Rookie How-To Cast Questions

[lvc.dpt.16]

Hey everyone,

Ever since I got into pen turning I wanted to try and make my own acrylic blanks. That being said, I have some questions that need answered and I appreciate any advice for me.
1. Is a vaccuum really neccessay? If so, how strong does it have to be?
2. Are colors achieved with "powdered paint"?
3. Do you mix the powder in directly with the resin or pour clear resin in mold, then add color?
4. How do you get distinct lines/swirls within other colors? Do you pour the base color, then when it starts to settle add the other colors and swirl them with a toothpick?
5. Where would be the best location to get "colors"?

I know these are extremely rudimentary questions to the experienced casters but I appreciate the help. I hope to become a "Mad Scientist" soon! :biggrin:

Thanks,
Alex

 

[PenMan1]

To briefly answer your questions:
1. No, with PR resin and most "straight" color casts with Alumalite resin, acceptable results can be easily achieved without applying vacuum or pressure. When I embed 3D items (Such as small sea shells, watch parts, etc. I find applying pressure to be very helpful. Others (Its_Virgil,for one) obtain perfect embedding casting WITHOUT pressure.

Like many others here, I thin my PR resin IN RECYCLE CODE 5 cups, placed in a hot water bath in an ultrasonic cleaner to reduce bubbles. HOWEVER, many others pour in unthinned resin and get excellent results.

2. Powder coat (dry) paint can be mixed with uncatylised and "unmolded" resin to make colors. I have had hit or miss results with powder coat paints (Eastwood colors worked well, HF colors, not so well. I like many others here prefer to use mica pearl powders to achieve a "sparkly" result.

3. Yes, I mix the mica pearls directly into the resin before thinning, catalyzing or molding.

4. The mica pearl colors will naturally swirl when curing. For additional swirl effect, I swirl curing, molded resin with a popcicle stick or tooth pick to enhance the effect.

5. Personally, I think the Mica Pearls from coastalsents.com are a "best value", but Pearl Ex mica pearl from Hobby Lobby works well, just twice as much money.

BE SURE TO CHECH THE LIBRARY HERE AS WELL AS UTUBE AS SEVERAL MEMBERS HERE HAVE PROVIDED TUTORIALS IN BOTH PLACES.

Good luck!

 

[Rounder]

Like many others here, I thin my PR resin with hot water and ultrasonic cleaner to reduce bubbles. HOWEVER, many others pour in unthinned resin and get excellent results.

Please note that he is not saying to thin the resin by adding hot water to it but by putting the cup with resin in it in a tub of hot water.
Hope you don't mind me adding that Penman but it read like he should add the water to the resin.

 

[ed4copies]

Like many others here, I thin my PR resin with hot water and ultrasonic cleaner to reduce bubbles. HOWEVER, many others pour in unthinned resin and get excellent results.

Please note that he is not saying to thin the resin by adding hot water to it but by putting the cup with resin in it in a tub of hot water.
Hope you don't mind me adding that Penman but it read like he should add the water to the resin.

Party-pooper!!!

I was dying to see the NEXT post!!!

 

[Rounder]

Like many others here, I thin my PR resin with hot water and ultrasonic cleaner to reduce bubbles. HOWEVER, many others pour in unthinned resin and get excellent results.

Please note that he is not saying to thin the resin by adding hot water to it but by putting the cup with resin in it in a tub of hot water.
Hope you don't mind me adding that Penman but it read like he should add the water to the resin.

Party-pooper!!!

I was dying to see the NEXT post!!!

Sorry to poop on your party Ed but I could just see him pouring hot water in the resin to thin it and what that would look like!!! Not pretty I can only imagine.

 

[PenMan1]

Oooooooohhhhh, Randy!!!!!! Thanks for the "catch"!
Although It would be fun to see the blank!!
I'm working from the phone today, and tried to short cut the long azzed answer!

Thanks for the English translation

 

[ed4copies]

Like many others here, I thin my PR resin with hot water and ultrasonic cleaner to reduce bubbles. HOWEVER, many others pour in unthinned resin and get excellent results.

Please note that he is not saying to thin the resin by adding hot water to it but by putting the cup with resin in it in a tub of hot water.
Hope you don't mind me adding that Penman but it read like he should add the water to the resin.

Party-pooper!!!

I was dying to see the NEXT post!!!

Sorry to poop on your party Ed but I could just see him pouring hot water in the resin to thin it and what that would look like!!! Not pretty I can only imagine.

The next post was likely to be: "I followed the directions EXACTLY and my resin has been sitting for two days and has not hardened, what is WRONG with my resin?"

 

[lvc.dpt.16]

haha thank you guys! I appreciate the help! I'm glad for the clarification as well, a little confusing at first but I got it now. Can't wait to get my hands on some resin and mica powder and see what can come of it!

Thanks,
Alex