schellfarms
Member
I finally worked up my nerve to cast some PR blanks. Some of the ones I've seen look so nice, I just couldn't resist. I seem to be having major technical difficulties. I purhased the supplies (luster powder, catalyst, clear casting resin) from douglass & sturgess as recommended in 2 threads I found (mr. Pickens' and mr.Turchetta's). Here's what I did.....
I decided to use the ice cube trays that are long and thin--about the size of each 1/2 of a slim line blank as my mold. I measured using a syringe with graduations on it and found that each hole in the tray takes about 3/4 ounce of liquid to fill. I wanted to try it out with 2, so I measured 1 1/2 ounces of PR and added 7 drops per ounce (in this case, 11 drops). I mixed well and added pearl white luster powder--several popsickle sticks full. I also added a small scoop of Jacard's interference blue powder (mica based, just like the luster pigment) and about 2 drops of the liquid luster powder. I wanted my pen blue, so I added about 3 1/2 or so cc's of dyn-a-flow cerulean blue pigment (liquid) to the mix. By this time, I'm jazzed, because the color is really nice an looks almost metallic. I coated my ice cube trays with a very thin shot of cooking spray to make them release easier and poured in the mix. I let it sit 24 hours and came home from work to find something the consistency of Karo syrup. Not at all what I expected. I figured the catalyst might have been a bit short, so as an experiment, I added an additional 5 drops to one of the wells and mixed with a skewer. After sitting overnight, it is still wet, but firmer--almost rubbery. I added some catalyst to the other well this morning--what do I have to lose?? I believe the dyn-a-flow is ok, as epoxy resin casts fine with it and cures nicely. I also used a few drops of food coloring to tint some luster powder in a tiny amount of PR in one of my "experimental" casts, so I don't believe that the water based dye is the problem, as that cured fine.
Sorry this post is so long, but I wanted to include everything I did so someone might see what I'm doing wrong. Is it likely that this will ever harden, or should I scrap it and start over???
I decided to use the ice cube trays that are long and thin--about the size of each 1/2 of a slim line blank as my mold. I measured using a syringe with graduations on it and found that each hole in the tray takes about 3/4 ounce of liquid to fill. I wanted to try it out with 2, so I measured 1 1/2 ounces of PR and added 7 drops per ounce (in this case, 11 drops). I mixed well and added pearl white luster powder--several popsickle sticks full. I also added a small scoop of Jacard's interference blue powder (mica based, just like the luster pigment) and about 2 drops of the liquid luster powder. I wanted my pen blue, so I added about 3 1/2 or so cc's of dyn-a-flow cerulean blue pigment (liquid) to the mix. By this time, I'm jazzed, because the color is really nice an looks almost metallic. I coated my ice cube trays with a very thin shot of cooking spray to make them release easier and poured in the mix. I let it sit 24 hours and came home from work to find something the consistency of Karo syrup. Not at all what I expected. I figured the catalyst might have been a bit short, so as an experiment, I added an additional 5 drops to one of the wells and mixed with a skewer. After sitting overnight, it is still wet, but firmer--almost rubbery. I added some catalyst to the other well this morning--what do I have to lose?? I believe the dyn-a-flow is ok, as epoxy resin casts fine with it and cures nicely. I also used a few drops of food coloring to tint some luster powder in a tiny amount of PR in one of my "experimental" casts, so I don't believe that the water based dye is the problem, as that cured fine.
Sorry this post is so long, but I wanted to include everything I did so someone might see what I'm doing wrong. Is it likely that this will ever harden, or should I scrap it and start over???