Heat with PR

[chartle]

I have a process that using heat and convection currents to add some swirl to my PR blanks before it gels. Should I be using less MEK P?

I use the recommended amount, 6 or so drops per oz, and the pens turn ok but seem just a tad brittle.

Oh and I don't heat it up too much. Not like its smoking. I also now wear a respirator. Huge improvement in keeping brain cells alive.

 

[tomtedesco]

Great looking pens. Never thought of heating the PR to get swirls. I usually pour the PR, give it five minutes or so, then add the other color I am using and swirl them together with a open paper clip, get some interesting colors. I also only use 5 drops if it makes any difference.

 

[BSea]

I use 4 drops per ounce. I've been told my blanks are easy to turn, and I've heard they are brittle. Sometimes it's the person behind the tool. But PR is a brittle material. I also think it's gets more brittle with age. Not to the point that you can't turn it, just a little more brittle. That is an interesting idea on using heat. Most of my pours are verticle, so the colors have to be poured at the same time.

 

[its_virgil]

turning with a rough out gouge, spindle gouge, or some carbide tools will give the feeling of brittleness. Changing to a skew and the turning experience with PR changes to "turns like butter". I use 3 drops per ounce but have experimented with up to 10 or 12 drops and I do not notice the brittleness of which others speak. Not saying it isn't factual I just don't experience it. But, I only use a skew on all pens and all materials.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

I use 4 drops per ounce. I've been told my blanks are easy to turn, and I've heard they are brittle. Sometimes it's the person behind the tool. But PR is a brittle material. I also think it's gets more brittle with age. Not to the point that you can't turn it, just a little more brittle. That is an interesting idea on using heat. Most of my pours are verticle, so the colors have to be poured at the same time.

 

[chartle]

I use 4 drops per ounce. .....

... I use 3 drops per ounce but have experimented with up to 10 or 12 drops and I do not notice the brittleness of which others speak.

May have to rethink my drops. Do less drops mean slower cure because thats a bonus?

 

[PSNCO]

How large is the horizontal mold that you are pouring into? If it's like a 3"-4" x 5" mold, I cut back to 3 drops per ounce.

A horizontal mold with like 8 ounces of PR curing will throw off heat like no tomorrow.

 

[chartle]

1.5 oz of PR in a 3/4 square by 5 in.

 

[BSea]

turning with a rough out gouge, spindle gouge, or some carbide tools will give the feeling of brittleness. Changing to a skew and the turning experience with PR changes to "turns like butter". I use 3 drops per ounce but have experimented with up to 10 or 12 drops and I do not notice the brittleness of which others speak. Not saying it isn't factual I just don't experience it. But, I only use a skew on all pens and all materials.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

I use 4 drops per ounce. I've been told my blanks are easy to turn, and I've heard they are brittle. Sometimes it's the person behind the tool. But PR is a brittle material. I also think it's gets more brittle with age. Not to the point that you can't turn it, just a little more brittle. That is an interesting idea on using heat. Most of my pours are verticle, so the colors have to be poured at the same time.

I should have said that PR is brittle compared to alumilite, since these are the predominant resins used by most home casters. And I agree that a skew is the best tool for turning PR or Alumilite.

 

[BSea]

I use 4 drops per ounce. .....

... I use 3 drops per ounce but have experimented with up to 10 or 12 drops and I do not notice the brittleness of which others speak.

May have to rethink my drops. Do less drops mean slower cure because thats a bonus?

It does mean a slower cure rate. But Don and I do different types of casting (I think). Don, if I'm not mistaken, primarily does tube on casting. So he does only clear resin for these types of casts. I do color casting where I have a small window for pouring. For this type of casting, timing is very important. I have my timing down using 4 drops. The longer it takes to cure, the more chance that the colors will mix.

For my few clear casts, I also use 3 drops per ounce because it really doesn't matter if the resin sets in 15 or 30 minutes. And I don't know if it takes 30 minutes using 3 drops, And 15 is a little shorter than my norm for 4 drops except in the summer. Then it can be a short as 10 minutes depending on the temp in my garage.