Taking The Next Step (Casting) - Page 7

AuS MaDDoG · #91 17th Feb 2012, 11:43 PM

Fly,

You are getting there mate, very nice. I think some of those blanks are going to look very nice when turned. I really like the glow and mix of colour in the Orange red glowing blanks and look forward to seeing them turned.

Cheers
Tony.

AuS MaDDoG · #92 17th Feb 2012, 11:48 PM

Thanks Neil,

They appear to be very dry, however I am not planning on rushing things with these anyway

so will give them more time just to make sure.

Cheers
Tony.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai sensei

I assume you are casting them in tubes. Pour your resin in to half way up the tube, then put you cone in slowly whilst twisting. After they are in, top up with more resin as necessary, ensuring you overfill the tubes. You may also need some ice-cream sticks or similar to hold the cones in the mold, held down with gaffa tape or similar. Then into the pressure pot to cure.

I only hope the cones are dry. Slightly green cones make a mess with the resin.

Make sure they are set before you remove the molds from the pot, I tend to leave overnight. Under pressure the temperature reduces thus setting takes longer in the pot than outside.

Cheers

_fly_ · #93 17th Feb 2012, 11:52 PM

Can I use this same method with the small banksia nuts I have?
Am I going for a good fit or plenty of room around them for the resin?
Peter

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai sensei

I assume you are casting them in tubes. Pour your resin in to half way up the tube, then put you cone in slowly whilst twisting. After they are in, top up with more resin as necessary, ensuring you overfill the tubes. You may also need some ice-cream sticks or similar to hold the cones in the mold, held down with gaffa tape or similar. Then into the pressure pot to cure.

I only hope the cones are dry. Slightly green cones make a mess with the resin.

Make sure they are set before you remove the molds from the pot, I tend to leave overnight. Under pressure the temperature reduces thus setting takes longer in the pot than outside.

Cheers

dai sensei · #94 18th Feb 2012, 12:12 AM

Same method, but leave some room around the pods, as the resin must get in sideways if you know what I mean. They will definitely float too, without holding them down.

AuS MaDDoG · #95 18th Feb 2012, 09:57 PM

In the process of making a circular tube rack for my pressure pot from some old bits and pieces of ply and dowel I had kicking around

So should be ready to try some pressure casting soon

Cheers
Tony

AuS MaDDoG · #96 19th Feb 2012, 03:39 PM

Hi,

Circular casting rack is now made, and I have the pot under pressure with a couple of pine cone and a couple of small Banksia's as an experiment.
I will post photos of the outcome later.

Cheers
Tony

gawdelpus · #97 19th Feb 2012, 11:53 PM

Bugger if you keep this up ,on your next trip overseas they are gonna think there is no real wood in Ozzie ! lol. I dropped Neils mold off today .so even more stuff for him to play with hehe, never a boring moment

Cheers ~ John

BoomerangInfo · #98 27th Feb 2012, 10:20 AM

Hey Folks,

Well after weeks struggling with air bubbles, I finally cracked the problem. Took a big wad of cash on a new pale of resin to figure it out, but it looks like my stuff I was using was just too old and was just too thick. So a note to all casters out there. If you are having bubble trouble that just won't go away, check how old your resin is.

Here's my first cast with the new stuff. Looking under the microscope, apart from one bubble trapped under the wire, the rest is crystal clear

Russell.

AuS MaDDoG · #99 16th Mar 2012, 10:36 PM

I am now well and truly hooked on casting my own blanks

and with good success. The attached photo is of some that I cast this morning.
The blanks to shown at the top of the photo had some small bubbles around the outside of the blank which scared me, but I later found out that these bubbles were due to the oil I coated the inside of the tubes with. The blanks internally have no bubbles

I am enjoying mixing and matching the colours to provide some interesting blanks.
So cheers for now and Im looking forward to doing many more.

Still got to master the WW, Pine Cones and Banksia's though

Cheers
Tony

gawdelpus · #**100** 16th Mar 2012, 10:58 PM

At least you will have your own brand of uniqueness with your pens ,which is what we all strive for as individuals ,having seen these in the flesh I am certain some beautiful pens to come from this lot

cheers ~ John

AuS MaDDoG · #**101** 13th Apr 2012, 01:11 PM

Dorno,

Ian I have changed the drawing and created the toolpaths to cut your mold, hopefully I will get some time over the weekend to cut it for you.

AuS MaDDoG · #**102** 14th Apr 2012, 12:22 PM

Ian, (Dorno)

Your mold is cut

From what the other guys were saying you will more than likely need to use a mold release or oil the mold very lightly prior to casting. This should help with release once they have cured. If you have not already send me your shipping details and how you would like it to be sent and I will get it sent as soon as I can.

Cheers
Tony.

Big Shed · #**103** 16th Apr 2012, 04:57 PM

Those of you wondering where Ringtails' questions and answers went, I have moved them to their own thread as they really took over Tony's original thread, see here

Commercial casting project