Problems with casting blanks

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Jesus

Jesus

Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Messages
15
Location
Spokane wa
I'm facing some problems when I cast pen blanks with poly resin. These are the steps that I take.
1.Paint the pen tube with spray paint
2.Glue my coat of arms (or what ever will be imbedded in the pen).
3.cover tube and coat of arms with mod podge
4.When mod podge is dry( 1 to 2 hours), I apply CA glue to the tube.
5.then I cast in poly resin.

My results seem to be the same, a milky look in some areas of the inside of the tube. not sure how to fix this but I'm thinking I might need to wait longer for the mod podge to cure. Any ideas or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

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It appears as though one of your application is reacting with another. I would venture a guess that the modpodge (spelling?) is not handling the PR very well.

If the label is a color printed item, I have used this method with success:

  • Paint tube with light coats to obtain desired coverage and let dry overnight
  • Print image and apply a clear sealer to the image - Rustoleum clear seal works (satin finish)
  • Glue image to tube with CA - I don't like the glue to flow over the edges as I get a shinny reflection off the CA. Let dry overnight to avoud any off gas in the PR.
  • Prepare the tube for casting and pour PR. (I use a pressure pot to reduce the air bubbles in the PR. A matter of choice)
  • Remove the blank and turn.
Good luck and if you have any questions, I'll help if possible.
 
Leviblue, thanks for your tip.
I am going to have to try this again. This time I will let the tubes dry overnight before casting.
 
Your ModgePodge is likely water based. Water and PR will inhibit curing but you are covering it with CA.

Your likely cause is the CA is continuing to gas off as you are casting it. CA will continue to gas off for anywhere from 24-48 hours. I try to prevent this by letting it sit atleast one day and using accelerator to wipe it down after using the CA.

More time after sealing will likely fix your problem.
 
I've had the same white milky look also but when I stopped using ModgePodge the white milky look went away. I no longer use modge podge.

When casting labels I do not seal the label with anything. Each tbing you use...modgle podge, CA, paint, etc, needs to dry for at least a day or longer. For example, paint the tubes and let it dry, print the labels and let the ink dry, apply the labels and let the adhesive dry, stick them with modge podge and let it dry, coat with CA and let the CA cure. when I stopped trying to do it all in one day most of my failures with labels went away. For me, label casting along with snake skins take at least a week from paint the tubes to cast the blanks.
Do a good turn daily!
don
 
Once you glue the image to the tube and it cures for a few hours, then you can spray the clear over the image to seal the picture. "No modge podge is necessary". After 2 coats of spray clear and it cures for 6hrs or so it should be ready for the casting.
 
I am 98.9% sure it is the modgepodge. My wife and I are experimenting with feathers and both times, we got the milky white on the modgepodge tubes. We do not know yet if it works for certain but metal leaf adhesive seems to be working.
 
Ruby pen turning said:
I am 98.9% sure it is the modgepodge.
Click to expand...

Any acrylic emulsion sealer adhesive/caulk, dries from the skin out ward surface inward to the bottom (surface it is applied to), As most applied coatings paint sealers do. Some of the clear caulking will look white inside for years till the moisture evaporates.

As been said in the numerous post, later/longer is better when dealing with oils, sealers, adhesives coatings.

Same thing with the instructions on paint cans, as to the re-coat times.
It isn't to make you watch paint dry! :biggrin: But for the adhesion of the product.

So if the first product isn't completely dry(hardened) the next layer will trap any liquids that need to evaporate(carriers, solvents and binders)
:clown:
 
I agree, for what it's worth, with the Mod Podge being the problem. I do still use Mod Podge to glue stamps to my tubes but I don't coat them with it. I seal with a clear spray laquer as previously mentioned
Works for me
 
Jesus said:
I'm facing some problems when I cast pen blanks with poly resin. These are the steps that I take.
1.Paint the pen tube with spray paint
2.Glue my coat of arms (or what ever will be imbedded in the pen).
3.cover tube and coat of arms with mod podge
4.When mod podge is dry( 1 to 2 hours), I apply CA glue to the tube.
5.then I cast in poly resin.

My results seem to be the same, a milky look in some areas of the inside of the tube. not sure how to fix this but I'm thinking I might need to wait longer for the mod podge to cure. Any ideas or pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
What are you using to glue the paper to the tubes?

How long are you waiting in between each step for everything to dry/cure?
 
Thanks everyone for the info. I believe my problem is not being patient.

-Steve- I am using 3M spray mount artist adhesive (something my wife uses or she used for scrapbooking)

I will continue with this until I get good results.
 
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