Thread: Help! 1st time casting and its gunna be fun!

How many and how high is the dome ?

Even though I've been casting stuff, I'd talk to a trophy/badge maker. It's cheaper than you might think if this is a one-off for you. The one near me uses a UV non-catalyst method too. That's how they get the dome. Guess it's gel-like. It's less likely to interact witth the embedded object than the solvent based stuff we tend use.

There is a fairly recent thread that describes a method for embedding then turning a logo in a gear stick knob. Read up on label casting too. Inks etc can bleed.

The real experts will be here soon. I've still learning.

Originally Posted by dabbler

How many and how high is the dome ?

Even though I've been casting stuff, I'd talk to a trophy/badge maker. It's cheaper than you might think if this is a one-off for you. The one near me uses a UV non-catalyst method too. That's how they get the dome. Guess it's gel-like. It's less likely to interact witth the embedded object than the solvent based stuff we tend use.

There is a fairly recent thread that describes a method for embedding then turning a logo in a gear stick knob. Read up on label casting too. Inks etc can bleed.

The real experts will be here soon. I've still learning.

Hi Dabbler,

Dome would only be 3-4 mm high. Im committed for 8 but would like a couple spare just in case I make an inadvertant error.

The club would like more but I doubt I would be able to get more than 10-15 done in the time frame I have.

Yes it is also for a gear knob.

I have been reading up here for a while and decided to ask to see what the guru's have to say.

Sounds like I might talk to my locak trophy guy to see what he can do.

Thanks

Mach70

Are you talking about a label on timber/resin gear knob and then cast?

If so, you could rough turn your knob, apply the label like a pen, then wrap some gaffa tape around the top of the knob to form a well. The fill it up with resin, and when set, turn it back down to desired shape.

Here's thread I mentioned. You might have already found it.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f204/i...r-knob-161911/

If you're turning the knobs too then it's the way to go I reckon.

6 weeks gives plenty of time for mistakes !!
You might be best to do a couple at once. 25mm x 4mm is a tiny volume esp. if it's a two part casting. As long as the labels are easily reproduced then it might be a lot simpler to mix enough for many. Most casting discussed here relates to pens but it still applies.

I was at the trophy place to talk about laser engraving and got talking about embedded "button" casting. The price was under $10 for one off and pretty sure under $5 for small lots of 20 or so. I guess it's worth trying yourself though if you got a few to do.

Barnes sell jewellery moulds and silicons etc that might suit you too.
Barnes.com.au

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Are you talking about a label on timber/resin gear knob and then cast?

If so, you could rough turn your knob, apply the label like a pen, then wrap some gaffa tape around the top of the knob to form a well. The fill it up with resin, and when set, turn it back down to desired shape.

I'm using the PSI Gear Knob Bottle Stopper kit which uses the pen mandrel to turn it so need to be able to finish the knob and then glue in the logo.

2 Reasons fot this 1 looks like a Gear knob on a stick and 2, I havent yet invested in a set of chucks for the lathe I have. I purchased it almost 20yrs ago and only recently (last 12months or so) started to use it doing pens. This is my 1st non-pen turning & I dont have/lost the chuck (if it ever came with one). Will more than likely buy a decent lathe later this year before getting more accessories.

Cheers for the idea though. Will be useful as I expand my turnings from pens to everything

Originally Posted by dabbler

Here's thread I mentioned. You might have already found it.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f204/i...r-knob-161911/

Yep found it and makes good reading.

If you're turning the knobs too then it's the way to go I reckon.

6 weeks gives plenty of time for mistakes !!
Not with my current work load. I spend only 1 day a week in the shed that is if I can get in there at the moment. Tomorrow its going to be 45-46 deg with the shed being about 5 deg or more hotter inside. At that temp I cant pick up any metal tool as they are too bloody hot to hold.
You might be best to do a couple at once. 25mm x 4mm is a tiny volume esp. if it's a two part casting. As long as the labels are easily reproduced then it might be a lot simpler to mix enough for many. Most casting discussed here relates to pens but it still applies.

Looking at making a upside down mould (or was at least I thought that might have been my only option and casting a bunch at the same time hoping that out of a bunch I might get some useable ones.

I was at the trophy place to talk about laser engraving and got talking about embedded "button" casting. The price was under $10 for one off and pretty sure under $5 for small lots of 20 or so. I guess it's worth trying yourself though if you got a few to do.

Barnes sell jewellery moulds and silicons etc that might suit you too.
Barnes.com.au

Already in my Favourites although I havent had a real good look yet!

.

Well now it pens not bottle stoppers.

Help!

Im having issues with my label casting and need some advice big time.

Basically I'm doing the Sierra Stylus pen from Timberbits.

Currently my approach is to turn down the jarrah to about l that thickness (half what you would normally do, yes having some issues with that but I can work with it) then fixing the label in place and then casting using Diggers Casting resin from the Big Green shed.

Issues I have had with the labels are,

1st attempt - label straight from the printer - a couple of spots its a bit translucent. Not happy with the result

2nd attempt - Label sprayed with clear lacquer (Dulux) - now has crazy cracking through some of the colours on the label and the red looks as though the label has the meassels! The Jarrah is semi finished with CA to stop minute air bubbles sticking in the grain of the timber (had that in the 1st attempt).

I'm thinking that the clear coat on the label has not fully "gone off". The first sheet I sprayed a couple off weeks ago has gone a bit yellow, hence using the ones I did this weekend.

Any advice would really great.

Cheers


Shawn

Shawn if you are using labels you can put the label direct on the brass tube unless you want it on a timber former. What I do the is seal it with WOP about 5 coats, pet in mould and pour clear resin in, when set hard turn as normal.

The other way is to turn your timber and use a water slide decal. First turn the timber to size, print decal, seal decal with setter wait til dry I do 24 hours. We t decal and slide onto blank, when dry seal with WOP about 5-10 coats then finish as per resin pen

Hope this all makes sense