Thread: Label Casting ?

Doesn't look too bad there Mike. I've had a few idea's floating around and may need you to do a few up for me later on down the track

Nice work.

Mike good work. Went to Office Woks today and got some stick on photo paper got all excited until my wifes printer stoped working today . I hope to get it going on Monday as I need to make 3 pens for a few guys at work.
David

Lookin good!!

Is that a little label lifting at the edge? Or is it a slight air space?
Or is it just an artifact in the photo? sometimes downsizing for the forums
can do some odd things.

I get a little air space at the ends, and I haven't figured out a cure yet.
Not sure if it is happening from taking it out of the mold or not, doesn't seem
to happen when I cast flat, only vertical.

Originally Posted by NewLondon88

Lookin good!!

Is that a little label lifting at the edge? Or is it a slight air space?
Or is it just an artifact in the photo? sometimes downsizing for the forums
can do some odd things.

I get a little air space at the ends, and I haven't figured out a cure yet.
Not sure if it is happening from taking it out of the mold or not, doesn't seem
to happen when I cast flat, only vertical.

Newlondon,

I reckon that is from rough sanding for the photo, I normally run thin ca on the ends andthen a very light sand to stop the lifting. If it does lift then thin ca seems to fix most of it.

Mike

Originally Posted by mag

Newlondon,

I reckon that is from rough sanding for the photo, I normally run thin ca on the ends andthen a very light sand to stop the lifting. If it does lift then thin ca seems to fix most of it.Mike

Ah.. ok. I wonder if I should try that, too. I've got a box of cast blanks with one problem
or another.. maybe a few of them are salvageable!

Does the CA tend to 'wick' inside? Or flow? I've got some spaces that look to be almost
3/4 of an inch toward the center! (still no idea why, but seems to happen only when I
cast them standing up..)

Originally Posted by NewLondon88

Ah.. ok. I wonder if I should try that, too. I've got a box of cast blanks with one problem
or another.. maybe a few of them are salvageable!

Does the CA tend to 'wick' inside? Or flow? I've got some spaces that look to be almost
3/4 of an inch toward the center! (still no idea why, but seems to happen only when I
cast them standing up..)

The CA flows a little, but not as much as 3/4 Inch, maybe an 1/4th is about the best I have managed.



Mike

Mike I had a go today and I think I used to much hardner as it sent hard in about 2 hours. Most of the air bubbles came out, I will leave it untill boxing day before I turn it. I will post a pic if all ends up well.
David

Question: when you guys do label work do you put labels on both sides of the pen or just one side??? Do you center the label or offset it to the top??? How do you orient the clip in regards to the label??? Thanks.

Originally Posted by JTTHECLOCKMAN

Question: when you guys do label work do you put labels on both sides of the pen or just one side??? Do you center the label or offset it to the top??? How do you orient the clip in regards to the label??? Thanks.

I have templates set up in Photoshop for the different size labels for different sized kits.
Then I just drop in the graphics. The label fits the whole tube. I leave 3mm extra for
overlap so the label adheres to itself and I plan the label so that this seam will be hidden
under the clip. I touch up the seam with a Sharpie marker (I have a set of
several colors) but I've found that while the Sharpie doesn't run when the resin hits it,
it WILL run if you spray the CA accelerator on the Sharpie ink. (see sample)

I make the label 2mm longer than the tube because positioning that little label on a
little tube doesn't work so well with my eyes. This gives me a little buffer, and I just
trim the labels with an Exacto knife. Then I touch up those ends with the Sharpie so I
don't have any white ends showing where the tubes meet the kit parts. Sounds like a
lot of work, but really it is only a few seconds.

I'm still having a bit of trouble with color and adhesion. White areas aren't all that white,
and the paper labels are translucent when wet. Not terrible, but I'd like it to be better.
My next trial will use white vinyl instead of white paper labels. If it sticks...

Also working on individual pen kit molds, already sized to each kit. Rubber stoppers
already built in and mold has rounded corners so you don't pour expensive resin that
will be turned away later. Still working out the pour spout, as it is the two part mold
that saves the resin..

NewLondon88 it sounds like you are all over this label casting. Can you post some photos of your set up. I had a go the other day I am happy with my first go at it, I will post some photos when my wife gets a chance to take the photos.
David

Yes please post some photos of your molds and casting set up.What labels are you using and do you top coat them before casting???

Woah .. didn't mean to give anyone the idea that I'm 'all over' it .. I'm just experimenting
like crazy and seeing if I can work out kinks.. streamline some procedures etc..
My setup isn't really any different than what's in the tutorials, pressure pot, mixing
cups etc ..
I'll get some pics this weekend when I'm in the shop.
(darn, now I'll have to clean the shop.. )

As for the labels, I used the Avery 85xx series as recommended. I've tried others too,
but the glue seems to let go when it gets warmed by the resin curing. OR maybe the
resin itself is a solvent for some types of adhesive?

I got some vinyl to try out, but it is too thick. Then I got the idea this afternoon..
what about blank bumper stickers? Thin, vinyl, white .. and we KNOW they stick,
even when attached to a chrome bumper in the summer sun...

Originally Posted by NewLondon88

I got some vinyl to try out, but it is too thick. Then I got the idea this afternoon..what about blank bumper stickers? Thin, vinyl, white .. and we KNOW they stick, even when attached to a chrome bumper in the summer sun...

There's a local company here that specialises in fancy types of stickers - vinyl, transparent, waterproof etc, but they aren't cheap and have minimum order sizes, so I haven;t gone down that route yet - mind you, I haven't done anything with labels since my first post, so I'm hardly the one to be trying experimental techniques just yet.

Good thing NL is waving the flag for us :P

Russell.

This is my first go there are a few defects but I am happy with the process. Next time I will use less hardener and stand the tube up to get rid of the air bubbles as I don't have a pressure pot yet. I have trimmed the tube as the label shrunk.
David