Shatter Proof

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jaeger

jaeger

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Joined
Jan 3, 2009
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Location
South Dakota
I have been working with some Casting Craft to start with and have been casting some photos. I have dropped two pieces and they both cracked.
One hit the corner of a metal stand and the other dropped on the concrete. These pieces were kind of test pieces and had issues to begin with so I was not really trying to be extra careful.
Is the Simlar 40 more durable? Is the clear Alumilite more durable?

Thanks in advance!

Doug
 
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The alumilite is more durable for drops. Although not recommended lol. However it's not good for doing clear casts with labels and such. I have had some success but it takes more work.

Silmar is a better choice for clear casting labels, photos and snake skins.

Casting craft works well for me also and I have used it quite a bit. It depends a lot on how much mekp you use. I use 3 drops per ounce and that works quite well.
 
Amumilite is much stronger - very amazing actually. I've dropped PR blanks on linoleum and had them break too. A brass tube, once glued in, make them a whole lot less likely to break, but cant be gauranteed they wont crack. Bottom line - dropping is a bad thing.

I've dropped turned/ drilled, un-tubed alumilite pen parts onto concrete floor, and after the paniced search, the part was not even marred. (Again, no guarantees)
 
CC is brittle no matter what you do.

If Silmar is breaking... something had to be done improper.
I've knocked blanks off the bench and had them roll off with no cracks, breaks or even a mark. I've also had blanks and slabs fly off the buffing wheel into the concrete floor and only put a ding in the spot that hit. I have had one blank that was tubed and getting a final polish fly off and hit the end of the blank and put a small crack in it. However, it is only approx. 1/32" at that point and at 100 mph, I wouldn't expect any less.
 
Thanks for the info. I need to try the Simlar.
It sounds like it works better for the clear cast than the clear alumilite.
I would try both if I thought I could skip the vacuum or pressure on the alumilite.
 
Yes, Alumilite needs to be under pressure, not vacuum and it is the toughest but not a good product for clear cast tubes. Part of it's amazing strength is it's flexibility, and because it is flexible, it can flex when parts are installed by press fit, which will stretch the resin right off the tube, leaving an ugly air space.
 
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