Thread: Casting Resin Blanks

Oops I'll try again

There's some nice fleck in that. I gather the photo doesn't do it justice? They rarely do.

Hmmm... I wonder how some aluminium foil would go, lightly crinkled and cast into a resin block? Cameron? You reading? Any ideas?

I am reading this now (getting ready to show off my latest creation)...

A few comments.

Naf, for moulds, you can use PVC pipe, but I prefer to make swirls in my block so I make the block bit (probably 6ish pens), then cut it up on the bandsaw using a metal cutting blade on SLOOOW.

I like the flecks too.

As for the foil, I have though about this, it might be hardish to get right as the foil might introduce bubbles. You would have to be very careful about this. Also, the foil might cause the blank to come apart as the resin may not stick to the foil properly.

This could be overcome by perforating the foil to allow the resin to pass through. As for avoiding bubbles... It could be set under pressure to crush the bubble down, or the foil could be carefully covered in resin before adding it to the mould. I have though about doing exactly this with a single piece of cloth (soak it and put it in a mould).

The only thing is that resin is taking so long to set here now (as it is getting cold) making resin stuff doesn't make much sense anymore. :mad:

Anyway, I will look forward to seeing other people's efforts.

Cam

The fleck is an accident in a way, I was trying to create swirls by mixing a deep blue and lilac pearlescent pigments seperately and then waiting for it to gel and then swirl, as you can see it didnt really work, the two mixed together even while sitting, do you think it hadnt gelled enough or maybe something I'm not doing right?

Also while reading another thread someone mentioned a place called "solid solutions" in Bentleigh, Victoria. It will work out alot cheaper now. At the moment I can only find Diggers resin in 500ml cans, they also have the pigments.

Nathan

Originally Posted by CameronPotter

As for the foil, I have though about this, it might be hardish to get right as the foil might introduce bubbles. You would have to be very careful about this. Also, the foil might cause the blank to come apart as the resin may not stick to the foil properly.

Another thing I've been thinking about is setting up a mould (PVC pipe, jus 'cos it'll fit ) inside a bell-jar and pulling it down with the vac pump. The reason I've been thinking about this wasn't so much because of bubbles, but to see if it has any effect on setting. 'Tis too cold here for resin now (which is why I'm asking instead of trying for myself) but perhaps if lower pressue = lower boiling point, that may xfer over to lower gel temp?

That it should also remove bubbles is a nice bonus.

The only thing is that resin is taking so long to set here now (as it is getting cold) making resin stuff doesn't make much sense anymore. :mad:

Exactly!

I have used a mason jar to do exactly that. There is a post of my set up here somewhere...

However, the problem is that if the bubbles can't escape, pulling a vacuum actually INCREASES the size of the bubbles. ie If there is a bubble under the foil and the foil is stopping it from rising, then the resultant bubble with enlarge with the use of a vacuum.

I haven't noticed that it speeds the setting time or anything of the like.

If you want, you can build an "oven" for resin from a largish box and a lightglobe or two. Then if you want to get really fancy you can insulate it and add a thermostat. I would have done this by now, except that there isn't much point as I am not going to be able to take it with me when I leave.

Cam

Cam

Hi guys,

I just got onto this thread and making resin blanks sounds interesting. Don't know if I should say this as I don't know your histories, but I found this link:
http://www.sydneywoodturners.com.au/...pens/pens.html
I've probably shown my total ignorance of what research you have all done and apologise for any offence I may have caused, but it does look like a reasonable idea. Especially mixing the colours before pouring into the moulds.

Grizz.

Grizz, I also found this site. I made the jigs to the same specs as the one on the site. It is a much better way to fine tune as you can use just a small amount of resin, which keeps the cost of experimentation down a lot.
The blanks turned out a bit better this time, still not what I'm after exactly, the different colors are still mixing after they've been poured into the mould.

Nathan

That is why I recommend bigger blanks - less mixing of colours... then cut it up with a hacksaw or a bandsaw on slow speed.

Cam

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Another method I've come across uses plastic conduit for the mould.

Suggestion only as I have never tried this

If you are going to make it round to start with, why not insert the pen tubing in so that the stuff sets around it?

plug the end of the pen tubing with 1cm araldite or similar, three quarter fill the conduit mould, insert the pen tubing plugged side down.

or

araldite the tube to the basecap of the conduit, pour the mix around it


saw the conduit in half lengthwise beforehand and use clamps to hold it together while the stuff sets. Undo the clamps to release the pressure on the mould, should make removal easy and mould reusable?

try http://www.modelit.com.au/ for the resin etc

Originally Posted by Jenny Brandis

Suggestion only as I have never tried this

If you are going to make it round to start with, why not insert the pen tubing in so that the stuff sets around it?

plug the end of the pen tubing with 1cm araldite or similar, three quarter fill the conduit mould, insert the pen tubing plugged side down.

Hmmm... I'd planned to use 1m(ish) lengths of conduit and simply cut the blanks to length. But your idea has merit. Abit more initial work, perhaps, but it saves several steps later. Methinks I'll have to give it a try.

Not too sure about aralditing the tube ends though... I may try the good ol' potato plugs first. I've always got a few spuds lying around after all.

Makes it hard to get a swirl in your pattern though...

Depends a bit on what you are looking for I reckon.

Cam

Cam, next time you make a batch of resin blanks could you post a pic of one, maybe I can see what I need to do from that. I still can't stop the 2 or 3 different colors bleeding together after puring. Or is that inevitable, and I'm asking for too much? I don't mind the way they are turning out, but it's not exactly what I want.
With the pouring around the tube idea, Carrolls Woodcrafts sell Opalac pen blanks with the tube already in them, and they are only 40cents dearer than the solid blanks. I'm plugging Jim here coz that's one heck of a bargain. And it leaves you with spare brass tubes for those little mistakes we sometimes have.
Nathan