PearlEx Problems

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andyk

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Aug 10, 2008
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Location
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Being an absolute rookie to casting I try to utilize all the information that I gather in various forums. After reading several posts I bought some of the PearlEx powders at Michaels. I also am using the PR from Michaels as well.

I read in one of the posts that you had to keep mixing the resin until just before it gelled to keep the PearlEx powder suspended and get the proper effect. I think someone had said about 10 minutes. Per my measurements I added 6 drops of catalyst per oz because it was kind of chilly outside. All of a sudden it started to gell and wouldn't pour. I dumped it in a Gladware container and let it harden. The pearlesence came out great. I might be able to get one usable blank out of the lump.

Not to be defeated I mixed another batch, same recipe and didn't wait quite as long. Didn't want to waste all the resin. I used PVC for my molds sprayed with PAM. After letting it cure for 24 hrs I took them out. Kind of looked like crap, but I turned one anyhow. That is when I knew it was crap. No pearlesence what so ever.

Any suggestions? Any info would be appreciated. I haven't bought the high end materials due to lack of funds.
 
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Andy,

Keep in mind that you're always going to see more "pearlescence" in a blank. lump, whatever because of the thickness. Whenever you turn the blank down you're going to be turning most of that off. If it was a slim line, you're never going to see much depth.

To get the brightest colors out of Pearl Ex powders I always add a similar shade of dye for more opaqueness. In addition to the pearl ex powder shade and dye I also add Pearl Ex Macro and sometimes Pearl Ex Micro too. They have different qualities from each other as well as bringing out maximum "pearliness".

Also, I can't really "work" swirls inside a tube. I cast in a 3X6 brick and cut them apart with a band-saw. In this way I can still swirl it with a toothpick right up until it gels if I feel a need. But there are alot of casters out there who do cast in tubes and I'm sure they'll help you out with some insight.

BTY, I only stir my PX's until they look good and molten, then add MEKp then pour into a mold..... I've never sirred for 10 minutes.
 
The only difference between micro and macro pearl is the size of the particles. I haven't ever noticed it change the color either way. It's just to add a pearlecence to the color.
 
Glass Scratcher said:
Then you know what you know to be absolute and what I have told you makes no difference.
Click to expand...


Just my experience.
Although the 3,000 or so blanks I've cast doesn't make my opinion valid. Sorry, you are right, it changes the color and I retract my opinion.
 
Andy,

I finally just saw your post from the other thread. I didn't mean to infer that I thought you were hi-jacking the thread, simply that with all the excitement over Chuck's work I was afraid your request might not get as much notice as with a new thread.

You'll get more responses yet. Some one else said they thought it was probably old stock as well. What size were your tubes?

Remember, we've all got the memory of our first pour...... hang in there and with a little help that I know this group is capable of.... it'll get better!!!
 
Thanks Terry. I should have posted in my own thread anyhow. I know what it is like on other forums when someone hijacks your thread. I don't like it and I try not to be hypocritical...
 
Pearlx ??

I was at a big Micheals yesterday looking for Pearlx Powers. They had never heard of it. What is the brand name? I did find Pearlessents. It is a glittery liquid. Its acrylic, wonder if it would work? Thanks Rich H
 
Chances are it won't.... glitter is heavy and won't suspend in the PR but it will sink to the bottom. Liquid is usually a problem too.

Pearl Ex powders are micro fine particles that when mixed give you lots and lots of colors and options. Glass Scratcher explains the particular action a little better than I do.

Lead your "salesperson" to the stamping department... there are 12 small jars (each about as big around as a quarter) packaged together there. Trust me... it's there!The stores cary a vast inventory and you're lucky if you get a worker who really knows all their stuff and what a creative person can do with it.

Skye posted a picture of the package, I'll see if I can find the link and post it.
 
Glitter works fine as do liquid colorants. They make liquid dyes specifically for resin. Although my inexperience may make no difference in the absolute.
 
James is correct about the liquid dyes specifically for resin. I use them myself (Mixol is my fav followed by the Castin' Craft line) and I'm glad someone has had happier expierences with glitter than I have.

It was the "pearlescents, glittery liquid" part that flipped my warning bells. I ended up conjuring up a pretty strange brew that was flame red foam rubber using something like described above in epoxy resin. After reading my MSDS's I understood that most dyes are water or alcohol based and some resins don't like that. A little more research later and I found the proper dyes.
 
Here's an example of my first PearlEx mix:

1.jpg


Here's another one I did shortly after that, and turned:

2.jpg


I used no dye, just the PearlEx. Now, it's thicker than a pen would be, but it still seems that it would be pretty opaque.
 
Hi, i was at Micheals and when i asked, i asked for pearlEx dyes, two people both directed me to Rit dyes and fabric dyes. So i sent away for it, $41 for 32 colors. They wanted $24.99 for just 12 jars. Since then i found it in stamping. Carl
 
Skye said:
Here's an example of my first PearlEx mix:
Click to expand...
<snip-look above to see the pictures>

Here's another one I did shortly after that, and turned:
Click to expand...
<snip again>
I used no dye, just the PearlEx. Now, it's thicker than a pen would be, but it still seems that it would be pretty opaque.
Click to expand...

About how much resin/pearl-ex did you use? I'm getting ready to do some initial casting
with pearl-ex and would prefer to not waste it.

Thanks
 
I used the little two ounce paper cups for kids to use in the bathroom. Used 8 or 9 drops of catalyst per little cup.

As far as how much, a very small amount. Like what would fill a contact lens. I know, odd picture, but I couldn't think of anything else, lol
 
RDH79 said:
I was at a big Micheals yesterday looking for Pearlx Powers. They had never heard of it. What is the brand name? I did find Pearlessents. It is a glittery liquid. Its acrylic, wonder if it would work? Thanks Rich H
Click to expand...

Like Terry says.....It's there. I've never been in a Michael's thats didn't carry it, just find the right salesperson. If I recall it's in an odd place at most Michael's, or I thought it was....lol. The brand name or maker of Pearl Ex is Jacquard
 
mick said:
Like Terry says.....It's there. I've never been in a Michael's thats didn't carry it, just find the right salesperson. If I recall it's in an odd place at most Michael's, or I thought it was....lol. The brand name or maker of Pearl Ex is Jacquard
Click to expand...

Yes, you are right, just went through this with 2 different Michael's, and nobody knew what it was. At the third one they didnt know, but when I said it was like Mica, the lady took me right over to the stamping section and it was hanging on the wall there. They know it better when it's related to clay and stamping, as opposed to penturning and casting :) But as the lady told me, when most artist/hobbyists do casting, it's just the regular green dye in the frog mold type of thing.
 
jason_r said:
Ok, so a 2 oz cast, ~4drops/oz catalyst and probably between 1/8 and 1/4tsp of Pearl-Ex.

Good starting point- great looking cast.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I just cast my first BS blanks today using pill bottles, and that's pretty much the formula I ended up with. I'm not sure of the mixture of pearl-ex, because I like to use percise measurements like a heap and half a heap on the popcicle stick :) I think I may cave in to the darkside now and use a measuring spoon since someone introduced numbers. I agree too, great looking cast!
 
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