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#1
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Casting Resin - Epoxy Resin - Non Traditional (Revisited)
I have read a bunch of different product and personal pages now on casting
resin based on the recommendations of those in the other thread. I decided it was time to start a new topic since it has changed slightly. I'm actually intrigued with the process now. I have artistic ideas bouncing around inside my skull and I have the urge to try some of the legal ones. LOL. As near as I can tell the the only thing that can form a clear solid of any dimension in one (sorta) step is acrylic. The problem is it has to be cured in an "autoclave" for an extended period. Not something practical for most garage hobbyists, but not totally out of the question. There are some other "water clear" resins, but the do not fully harden. They finish with hard rubber hardness similar to that of rubber stamps. The primary use of these seems to be to embed stuff in vase. Marbles, artificial flower stems, etc. I suppose that could be handy if you were making rubber stamps by cutting a mold by hand. I might even buy some just to play with that. I do have a mini CNC mill setup out in the shop and I could cut 2D molds for making stamps in minutes depending on my base material. It seems like the resins actually used for what I originally wanted to do are primarily polyesters. Watching some of the videos and reading some of the pages on it tells me the only advantage they have over epoxy is their clarity when finished. They are near glass clear. They are a big pain to cure, and the one video that showed a 3/4" deep pour did it in (4) FOUR pours. They did a 1/4" pour 3 times and then did a finish pour. This brings us to its limitations and advantages. There are some things that polyester resin does not stick to very well. Apparently Mylar, polypropylene, packaging tape, etc as that's what they used as removable forming tools. It also does not cure hard and smooth when exposed to air, and it has a fairly limited working range. Also, the proportions for working with it will vary, and when doing multiple pours it can be as much an art as a skill to get the catalyst right when pouring a second or third layer over gelled previous layer. The basic thing that led many to start me looking at "casting" resins instead of using the epoxy I already have is not any better with polyester. Even those sold as casting resins. The thermal component of the chemical reaction. I have done 3/16 pours with epoxy with no ill results. I put a liner in a wood toolbox my son made in shop class this way. Except for the entombed insects because we forgot to cover it the result looks great. Epoxy sticks to just about everything, so any mold is most likely to need some kind of releasing agent. It does not cure perfectly clear, and I am not sure how you would deal with the thermal component when doing multiple pours for additional thickness as epoxy is typically mixed 1:1 resin to hardener. Acrylic is a whole different class requiring a much larger investment. So, is there a resin that will pour a thick solid in one pour with out having an unsafe or unsatisfactory thermal reaction, has a hard final finish, and has a satisfactory hardness with out any more special work or equipment necessary than epoxy or polyester? Is the finished solid machineable like epoxy or polyester? Bob La Londe www.YumaBassMan.com |
#2
posted to rec.boats.building
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Casting Resin - Epoxy Resin - Non Traditional (Revisited)
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
... As near as I can tell the the only thing that can form a clear solid of any dimension in one (sorta) step is acrylic. Glass actually solidifies green in thickness from much of what I read, and epoxy cures yellow. |
#3
posted to rec.boats.building
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Casting Resin - Epoxy Resin - Non Traditional (Revisited)
Bob La Londe wrote:
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message ... As near as I can tell the the only thing that can form a clear solid of any dimension in one (sorta) step is acrylic. Glass actually solidifies green in thickness from much of what I read, and epoxy cures yellow. Did you look at System Three products ? Specifically the "Clear Coat" and the "Mirror Coat" at: http://www.systemthree.com/p_overview.asp I've not done deep potting with them but have done some around 1/2" with no problem. Brian C |
#4
posted to rec.boats.building
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Casting Resin - Epoxy Resin - Non Traditional (Revisited)
On Dec 6, 10:29*am, "Bob La Londe" wrote:
I have read a bunch of different product and personal pages now on casting resin based on the recommendations of those in the other thread. *I decided it was time to start a new topic since it has changed slightly. I'm actually intrigued with the process now. *I have artistic ideas bouncing around inside my skull and I have the urge to try some of the legal ones. LOL. As near as I can tell the the only thing that can form a clear solid of any dimension in one (sorta) step is acrylic. *The problem is it has to be cured in an "autoclave" for an extended period. *Not something practical for most garage hobbyists, but not totally out of the question. There are some other "water clear" resins, but the do not fully harden. They finish with hard rubber hardness similar to that of rubber stamps. *The primary use of these seems to be to embed stuff in vase. *Marbles, artificial flower stems, etc. *I suppose that could be handy if you were making rubber stamps by cutting a mold by hand. *I might even buy some just to play with that. *I do have a mini CNC mill setup out in the shop and I could cut 2D molds for making stamps in minutes depending on my base material. It seems like the resins actually used for what I originally wanted to do are primarily polyesters. *Watching some of the videos and reading some of the pages on it tells me the only advantage they have over epoxy is their clarity when finished. *They are near glass clear. *They are a big pain to cure, and the one video that showed a 3/4" deep pour did it in (4) FOUR pours. *They did a 1/4" pour 3 times and then did a finish pour. *This brings us to its limitations and advantages. *There are some things that polyester resin does not stick to very well. *Apparently Mylar, polypropylene, packaging tape, etc as that's what they used as removable forming tools. *It also does not cure hard and smooth when exposed to air, and it has a fairly limited working range. *Also, the proportions for working with it will vary, and when doing multiple pours it can be as much an art as a skill to get the catalyst right when pouring a second or third layer over gelled previous layer. The basic thing that led many to start me looking at "casting" resins instead of using the epoxy I already have is not any better with polyester. |
#5
posted to rec.boats.building
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Casting Resin - Epoxy Resin - Non Traditional (Revisited)
On Sun, 6 Dec 2009 09:36:19 -0700, "Bob La Londe"
wrote: Glass actually solidifies green in thickness from much of what I read, and epoxy cures yellow. The green is caused by traces of iron. Casady |
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