the high price) that I can see is that the colors are mixed in real well, could even be ground in pigments. I think they also have matched the carrier of the pigment to the resin so there is less of an effect on cure time, but the end result is very similar.
 
Thanks Bruce.. I bought the clear and plan to tint with pearl ex. I have experimented a little and I think I am going to have to use a base tint first then add the pearl ex. The pearl ex mixes very well but seems to have some transparency that I will not want for some uses.
 
I am no expert, but I think there are subtle differences. You can darken/solidify the color by adding some testors paint, just a couple drops will do. Adding paint barely effects the cure time and does not require additional catalyst..unlike PR. Temperature does not matter, unlike PR, I have used inlace at 40 in the shop and it still sets in 4 hrs. Inlace is a thinner consistency which means it gets into tighter spots and does a good job of de-bubbling itself. So, if it is the same base product that may be, but it is not the same product as the big gallon size PR, because it does not behave the same way. And, when you chisel it it is not brittle like PR. When you finish sand it and wet sand it it shines right up but not as bright as PR. Does smell similar to PR though. I think it's an entirely different product..just my opinion from using both products. I recommend the clear over the pre-colored too. Clear is thinner and more versatile.
 
I thought Inlace was Acrylic, or at least Acrylic Polyester (Acrylester?) not Polyester. I'm no chemist, but I don't think they're the same at all. No clue what the differences are, but it sounds like there are differences.

Dale
 
Well it looks like it is in the same family of products. The Styrene seems to be the difference which must effect the setup time. Thanks for all the input.
 
Glass Scratcher said:
According to the MSDS worksheet provided by Woodworkers Supply, it is "Unsaturated Polyester Resin in Styrene" marketed under the product name of POLYLITE manufactured by Reichhold, Inc.

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=146-669&gclid=CJ3fkMf55JgCFQpgswodmQ9ncw

the direct link to the MSDS PDF is:

ftp://www.woodworker.com/146-696.pdf
Click to expand...
Which is exactly what the PR we buy is. The differences could be in the amount of styrene present which in effect is a thinning agent. Both use MEKPeroxide as the catalyst. You can buy styrene monomer to thin PR and perhaps get the same consistency. Also styrene is volatile, so in time, the resin (for either product) can change in viscosity and the concentration will change. Final brittleness is a factor of the ratio of polyester to styrene, how much catalyst is used, and the effect of some colorants.
 
Thanks for all the great info! As casters, it really is important to know what chemicals we're working with. I hope everyone keeps copies of their MSDS's in their shops.
 
It's pretty interesting for sure. I do have PR and inlace. I hardly use the PR any more as it's a pain. I use inlace for tiny inlay's and a can last's a long time. I don't pour from that can, I just dip a stick in there, hold cup over can and scrape stick on cup. Otherwise the lip of the can gets all messed up. Any big jobs, I use alumilite on in the pot. The alumilite works right and works fast every single time, with no fuss.
 
Sorry Jeff, no sell here:wink:. I'm strictly a PR gal. I know many of you use Alumilite but I'm not into "quick". I love my research and the end product! But hey, as long as we're having FUN, right?:bye:

P. S. - I'm still playing with my pretty little pinecones from MI!
 
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You try those cedar cones? I just cast a blank the other day with some excess but haven't spun it yet. Looks like a bazillion little roses far as I can tell. They didn't seem to float..I taped the top of the mold with just enough space to pour in but I see it wasn't necessary.
 
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