Is this air?

[jimskio]

This is my first attempt at casting and I am happy with the results. I used "its virgil's" tutorial and it helped a lot, thank you Don. In the pics you can see what looks like air over some parts of the skin or is this a reflection of the surface of the blank? If it is air will coating the skin with CA first help? Thanks for any help.

jimskio

 

[ed4copies]

Always hard to tell, when looking at a picture.

But, I would say it is air trapped high enough that you can turn the pen--it will "turn away".

 

[Phunky_2003]

Hard for me to tell in the pics, but that may be ca glue gassing off.

I glue the skins to the tube then wait a day or 2 before casting them. How long did you wait after glueing the tubes to the blank before casting?

 

[Russianwolf]

Hard to see in the pics as mentioned. If its air trapped against the skin, some paint the skin with PR before pouring it in the mold. This way you ensure that air isn't be trapped against the skin as you pour.

 

[jimskio]

I have had the skins glued to the blank for a couple of weeks now. I was waiting to get a pressure pot and then I read Don's tutorial. As he mentions in his tutorial I did "paint" the skins with pr while I was waiting for the pr in the ultrasonic cleaner. Thanks

jimskio

 

[ldb2000]

From what I can see in the picture , it is air . PR shrinkage pulls the resin off the surface of the blank causing it to break free and air takes its place . It is difficult to prevent this especially at the ends . The best way I have found is to keep casting temperature low (less MEKP) and just let it cure longer . If you post cure , keep the post cure temperature as low as you can , NEVER over 125 degrees .

 

[PR_Princess]

Jim, if I were to hazard a guess, looks like it might be air trapped next to the skin.

Sometimes it just happens, no matter how careful you are! One blank can turn out fine, while at the same time the one next to it will have air or bubbles. :at-wits-end: Darn frustrating!! Descaling may help...but that is certainly no guarantee either.

BTW is that a corn snake?? Pretty!

 

[jimskio]

I brushed the skin with a copper wire brush to remove loose scales. All in all I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. I will keep trying and hopefully get it right.

Dawn, this is a California Mountain King snake that a friend had as a pet. No we did not kill it for this purpose, I actually got 3 different snakes from him that were in his freezer. I do have a Corn snake waiting for me to get better at casting.

jimskio

 

[Phunky_2003]

My son has an albino corn snake for a pet, been about 14 years now....

how long do corn snakes live lol I am just waiting for him lol.


Jimskio,

You asked if coating the skin with ca will help. I haven't tried it, if you do make sure you give the ca enough time to degass. I hope you get it figured out, thats a nice looking skin. Good luck

 

[el_d]

Looks like the dreaded "Silver Scales" Ill get every once in a while.

Not sure how to keep them from happening, and hevent found a way around them. I really dont like the way they look, it takes away from the nice part of the blanks.