Tempera casting resin problem

[Hturnings]

I'm using Casting Craft clear casting resin with tempera powder paint and it's not mixing well. I pour the resin then add the catalist and mix well. I then add the powder paint and mix but I still have bits of paint that aren't mixing. Are these two just not compatible? Is it a temperature problem? I'm mixing at 68-70 degrees.

Any tips would be appreciated.

thanks

 

[bitshird]

It should work, unless you are putting too much tempera in the resin, I would mix the pigment with the resin, then add the catalyst, I used to use powder coating powder and it mixed pretty well. By mixing the powder and resin first, you can allow some of the bubbles to rise out of the mix before adding the catalyst giving your castings a better chance of no major air bubbles.

 

[jason_r]

I'm using Casting Craft clear casting resin with tempera powder paint and it's not mixing well. I pour the resin then add the catalist and mix well. I then add the powder paint and mix but I still have bits of paint that aren't mixing. Are these two just not compatible? Is it a temperature problem? I'm mixing at 68-70 degrees.

Any tips would be appreciated.

thanks

Hmm.. 68-70 isn't very warm, but not so cold as I'd expect problems.
Warming it up to 90 would make the resin a lot runnier and probably help.

If you have an ultrasonic cleaner, put the cup with the resin+powder into it and (hopefully) watch the blobs of pigment "melt". Stir while it's running so the pigment doesn't settle to the bottom.

If you don't have an ultasonic cleaner:
1) make sure your pigment is DRY
2) Ever make gravy? Especially where you didn't use enough flour to start and had to add more?
Start by mixing a little resin into the pigment to make a paste, then add more keeping it all mixed and smooth. Finally add the bulk of the resin - or add the paste to your cup of resin.

 

[NewLondon88]

Start by mixing a little resin into the pigment to make a paste, then add more keeping it all mixed and smooth.

BINGO. Powders want to move all over the place when you're mixing, and
they clump. Use the smallest cup you can find so it doesn't go anywhere.
(1 oz? . .tablespoon?) That way you can mix the resin and powder before
adding it to the rest of the resin. Keep mashing the powder up against the
sides of the cup to break up any clumps. The smaller container helps you
to find them.