alumilite bubbles

[jason_r]

I've got some alumilite blanks I made that are having pinholes due to
air bubbles. This creates a problem because at final sanding the holes plug
up with slurry and create white dots against the opaque background.

These are Crystal Clear alumilite, pigmented in a multi-color cast that
was then put under pressure.

Do others have this issue?
If so, how do you deal with it?

I was thinking CA to fill the voids. Possibly after cleaning in an ultrasonic.

Thanks in advance.

 

[NewLondon88]

I stopped casting when it's humid, because the moisture in the air seems
to be enough to make the alumilite foam. But that could be my imagination..

I've used CA to fill in the pinholes, but first I blasted them out with an eraser.
It's like a tiny sandblaster/airbrush. It cleans the dust out of the pinholes.
Compressed air alone might work.. I didn't try it since I had the eraser right there.

 

[johncrane]

l would use a air compressor too blow of the blank then ca to fill holes.

 

[jason_r]

I stopped casting when it's humid, because the moisture in the air seems
to be enough to make the alumilite foam. But that could be my imagination..

Humidity's not a major issue here in AZ.

OTOH, I recently demolded some alumilite crystal clear 5 min after
mixing the 2 parts. 112F does shorten the pot life a bit.

I'm not getting foaming either- just pinholes where air bubbles formed
in the alumilite. I know it will form *some* naturally, but thought the PP
should take care of them.

 

[wood-of-1kind]

I've recently experienced the same thing in using Silmar 41. Those are bubbles destroyed what I thought would make a wonderful pen. Cleaning and CA application did not help. The pen is in the "reject" lot and may I try again, but sure wish that I had a better direction. I'll be watching this thread and hopefully our more experienced casters may offer "more".