alumilite question...

[TBCbushings]

I was wondering if I was doing something wrong. I can't seem to get the shine as pr. I know it's different but just can't get it. I love turning this stuff but the shine is just not there..ugh I was thinking of ca over and then polish...

 

[MarkD]

Which Alumilite are you using?

 

[TBCbushings]

Clear

 

[ElMostro]

What is your sanding routine? For clear I wet sand to MM 12000 and then Novus 2 and 1 and it shines just like PR. The "water clear though" does shine much less.
Eugene.

 

[TBCbushings]

I sand through 600, 800, 1500, 2400, 4000, 12,000. And then polish and buff... I know I'm doing something wrong..lol I use the same process with PR and shines like glass....

 

[Ed McDonnell]

I wonder if you are over heating the alumilite as you buff. I think I remember the temp resistance spec for "clear" on the alumilite website being pretty low.

Ed

 

[BSea]

Try newer MM.I know I had some problems with alumilite in the past, but with some new sandpaper, and understanding it takes a bit more time with alumilite, my results improved. I think you can get it to shine almost like PR, but not as easily. At least that's been my experience.

 

[Brooks803]

How soon after casting are you turning/finishing it? It might not be fully cured and is still soft and won't polish well at all.

 

[TBCbushings]

I worked on it a bit and got it to really shine...took a long time but I got it...

 

[Jimmykoko2]

Nice blank.

What are you using for the bud decals and did you paint the tube blue?

 

[TBCbushings]

These are bottle caps and it looks blue but its a black tube...

 

[TBCbushings]

How soon after casting are you turning/finishing it? It might not be fully cured and is still soft and won't polish well at all.

I cast and let sit in the pressure pot over night and turned the next day...

 

[Quality Pen]

I had a clear alumilite blank but could NOT get it to shine like I'm used to.

I even re did the entire thing after a while.. still not up to par. It's weird, but I just don't think it COULD for that particular blank. Using the same methods on PR I can get "glass" grade Heisenberg quality...

BUT... is it true that alumilite clear degrades or clouds from UV? I thought I read something like that but don't quote me yet!