"Warming Box" for resin casting

[mike4066]

Function over form.. It ain't pretty but it works great.

I live in Ohio and cast in the garage, this is fine during the summer but once temperatures start dropping PR stops curing. This is my "cheap" solution for providing a warm environment for the PR to cure without over heating or worrying about a fire. All it took was an $8 water heater thermostat, bucket, light and computer fan. This is a similar setup is used for hatching chicken eggs.


The light provides heat, the fan circulates air, and the thermostat cuts power if it reaches 90 degrees.

My 3/4 PR blanks cured in 3-4 hours vs being hit/miss now that the overnight temperatures are dropping into the 50's.

 

[mike4066]

forgot to include the pictures

 

[mg_dreyer]

I assume you are not using pressure, correct? Looks like you let the blanks cure as is. And you are not seeing any bubbles?

 

[mg_dreyer]

Or are these non-clear casts?

 

[brownsfn2]

90 degrees seems pretty high. If the blanks shrink too much or get too brittle scale back to 70-75 degrees. I cast in my basement so year round I am 63-70 degrees and have not had much problems. Good luck and have fun!

 

[mike4066]

I assume you are not using pressure, correct? Looks like you let the blanks cure as is. And you are not seeing any bubbles?

No pressure, Silmar 41, no problems with bubbles. I do use a pressure pot with Alumilite.

Or are these non-clear casts?

Correct, these are done with powers/pigments, though clear bubble free castings in PR can be done without much difficulty. There is a nice tutorial in the IAP Library.

 

[mike4066]

90 degrees seems pretty high. If the blanks shrink too much or get too brittle scale back to 70-75 degrees. I cast in my basement so year round I am 63-70 degrees and have not had much problems. Good luck and have fun!

I wish I could cast PR in the house but it's a big no-no with my wife. (Though I can do Alumilite)


I think it's actually set @ 80 which is as low as it goes, I'll check it later. I plan to put a camera / thermometer on it this week and see what the temperature inside really is.

I'll post a follow up sometime this week when I turn some of the blanks to see if they came out brittle.

 

[mike4066]

Another option would be a programmable thermal outlet that you could set more accurate temperatures on. Those would have been $30-$40 and I'm cheap

 

[brownsfn2]

I wish I could cast PR in the house but it's a big no-no with my wife. (Though I can do Alumilite)


I think it's actually set @ 80 which is as low as it goes, I'll check it later. I plan to put a camera / thermometer on it this week and see what the temperature inside really is.

I'll post a follow up sometime this week when I turn some of the blanks to see if they came out brittle.

I do "pay" for casting in the house from time to time. I get the complaints about the smell but since I cast in the pressure pot the only time it smells is when I release the pressure and take the blanks out. Someday I may move to the garage (if I ever get it cleaned out).