bubble help

[reiddog1]

Casting folks,
Ive been having a blast learning to cast and am very thankful for the help that I've gotten during the process thus far. I do not own a pressure pot and have noticed that while sanding my blanks, I have small pin holes. I try to fill them with CA, but it's not working out too hot. By that time, I usually have sanding dust in the holes and can't get it out. Looks horrible!! I guess my big question is since I do multiple colors and have to wait until the resin thickens to start my pour, how do I get the bubbles out once the thickened resin is in the mold. I'm a bit perplexed. Thanks in advance.

Dave

 

[renowb]

If you have an air compressor, blow out the dust, then fill with CA. As far as the bubbles in the resin, you could vibrate it while it is catalyzing, on a drill press or something similar.

 

[PTsideshow]

Seehttp://www.penturners.org/forum/f43/shaker-table-101381/
:clown:

 

[reiddog1]

So give it a shake before I pour? I may be completely wrong, but it seems that when I pour and then put my wire in to swirl that I will introduce bubbles. Ill give it a shot and see if that works. Thanks a bunch for your help.

Dave

 

[reiddog1]

scroll saw

I gotta scroll saw that shakes like a chihuahua, maybe I'll give that a shot. My question is do I shake before I pour or after or both? Thanks in advance.

Dave

Seehttp://www.penturners.org/forum/f43/shaker-table-101381/
:clown:

 

[Ruby pen turning]

I don't know how much MKEP you are adding but you could add less so they have more time to get to the surface. I use a pop sickle stick and pop as many as I can. Sometimes I wait as long as 1/2hr sometimes more before I can mix the colors together in a mold. I do not use vibration.

 

[reiddog1]

Simlar 41

I'm using similar 41 and the directions say 10 drops per ounce, so that's what I do. Usually takes about 10-15 min to start setting up.

[QUOTE=Ruby pen turning;1442309]I don't know how much MKEP you are adding but you could add less so they have more time to get to the surface. I use a pop sickle stick and pop as many as I can. Sometimes I wait as long as 1/2hr sometimes more before I can mix the colors together in a mold. I do not use vibration.[/QUOTE]

 

[Brooks803]

Way too much catalyst! Drop down to 3-4 drops per 1oz and you'll have better results. Your resin is setting up way to fast to let the air out.

 

[Jim Burr]

I'm lucky to have an old clunky HF drill press. I still drill pen blanks with it, but it wobbles more than my grandma!!! Find a wobblie, safe power tool and set your mold on it...works great!! BTW...My grandama is really cool...just wobbly at 102!!

 

[reiddog1]

Thanks for all the tips folks, I'll give it a shot and see what happens. Feel free to share more.

Dave

 

[A10GAC]

How long do you usually let the resin vibrate? 5 min, 10 min, until it's cured? I have about half a quart of resin left over from making tractor parts and was thinking about trying a few blanks with it. I wasn't too concerned with bubbles on the tractor parts since they were being coated with Plasti-dip anyway, but I can see where it would be an issue with a non-coated item like a pen.

 

[renowb]

I agree Jonathon. I usually use 3-4 drops too. Never used 10 drops. That's way too much.

Way too much catalyst! Drop down to 3-4 drops per 1oz and you'll have better results. Your resin is setting up way to fast to let the air out.

 

[reiddog1]

?

Good question. So how long to vibrate and when to vibrate. Any takers on these 2 questions?

How long do you usually let the resin vibrate? 5 min, 10 min, until it's cured? I have about half a quart of resin left over from making tractor parts and was thinking about trying a few blanks with it. I wasn't too concerned with bubbles on the tractor parts since they were being coated with Plasti-dip anyway, but I can see where it would be an issue with a non-coated item like a pen.