using a pressure pot

[drflame]

New guy on the block, not new to turning been doing that for about 8 to 10 years, but I do have some casting questions to ask, so here goes:
Planing on doing some casting this weekend and I have a Binks pressure pot 5 gallon size, question is how long do you guys leave your castings in the pot and at what pressure 25-30, 30-35, 35-40?
Hopefully I'll be able to make something interesting, plus I have a little added thing since I own an auto body shop I have access to plenty of paint, pearl powders etc.
I can see how this can get addicting in short order.

 

[RSidetrack]

I can't help with the pressure pot - never used one.

As for the addiction - definitely, and that's good :biggrin:
Its the impact on the pocket that is a bummer Though if you get things to sell, it's all good

 

[jttheclockman]

New guy on the block, not new to turning been doing that for about 8 to 10 years, but I do have some casting questions to ask, so here goes:
Planing on doing some casting this weekend and I have a Binks pressure pot 5 gallon size, question is how long do you guys leave your castings in the pot and at what pressure 25-30, 30-35, 35-40?
Hopefully I'll be able to make something interesting, plus I have a little added thing since I own an auto body shop I have access to plenty of paint, pearl powders etc.
I can see how this can get addicting in short order.

40lbs for 2 hours. All you need to do is get the bubbles out. Pressure means nothing to the curing stage.

When you start introducing powders, paints and pearls you will need to keep good records to be able to reproduce the look and even that is no guarentee. Also the cure times will increase. Good luck.

 

[el_d]

own a body shop???? Dr Flame???? is that as in "airbrush"?????

Welcome Paul,
What John suggested will work but depending on what resin/Casting you are doing you may not even need a pressure pot.

 

[its_virgil]

First of all, welcome.

It depends on what resin you are using: Polyester resin or Alumilite. I can't speak for the pressure requirements for alumilite but for polyester resin 20 psi is ample to keep dissolved air in solution. Actually, many of us no longer use pressure for casting polyester resin. My pressure pot is somewhere in my shop but I haven't seen it in over a year. Casting is so much more fun not having to deal with the pressure pot.:biggrin::biggrin: How long to leave the castng in the pot...until the resin is cured and hard. This will vary depending on temperature of your shop and the amount of catalyst. But, as noted by another, pressure has no effect on curing time.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

New guy on the block, not new to turning been doing that for about 8 to 10 years, but I do have some casting questions to ask, so here goes: question is how long do you guys leave your castings in the pot and at what pressure 25-30, 30-35, 35-40?

 

[corian king]

Hello and welcome Paul!
I am fairley new to using a pressure pot myself.I don't use it for just casting blanks.I only use it for doing the worthless wood blanks,carbon fibre,and watch pen blanks.
I usally use about 35lbs pressure and most of the time I just leave it over night if I cast in the evening.There are alot of people on here that does it all the time so they could give you all the answers you need.
Good luck!
JIM

 

[drflame]

Yes air brush artist unless I have a full size spray gun in hand, custom paint work and custom motorcycles, some has been featured in car & motorcycle magazines been at it for over 45 years and never plan to grow old. Now casting has become my newest interest, want to cast for pens, knife scales & hand gun grips, like I said my newest addiction.

 

[el_d]

Sweet......

You could totaly add that airbrush technique to your casting toolbox. Custome painted tubes cast with clear PR would look pretty cool.

 

[clapiana]

welcome

with cactus and pine cones i bring my binks upto 40lbs and leave it for a few hours or when i get back to it

 

[toyotaman]

First of all, welcome.

It depends on what resin you are using: Polyester resin or Alumilite. I can't speak for the pressure requirements for alumilite but for polyester resin 20 psi is ample to keep dissolved air in solution. Actually, many of us no longer use pressure for casting polyester resin. My pressure pot is somewhere in my shop but I haven't seen it in over a year. Casting is so much more fun not having to deal with the pressure pot.:biggrin::biggrin: How long to leave the castng in the pot...until the resin is cured and hard. This will vary depending on temperature of your shop and the amount of catalyst. But, as noted by another, pressure has no effect on curing time.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Don, I've never done casting before though I have been wanting to for over a year now but without a pressure pot how do you get the bubbles out? This might be a dumb question but what do I know? I keep reading here long enough I will jump in and try this stuff.

 

[hunter-27]

First of all, welcome.

It depends on what resin you are using: Polyester resin or Alumilite. I can't speak for the pressure requirements for alumilite but for polyester resin 20 psi is ample to keep dissolved air in solution. Actually, many of us no longer use pressure for casting polyester resin. My pressure pot is somewhere in my shop but I haven't seen it in over a year. Casting is so much more fun not having to deal with the pressure pot.:biggrin::biggrin: How long to leave the castng in the pot...until the resin is cured and hard. This will vary depending on temperature of your shop and the amount of catalyst. But, as noted by another, pressure has no effect on curing time.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Don, I've never done casting before though I have been wanting to for over a year now but without a pressure pot how do you get the bubbles out? This might be a dumb question but what do I know? I keep reading here long enough I will jump in and try this stuff.

Try here: http://content.penturners.org/library/techniques/casting_bubble_free.pdf