Thread: Casting blanks for beginners

Thanks again Fred

I will order some moulds as soon as I get their shipping rate to Australia. I sent them an email as their site has a fixed $100 shipping. I reckon this will be cured by tomorrow. I wil also get some resin and then sit back and wait until the pressure pot comes on sale or I might try one blank with the vibration method to release the air bubbles if I can't wait

If you are just talking about acrylic blanks then you don't need pressure at all. Best molds are from the link provided by Fred, the 2-7/8"x5.25"x1" deep one, as you can mix and play with colours. Just slice into 3 after they have set. This mold has good thick sides and hence will last longer.

While you are at the site look at getting some of the dual size vertical, they work well when you do get into casting odds and ends (that's when you will need pressure), plus some of the Tube-In molds.

Just don't pick any of the molds up by the sides, the silicon he uses tears easily .

As for colours, there are solid pigments, pearlex powders and dyes. All give different results for different situations and a lot of fun to play with.

Good luck with it, enjoy playing around, you will have plenty of failures, but don't let it hold you back. What you think is a failure, someone else will love

Cheers

Originally Posted by plantagenon

I will order some moulds as soon as I get their shipping rate to Australia. I sent them an email as their site has a fixed $100 shipping.

His shipping is a lot cheaper . Make sure you contact him to see how full the box is, he is very helpful in that regard. Each time i have done an order I have combined with others to fill the large box, the last one was for 12 molds and the box was still not completely full, but too much for the smaller box.

Thanks Neil. Just sent you a PM

Greg I would be interested in sharing the freight for molds if it proves to be more economical for you. Depends I suppose on what you are after and the size of box needed. Let me know if interested, cheers, Des

OK - patience paid off and your advicce was great. I will head off to Super Cheap Auto tomorrow morning and pick up a pressure pot now they are on sale. Then I will set about setting it up according to instructions on the weekend.

Thanks all

Greg

Originally Posted by Pariss

Been thinking the same thing Greg. It all looks too painstaking and difficult for me. I really love the blanks that 'Chrome' makes. They are just pure art, not a mish-mash of thoughtless sloppy colors like 99% of the commercial blanks.

Why thank you Pariss, your comments are very much appreciated.

Cheers, Chrome

I went to Super Cheap Auto and bought a pressure pot this morning. It claims (see attached doucment) that it has a maximum tank pressure of 90psi.

I took it out of the box and started to play with it for assembly but gave up quickly when I couldn't get the paint intake pipe unscrewed. To those who have done it, what did you use to apply pressure to the pipe to undo it?

I was thinking about lockable pliers or a pipe wrench but didn't want to destroy anything just yet. On unscrewing the pipe a new fitting will be needed and I will refer to Fred's earlier post that I have printed out.

Thanks

Originally Posted by plantagenon

I went to Super Cheap Auto and bought a pressure pot this morning. It claims (see attached doucment) that it has a maximum tank pressure of 90psi.

I took it out of the box and started to play with it for assembly but gave up quickly when I couldn't get the paint intake pipe unscrewed. To those who have done it, what did you use to apply pressure to the pipe to undo it?

I was thinking about lockable pliers or a pipe wrench but didn't want to destroy anything just yet. On unscrewing the pipe a new fitting will be needed and I will refer to Fred's earlier post that I have printed out.

Thanks

I used a pipe wrench with a bit of firm pressure applied and it unscrewed. It did seem to have some sort of thread lock compound on it though, so maybe a bit of gentle heat to soften that as well?
If all else fails a 4" grinder and cut-off disk will o the trick.

Thanks Fred.

I will try the pipe wrench first. A bit of agro will no doubt get it unlocked

Phoned Barnes in Brisbane this afternoon andthey have all the resin I will need so I will call in on them tomorrow afternoon.

As fred says a bit of decent pressure and it will unscrew without any damage , you'll find that the safety valve is set to about 45 lbs , with a good safety margin, and that is plenty for casting , the bottom is concave so a flat piece of ply at the same dia as the inside of the pot is a good thing to have ,make sure you have a water trap just before the shutoff tap on the pot inlet as well ,because water and pr is not a good look hehe. Cheers ~ John

How do you set that up John? Any photos would be appreciated.

However, I am calling down to see Neil in the next week or so, so maybe I will just take the pot down and get some advice on it then.

Greg

I think If you are heading for Neils check his system as he has it set for vacuum as well ,a plumbers nightmare ,but it works well hehe.Let me know when you will be there and maybe we can meet up hehe.Because I only use a very short hose from my compressor I rely on the trap from the compressor , Check if Neil has posted his setup ,pretty sure he has Cheers ~ John

Found Neils HERE !

Yep, that was my set-up, but I have subsequently removed the vacuum pump and associated piping/gauges etc. The old paint pot is now only used for pressure.

For vacuum I now use a clear tank (see TurnTex Woodworks - MesquiteMan's Cactus Juice) and electric vacuum pump. You need a clear container to see the bubbles, resin levels etc.

When you come down we can do a demo of both pressure and vacuum. If any other member are interested in seeing this on the day, they can PM me for details closer to the day. It won't be a big get together though, neither my house or myself are up to that at the moment