Thinking about trying my hand at casting

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GaTurner83

GaTurner83

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Oct 12, 2011
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Ringgold Ga
I'm thinking bout trying to cast some blanks.I have coupon for Hobby Lobby and was planning on picking up some PR along with some pigments and giving it a try.My question is the temeperature in my shop stays right around 50-55 degrees.I don't have no heat in there at the moment and probably wont have for awhile.Will it be to cool in there for the resin to cure properly?I plan on using PVC pipe for my molds right now until I see how things go.Anyone have any good tips or suggestions for a newbie caster?Thanks
 
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GaTurner83 said:
I'm thinking bout trying to cast some blanks.I have coupon for Hobby Lobby and was planning on picking up some PR along with some pigments and giving it a try.My question is the temeperature in my shop stays right around 50-55 degrees.I don't have no heat in there at the moment and probably wont have for awhile.Will it be to cool in there for the resin to cure properly?I plan on using PVC pipe for my molds right now until I see how things go.Anyone have any good tips or suggestions for a newbie caster?Thanks
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I would recommend waiting for warmer weather. I tryed my first PR pen blanks and they are still a little tacky. My heaters were left of at 70 degrees and it took about three days for it to cure. You may get better insight from others with more experience.
 
Yes it helps if the temp is higher but you can compensate to a pointe by using more hardener. on a normal 65 - 75 degree day I would use about 5-6 drops per ounce of hardener but I have found that if it got down around 55 then I would bump it up to around 12 - 15 drops per ounce. It will take longer to cure in the winter. Also what I have done is made a stand for the pipes to sit in. Then when I get done pouring my cast. I would put them in the oven and let the heat of the oven help get the curing process started. Maybe like a 1 or 2 hrs at the lowest setting. There are many other tricks you can do and still be able to cast in the cooler weather
 
12 - 15 drops seems like way too much. I dont change my casting techniques anymore with the weathers temperature. I preheat the resin and preheat the molds. The temp wont effect the casting before it kicks off to set and starts back cooling off. Even if the weather is cold if I set them out in the sun for a few hours they are fine.
 
Phunky_2003 said:
12 - 15 drops seems like way too much. I dont change my casting techniques anymore with the weathers temperature. I preheat the resin and preheat the molds. The temp wont effect the casting before it kicks off to set and starts back cooling off. Even if the weather is cold if I set them out in the sun for a few hours they are fine.
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I should have said that I only go that high if we do not heat it in any form or fashion. I wouldnt go any higher but if you are gonna heat it up then you would only use the normal amount of drops. Sorry I should have said that in earlier post.
 
That should help, yes. However, I wouldnt leave the heatlamp unattended.

Each person has a little bit different set up. So what works for one person may not work for the other. Since you have a heat lamp, I would preheat my resin with heat lamp until its water thin. Then mix up resin as desired, add catalyst, wait for start to gel, pour, leave under heat lamp.

Only have heat lamp on while your around to watch... things do happen.

You can always turn heat lamp back on later to post cure the blanks.
 
You can build a light box, with a 60/100 watt old style bulb to warm the area in side the box and anything in it, back in the 70's when most garages weren't heated that was what was suggested in the books and articles on casting.

I had built one out of the insulation board from the Home Despot. It was duct taped together with a desk type lamp. had a flap on the top to check the mold with out moving the whole box.
The other advantage with duct tape is you can cut it apart for flat storage. Or a cardboard box of the appropriate size.

As been said use uncommon sense and never leave unattended for long periods of time.
:clown:
 
Well I got me some PR today and some pigment and Pearl x powders.I mixed up a couple of batches and poured my first blanks.Three for this round to see how it goes.The temp in my shop is a comfortable 75 degrees now.Can't wait to see if they turn out.That's the only bad part is having to wait so long.
 
I thought mine were too tacky when i first took them out, I set them in the house for a few day and they turned fine,I used the toaster oven and clear cover like my mentor showed me and it works great for heating up resin just sitting on top and making molds inside
carpblaster
 
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