Problems with Alumilite

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JohnU

JohnU

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Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
5,134
Location
Ottawa, Illinois
I finally bought alumilite to try since I had so many dried flowers to cast and pr doesnt work with keeping the color in them. I degassed and mixed and degassed again and them put in my poly E. cutting board molds and then in the pressure tank. I pressured and released and repressured several times to help get all the bubbles out and now its day three and this stuff is still syrup and sticky. Is it possible to get bad alumilite or am I missing something? Any help is appreciated.
 
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We had a little problem like that recently, but found out that we had mixed part "A" with part "A" again. It is easy to get the cans mixed up with the clear. Try another batch and see if it happens again.
 
I mixed equal parts of A and B. Its the clear stuff. I poured three molds. The third mold is a small one, which I stired longer than the other two. It set up a little, where it comes out of the mold, but its sticky and I can bend it. Even the bottom of the cup that I mixed in is thick and bubbly but not hard, just goopy sticky stuff.

I have another set of A and B cans. I'll give that a try and see what happens. Im just a little bit down on this stuff at $25 a set. That would have made about 8 blanks if they ever set. Im guessing thats not going to happen.
 
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When you are using the clear, it is important to mix the 2 parts until it becomes clear. If you mix them and it is still cloudy it will do what you described. The other batch you made might be salvaged if you put it in a dedicated toaster oven at 225 degrees. Don't use your kitchen oven if you plan on cooking food in it again. The other option may be a humidity problem if you are in a humid enviroment. Any moisture will causse foaming and it will stay sticky for weeks. Not that I would know about that...LOL
 
I have cast 40 or so gallons of Alumilite clear and was the first to routinely promote it for pens here at IAP. I have NEVER had any significant problems with the resin not setting. The only problems I have ever had were related to trying to cast stuff that was not completely dry. Where did you get your Alumilite?
 
I bought it from Alumilite.com . I'll try the toaster oven on the sticky block. The others I'm guessing were poured when they were still cloudy, so Im guessing that was my problem. I know the flowers were very dry. They spent about one month on a screen rack and then kept in a paper bad to allow air. It has been humid which explains the bubbles. Its not like i havent waisted $25 before, but I usually have a little more fun doing it. Thanks for all the help. I'll try it again tomorrow. John
 
If it's been humid lately, the dried flowers might not be a dry as you think. They may have reabsorbed some moisture from the air, just enough to muck up your mix. I'd chuck them in a warm oven for a while just before casting.

Dan
 
Dan_F said:
If it's been humid lately, the dried flowers might not be a dry as you think. They may have reabsorbed some moisture from the air, just enough to muck up your mix. I'd chuck them in a warm oven for a while just before casting.

Dan
Click to expand...

I'll try that too. Thanks, John
 
Your problem is almost certainly operator error. Most likely a combination of not mixing thoroughly and not having completely dry petals. Buy a toaster oven and put the petal in there for a couple of hours on low. Then mix your resin until completely clear in a clear plastic cup, if possible. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the cup as you mix. Then cast the petals while they are still hot.

Also, ditch the vacuum degass and the multiple pressure, release routine. Vacuum does not help Alumilite much, if any, and adding pressure and releasing, then adding again will CERTAINLY cause bubbles. The resin will start to set up in a matter of about 5 minutes and if you are in between one of your pressure/release cycles, you will just get bubbles that you may not be able to crush again. Just add pressure and forget it for 15 minutes or so.

I have cast just about everything imaginable in Alumilite without any problems including all kinds of flowers. I would hate for you to give up and think it a waste of money when most likely it is operator error. Shoot me a pm if you are interested and I will send you my phone number and we can talk more in depth. I have done this MANY times with a number of the guys here and enjoy helping if I can.
 
I have not done coffee beans since I really do not care for them but I bake EVERYTHING that I cast now. Even "worthless wood". May not need to but it certainly does not hurt anting.
 
Thanks for help Curtis. After reading your post, it makes sense. I like the no smell quick set up of alumilite. Ive had good luck with pr and will probably use more of it because of the cost compared, but Im hoping to get the alumilite down so I can use more inside when it gets colder out. Thanks again, John
 
We cast coffee beans and have never had to bake any of them, but it won't hurt them if you do, just keep the heat low. The Alumilite is very easy to cast with, but in the beggining we all have a little bit of experimenting to do. Don't give up on something this easy.

Curtis, does your dog run away every time he hears a can of Alumilite open up? I still can't get mine to even come into the shop now.
 
John

FWIW, I've done many castings with Alumilite and used to have problems with it not setting up. I started heating the molds before I pour them, and have not had any problems since. Alumilite mentions this on their web site. I'm thinking that my shop is tool cool.
 
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