My first PR cast

Lenny · 03-13-2011, 06:56 PM

It was finally almost 50 degrees today so I decided to dive in and try my first PR cast. (It had nothing to do with the fact the in-laws were visiting)

I would like to say that everything went just as I had planned it ...

... but you wouldn't believe that anyways. My first mistake, in spite of checking the volume of my mold, I didn't mix up as much as I should have. I would have liked to have some left over, as it turned out I didn't quite fill to the top of the mould. Still I was able to get a good 3/4" thickness.
I used Silmar41 and Coastal Scents mica pigments.
Had a very nice purple with the first part of the pour.... I did submerse the cups in warm water to help with the mixing...but it was cold .... wasn't setting up very fast. I mixed the white ultra silk and added the catalyst thinking the first part would be gelling soon. Got anxious and added it too soon I think. This was after a good hour had gone by. Placed it on the bandsaw and ran it for 10 minutes or so but never really saw much in the way of air bubbles.
Finally placed it in a cardboard box turned on it's side and clamped a light with a 100w bulb facing it.
I was a little confused about whether or not it was safe to place the whole thing in the toaster oven or not while still in a semi-liquid state ?
Once it had set up (the light worked quite well) I did place it in the toaster oven for about 15 minutes at around 125 degrees.

Next time I will probably use more of the purple (or whatever main color) and less of the complimentary color.

Thanks to everyone who has offered help and advice, both here and through the many library articles! This is going to have a learning curve but it's going to be FUN!!!

keithkarl2007 · 03-13-2011, 06:58 PM

Looks good from here.

Nikitas · 03-13-2011, 07:17 PM

Not my fav. color, but I really like the texture on the blanks. Looks really cool!

ctubbs · 03-13-2011, 07:18 PM

Way to go, Lenny. You took a difficult situation and survived it with god looking cast. My first is in the trash. I posted and asked for help which came in abundance. I was and still am very grateful for all the attention the more experienced members poured upon me. Good job and keep up the effort. I think this thing, casting, may be eaiser to learn than a CA finish. Still working on that also.
Charles

Lenny · 03-13-2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctubbs

Way to go, Lenny. You took a difficult situation and survived it with god looking cast. My first is in the trash. I posted and asked for help which came in abundance. I was and still am very grateful for all the attention the more experienced members poured upon me. Good job and keep up the effort. I think this thing, casting, may be eaiser to learn than a CA finish. Still working on that also.
Charles

Charles, for me It's ALL a work in progress!

but I guess as long as there IS some progress, no matter how slow it comes for me, I'll keep at it!

Lenny · 03-13-2011, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikitas

Not my fav. color, but I really like the texture on the blanks. Looks really cool!

It wasn't quite what I was going for either.

This is a shot of the underside ... a little different color showing there.

Lenny · 03-14-2011, 10:05 AM

Cut a blank off this morning and rounded it over just to see what it would look like. I definitely want to pour thicker Next time!

While it wasn't what I thought I was going to get, I'm happy with it for a first effort.

PaulDoug · 03-14-2011, 10:18 AM

Lenny, if my first blank cast turns out that nice I well be a very happy man! Congrats.

Jim15 · 03-14-2011, 10:20 AM

Looks great to me.

PenMan1 · 03-14-2011, 10:23 AM

Congratulations, Lenny!

You made a "turnable" blank on your first outing! It looks like you are now ready to start the "three cup shuffle" and start pouring multi -colored blanks! Thicker IS a better idea!

I wish my first blank had looked this good! Mine looked more like something the dog left:)

03-13-2011, 06:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lenny Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Searsport, Maine Posts: 2,498 Photos: 47	My first PR cast It was finally almost 50 degrees today so I decided to dive in and try my first PR cast. (It had nothing to do with the fact the in-laws were visiting) I would like to say that everything went just as I had planned it ...... but you wouldn't believe that anyways. My first mistake, in spite of checking the volume of my mold, I didn't mix up as much as I should have. I would have liked to have some left over, as it turned out I didn't quite fill to the top of the mould. Still I was able to get a good 3/4" thickness. I used Silmar41 and Coastal Scents mica pigments. Had a very nice purple with the first part of the pour.... I did submerse the cups in warm water to help with the mixing...but it was cold .... wasn't setting up very fast. I mixed the white ultra silk and added the catalyst thinking the first part would be gelling soon. Got anxious and added it too soon I think. This was after a good hour had gone by. Placed it on the bandsaw and ran it for 10 minutes or so but never really saw much in the way of air bubbles. Finally placed it in a cardboard box turned on it's side and clamped a light with a 100w bulb facing it. I was a little confused about whether or not it was safe to place the whole thing in the toaster oven or not while still in a semi-liquid state ? Once it had set up (the light worked quite well) I did place it in the toaster oven for about 15 minutes at around 125 degrees. Next time I will probably use more of the purple (or whatever main color) and less of the complimentary color. Thanks to everyone who has offered help and advice, both here and through the many library articles! This is going to have a learning curve but it's going to be FUN!!! Attached Thumbnails

03-13-2011, 06:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
keithkarl2007 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,480 Photos: 0	Looks good from here. __________________ Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to hide the bodies of the people I had to kill because they ****ed me off. Secretary of the Midlands Chapter of the Irish Woodturner's Guild

03-13-2011, 07:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nikitas Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Hampton, Va. Posts: 394 Photos: 0	Not my fav. color, but I really like the texture on the blanks. Looks really cool! __________________ Brian People who die with the most toys, is still dead..... www.facebook.com/nikitaswoodworks http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nikitas-woodworks

03-13-2011, 07:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
ctubbs Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Murray, Kentucky Posts: 3,366 Photos: 2	Way to go, Lenny. You took a difficult situation and survived it with god looking cast. My first is in the trash. I posted and asked for help which came in abundance. I was and still am very grateful for all the attention the more experienced members poured upon me. Good job and keep up the effort. I think this thing, casting, may be eaiser to learn than a CA finish. Still working on that also. Charles __________________ Experts hit what they aim at......I aim at what I hit Respect - Never given, must be earned Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to or what you are on. Keep then guessing and you keep smiling.

03-14-2011, 10:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
Lenny Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Searsport, Maine Posts: 2,498 Photos: 47	Cut a blank off this morning and rounded it over just to see what it would look like. I definitely want to pour thicker Next time! While it wasn't what I thought I was going to get, I'm happy with it for a first effort. Attached Thumbnails

03-14-2011, 10:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
PaulDoug Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Benton City, WA. Posts: 2,832 Photos: 14	Lenny, if my first blank cast turns out that nice I well be a very happy man! Congrats. __________________ "We the People ....."

03-14-2011, 10:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jim15 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fairfield, Ohio, USA. Photos: 34	Looks great to me. __________________ jim, Cincinnati, Ohio

03-14-2011, 10:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
PenMan1 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eatonton, Georgia Posts: 4,914 Photos: 57	Congratulations, Lenny! You made a "turnable" blank on your first outing! It looks like you are now ready to start the "three cup shuffle" and start pouring multi -colored blanks! Thicker IS a better idea! I wish my first blank had looked this good! Mine looked more like something the dog left:) __________________ Andy Little entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem. The popular interpretation of this principle is that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. -Occam's Razor Common sense isn't always such a common thing. If it ain't broke.......then a little duct tape won't hurt it!

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