I am attempting clear casting with mixed success using water slide decals around the tube painted white. I have no problems up to the stage of milling the end and turning. I use a pen mill to true the ends. The problem is that the casting appears to seperate from the decal at both ends of the tube. More noticable with lighter colours. The only thing that I can think of that may be causing this is when I mill using a drill press at low speed, the mill pulls the casting away from the decal. Guess that, if this is the case, I can increase the speed of the drill press or invest in a disk sander.
Apprexciate your advice

Labels can be a problem as the glue is not that good, nor is the bond from the label to the resin. If using a pen mill, it needs to be sharp to ensure it doesn't dislodge the lable/tube or label/resin bond.

Once the label has been stuck on the tube, I coat them again with the clear water based coating, same as the one you use for the labels to seal them. Then coat the tube/label with resin and finally cast them in resin. Once set (ensure they are completely set) I use a disc sander gently to get them near enough to final. After turning I use the wet grind to trim them true.

Also watch your heat from turning/sanding, too much can also debond them.

Good luck

Cheers

__________________

Thank you for your advice Neil. Just a couple of questions. When you coat the label with the resin, is this with hardner added as for casting and allowed to set before pouring the cast ot just coat and then pour the cast
Many thanks

The last one was just coat then pour the cast. Next time I might let the coating cure though, as I found the heat from the resin curing was enough to debond some parts of the label, it will also be easier to put the tubes in the resin saver mold (ie not so messy).

__________________