PR curing in cold weather

[glycerine]

Do you guys ever put PR in the toaster oven on a low setting right after you pour it into the mold? Will in cure in a cold garage without that heat? Would it be safe to pop it in the toaster before it has cured on it's own?

 

[glycerine]

Or better yet, could I put the resin and molds down into an igloo cooler and place my halogen work light above it, high enough to keep warm, but not melt my cooler?

 

[PTownSubbie]

It is possible to cast in the cold. This is what I do:

1. Preheat the molds in the toaster oven
2. Place the resin in a warm water bath to heat it
3. mix the resin to the color I desire
4. Add the right amount of MEKP (~4 drops/Oz)
5. Place the resin in the preheated mold to cure
6. Once solidified or mostly solid, I put the mold back in the warm oven to cure. The oven is not on at this point but cooling off from the preheat of the mold.
7. After several hours, I will then post cure the resin if needed. It is not always needed because of the warmth of the oven.

Be careful with lights. There was a post a while back about boiling resin. It makes cool looking stuff but a light can cause lots of damage to equipment if not cared for properly.

My $0.02

 

[glycerine]

Yes, the boiling resin post was from me I guess I'm thinking that a halogen light shouldn't be any more dangerous than an open heating element in a toaster, right?
But, I might try your method and see how things turn out. It's just that I have some pens to get done before Christmas and I've only got a week left. I work during the day and this weekend will be the best time for me to get the PR made. But I live outside of D.C. and they are predicting 10-20 inches of snow!!! I've got to find a good way to keep the resin warm in the garage...
Thanks for the info.

It is possible to cast in the cold. This is what I do:

1. Preheat the molds in the toaster oven
2. Place the resin in a warm water bath to heat it
3. mix the resin to the color I desire
4. Add the right amount of MEKP (~4 drops/Oz)
5. Place the resin in the preheated mold to cure
6. Once solidified or mostly solid, I put the mold back in the warm oven to cure. The oven is not on at this point but cooling off from the preheat of the mold.
7. After several hours, I will then post cure the resin if needed. It is not always needed because of the warmth of the oven.

Be careful with lights. There was a post a while back about boiling resin. It makes cool looking stuff but a light can cause lots of damage to equipment if not cared for properly.

My $0.02

 

[PTownSubbie]

Yes, the boiling resin post was from me I guess I'm thinking that a halogen light shouldn't be any more dangerous than an open heating element in a toaster, right?
But, I might try your method and see how things turn out. It's just that I have some pens to get done before Christmas and I've only got a week left. I work during the day and this weekend will be the best time for me to get the PR made. But I live outside of D.C. and they are predicting 10-20 inches of snow!!! I've got to find a good way to keep the resin warm in the garage...
Thanks for the info.

Look at it this way....If it really snows, it won't be as cold as it could be. The snow doesn't occur if it gets TOO cold and provides some insulating feature once on the ground.

If you preheat the mold and warm bath the resin, your results should be better than what you are currently getting.

Have you thought about a $17 oven from Wal-Mart? That is what I paid for mine......

 

[glycerine]

Look at it this way....If it really snows, it won't be as cold as it could be. The snow doesn't occur if it gets TOO cold and provides some insulating feature once on the ground.

If you preheat the mold and warm bath the resin, your results should be better than what you are currently getting.

Have you thought about a $17 oven from Wal-Mart? That is what I paid for mine......

Yeah, I was thinking about stopping by a Wal-Mart on the way home and see what I can find... Are you using silicone molds?

 

[bitshird]

I warm my gadget 4 slot mold, warm the resin get my colorant and or Mica powders in , add my MEKP, vacuum the mix for about 10 minutes, then pour and swirl,.
Wait somewhere around 15 to 30 minutes, until it gels, then put it in a walmart toaster oven at the lowest heat (around 125) , leave it in for 45 minutes to an hour (that depends on prevailing distractions) and then remove the mold from the oven, let them cool and pull them out, I have turned them right away, but prefer to wait a day, works for me YMMV.

 

[RAdams]

My shop stays cold. Sometimes just above freezing. When i pour my resin, sometimes it is like maple syrup in the winter.

I mix in the color, add the mekp (4 per oz) and pour the resin. (silicone and PVC molds). I dont warm water bathe my PR or anything. I set my blanks up in the pressure pot for a couple hours. Then i put em in the oven at 150 for at least an hour. Once cooled, they are ready for business.

 

[glycerine]

My shop stays cold. Sometimes just above freezing. When i pour my resin, sometimes it is like maple syrup in the winter.

I mix in the color, add the mekp (4 per oz) and pour the resin. (silicone and PVC molds). I dont warm water bathe my PR or anything. I set my blanks up in the pressure pot for a couple hours. Then i put em in the oven at 150 for at least an hour. Once cooled, they are ready for business.

Ok, thanks for the info.