Preheating resin question

[firewhatfire]

How long do you heat silmar in ultrasonic bath? How quick does it set up after pouring using this method

 

[theidlemind]

Heat until thin.
Setup time will still vary with the amount of mekp.
The thin resin will let bubbles rise to the top a lot better.

 

[firewhatfire]

Do you heat before adding mica and catalyst

 

[PenMan1]

We usually use 3 -480 second cycles. In the winter, we use heat on all three cycles. In the summer we use 1 heated 480 second cycles and 2 unheated cycles.

 

[PenMan1]

The resin is heated after colorant has been added and we never add catalyst until just before decanting into the mold

 

[firewhatfire]

Any more tips out there for this method. Trying to determine if ultrasonic bath is worth the money

 

[theidlemind]

Catalyst is the last thing added. I put hot water in my ultrasonic and use the heat function also. Keeps the hot water hot I suppose. Not as big a deal in the summer. Winter casting is a challenge.

 

[qballizhere]

Its just a hot water bath tons of ways to do it.

 

[JohnU]

Every feather and snakeskin blank I make I just put the cup of resin under a clip on light with a 100 watt light bulb for about 15 minutes and stir a couple times until its thinned out. Then I remove the light and add the catalyst.

 

[PenMan1]

Every feather and snakeskin blank I make I just put the cup of resin under a clip on light with a 100 watt light bulb for about 15 minutes and stir a couple times until its thinned out. Then I remove the light and add the catalyst.

Thanks to our "green" initiative in the U.S., you'll no longer have those 100W bulbs, John Be very careful with the bulbs you have now!

Selling your stock of existing 100w light bulbs carries a bigger penalty than lying to congress

 

[Wood Butcher]

I tried setting the plastic cups I mix the PR in on a good old fashioned heating pad I covered with a couple layers of newspaper and set it on HI. I left the cups on it all the time I mixed the color and added the hardner. I stirred well almost constantly and it worked great even in my cool (temp not condition) shop. Cheapie me used the heating pad from the closet and "no-one" was the wiser.
WB

 

[clapiana]

it think the ultra sonic from hf is worth it. it's easy to use and clean and it stays in the shop. it also is large enough to work with a 'large' batch of resin I warm up the water with a few full timer runs then once warm 2 more with the resin/mica mixed. it will be as thin as water and then I put in the hardner and pour. a few times I forgot it which is a mess adding it to the molds