I did a test blank that was 1/3 Alumilite clear, 1/3 Alumilite Crystal Clear as now being sold, and 1/3 of a different, penturning specific version of Crystal Clear that Mike is working on with my help. All three blanks were cast exactly the same and included the same amount of black dye in each.
The three pieces were actually glued together and turned as one blank. They were sanded and polished as one blank using the same routine. The penturning specific version was noticeably shinier with the current Crystal Clear coming in second. The Water Clear was noticeably less shiny.
I then took a black PR blank that I had as well as a black Crystal Clear penturning version and made them into one blank, 1/2 and 1/2. I turned it as one and finished as one. There was no noticeable difference between the PR and the penturning specific test version of Crystal Clear Alumilite! I had 2 other folks look at the blank and asked them which side was shinier and they both said they looked the same.
The Crystal Clear and the Crystal Clear test version both turn differently than regular Alumilite and certainly sand differently. I would say that sanding is quite similar to PR. Both versions of Crystal Clear are definitely more brittle than Water Clear but still not as brittle as PR can be. I actually took a test blank and dropped it on the floor and it did not break. I then threw it 16' up in the air and it still did not break on the concrete floor. I then threw it on the floor as hard as I could and it did not break! It did dent the corner but that was it.
I think the new Crystal Clear penturning version will be the ultimate pen casting resin. It has even less smell than the Water Clear and actually smells like dish soap when you put your nose in the cup. I know that my next 10 gallon order will be Crystal Clear in the new version.
