What casting medium should I use?

[oldcaptainrusty]

I plan to cast some wood chips in a clear resin. This will be my first casting attempt. I don't have any materials or equipment yet. What are your recommendations for:
the casting medium
pressure or vacuum needed
type of molds
I have read most if not all of the available info on casting and can't answer these questions for myself. What do the casting gurus say? TIA

 

[stevers]

I use poly resin. You can use many diff containers for a mold. Vacuum may be helpful but not always ness. Casting chips may have been done already. Maybe some one will chime in.

 

[Skye]

Is it going to come out looking like plywood?

 

[stevers]

Never thought of that, or particle board huh?

 

[maxwell_smart007]

I just tried using chips and Minwax wood hardener...

Looked like OSB, so I threw it out...

Andrew

 

[oldcaptainrusty]

My plan is to use some wood chips from a papermill that I do some training at. 1/2 the pen will be wood chips, which is the begining of their process, and the other 1/2 made from the finished paper product. I've got the finished product side figured out.

 

[Blind_Squirrel]

Most folks here use one of two products: Polyester Resin(PR) or Alumilite. PR is cheaper but takes longer to cure than Alumilite. You will need a scale and a pressure pot for Alumilite. A pressure pot will most likley be needed for PR since you want to do clear casting.

I have used/tried both products and decided I prefer PR. PR gives you a much longer working window before it starts to kick over (Alumilite gives you 4-5 minutes of open working time). PR is cheaper. I found PR shines up better than Alumilite (YMMV on this one).

I will say that Alumilite turns like butter compared to PR! I would be weary of PR and/or Alumilite unless you are comfortable with a skew. There are some that can turn plastics with a gouge or a scraper; I am not one of those folks.

 

[Glass Scratcher]

snippity buttery snip

I will say that Alumilite turns like butter compared to PR! I would be weary of PR and/or Alumilite unless you are comfortable with a skew. There are some that can turn plastics with a gouge or a scraper; I am not one of those folks.

PR can turn like butter depending on how hot/fast did you cure the resin, the amount of MEKp(which goes back to how hot/fast did you cure your resin), the % volume of additives, did you add any elasticiers (which only delay the actual full crosslinking of your resin) did you post cure your resin at 125-150 deg F to cause the resin to fully crosslink, and how crizasy sharp are your tools.