vertical casting info

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scrollsawwoodart

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This site is truly turning into my new google i'm on here so much:biggrin:

I have been using PVC pipe to vertical cast now for about 6-8 months. Love it, blanks are already round, which seems like i save a lot of resin.

Just a couple questions about vertical casting.

1. What size of PVC do you all use when casting? This would be both diameter as well as length. I know we all try and conserve resin especially on a tight budget. What length is the standard for most pens. I think I recall cutting mine to about 5 1/2 inches.

2. I just got the PSI collet system so I could hold the round blanks. Anyone know a good size PVC that will allow the blank to sit right into the collet or are you going to have to always trim them down first?

3. Can you vert cast alumilite? I am going to buy the 32 oz to play with and see how I like it. I have been only using Silmar 41 since I first started casting. I have made a special stand for my pressure pot that holds the PVC so I have pressure.

Thanks for helping answer my questions. Now back to the search feature of this great website.

Jesse
 
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I'm reading those too!

Just ordered the mica from Costal the other day, and I bought a heater for the garage....getting closer! Was looking for vertical molds that had 4 - 7/8" diameter holes, cause the 3/4" diameter seem too small for the larger pens I make.....but haven't found those anywhere.



Scott (think I've read half of 'em) B
 
Scott go to search in the IAP and type in wissen and check posts. He makes great Silicone molds and blanks and the size you are looking for. I use his molds all the time and love them.
Jallan
wwwcedarcreek custompens.com
 
Verticle Molds

Google baby soda bottles and you will find Steve Spangler website that sells them, the are 5.5 inches long and the tube is 7/8" diameter. They really work great for verticle casting. I think you can get a big set for around $20.00. Yopu can drill a small hole in the end to allow the use of a push stick to remove the blank if you need too.
 
just curious, but is there a reason to cast so long?
I just had a PM discussion on this with someone and then saw this, so
I'll pipe in here.
Longer castings can be more difficult to swirl and to de-mold so I make
mine shorter. (4") and if I need them shorter still, I just don't fill the mold
all the way. Unless someone is casting one piece pens, I think it would
be easier to cast in shorter molds.
 
I haven't tried PVC with anything but PR - I seem to recall hearing that you wont be able to get Alumilite out of it.

Walmart (If I recall) has an ice cube tray that makes 3/4 by about 3". If you dont mind using 2 shorts for a 2 piece pen, this works for either PR or Alumilite, you just need to use a hammer and dowel to remove the amulilite. It works well.

For your collets, you can get a 25/32" or 20mm collet to give you a little extra room. The blanks from the ice cube tray fit into this collet, but are a tad to big for the 3/4 collet. PVC pipe in 3/4 is also too big for the 3/4 collet, as you discovered, but I dont know if it fits in the 25/32 - its been too long.

The bigger collet is well worth it IMO to simply be able to chuck up the blank. I use it often. And, when you are rounding square blanks, it gives you more leeway in the diameter you turn to.
 
One more thing. Don't try alumilite without a pressure pot. I did, and had to borrow a pressure pot to use it up. No pressure = many bubbles.

Edit: Just saw you said you have a pressure pot, so never mind.
 
NewLondon88 said:
just curious, but is there a reason to cast so long?
I just had a PM discussion on this with someone and then saw this, so
I'll pipe in here.
Longer castings can be more difficult to swirl and to de-mold so I make
mine shorter. (4") and if I need them shorter still, I just don't fill the mold
all the way. Unless someone is casting one piece pens, I think it would
be easier to cast in shorter molds.
Click to expand...

Charlie,

You are right but if you try to match the color swirls top to bottom you have to start with a 5" blank.....That is the only reason I see casting that long. You can put together two of your shorter blanks but the pattern from the upper to lower barrel will not likely match up....Unless you are that good! LOL:biggrin: Jonathon might be able to do it.....:tongue:
 
With wood grain, I'd agree 100%. But resin is already so random..
I don't think it would matter as much in practice as it does in theory.
Especially with a centerband in there.. even a single piece of wood can
look like it isn't matched up when broken up by a band of metal.

(now watch .. tomorrow some random stranger will pull the pen from
my pocket and tell me that the cap and barrel don't match up..)
 
I did a few casting using PVC pipe with Alumilite. I coated the inside of the pvc pipe with a paste wax prior to pouring and the blanks came out ok.
 
PTownSubbie said:
Charlie,

You are right but if you try to match the color swirls top to bottom you have to start with a 5" blank.....That is the only reason I see casting that long. You can put together two of your shorter blanks but the pattern from the upper to lower barrel will not likely match up....Unless you are that good! LOL:biggrin: Jonathon might be able to do it.....:tongue:
Click to expand...

:cool::biggrin:

Also remember that PR shrinks. With veritcal castings you'll see more lengthwise than in diameter. Alumilite will NOT shrink so be sure you plan ahead on how to remove the blanks from all types of molds!
 
This question never really crossed my mind?

NewLondon88 said:
just curious, but is there a reason to cast so long?
I just had a PM discussion on this with someone and then saw this, so
I'll pipe in here.
Longer castings can be more difficult to swirl and to de-mold so I make
mine shorter. (4") and if I need them shorter still, I just don't fill the mold
all the way. Unless someone is casting one piece pens, I think it would
be easier to cast in shorter molds.
Click to expand...

I never really thought of this. Casting shorter blanks that is. My main thought was casting this long would give you a uniform 2 piece pen. At least that was my thinking but, you bring to light a new thought in my mind. Really if you are casting 2 of the same colors in both the small casts you would have something close to similar.

Thanks for this idea, i'm going to give this a shot

Jesse
 
I was recently speaking to a customer who casts round blanks using pvc. He rolls up a piece of parchment paper (the kind you find in the baking section of the grocery store) and slides it into the pvc. It springs open to hug the walls of the pvc and he says his blanks slide out with almost no effort. I haven't tried it yet but I can't imagine it wouldn't work. I'd probably spray a little mold release first, just in case.
 
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