Casting looks EASY!!

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ed4copies

ed4copies

Local Chapter Manager
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I have had a couple phone conversations in the last three days, about casting.

Today, the comment was "I was thinking about buying a couple polyclay and casting them". When I inquired how much casting the person had done, the answer was "none, but I am acquiring all the stuff I will need".

Folks, let me assure you that STARTING with polyclay, snakeskins, or other porous materials is NOT EASY!!!!

I assure you you will have FAILURES!!!


Start with simple stuff----then work UP to the more challenging.

FWIW,
Ed
 
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This true Ed, i've been casting with PR making just colored blanks. Just recently tried some fiber, gonna go broke trying.
 
JohnU said:
Could agree more. I've been casting for years and I'm still trying I figure it all out, and Yes, I still have plenty of failures.
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Send those failures to me and i'll be the judge of that:wink::biggrin:
You make some awesome blanks John
 
Folks,

Listen to the wisdom being spoken here. You will have failures for more reasons than you could possibly list. In the beginning I had more failed batches than successes. One interesting side though is I developed some interesting/creative "Mistakes" that turned into something wonderful.

Definitely try and practice with simple castings first. You never would have thrown the more expensive blanks on your lathe as your first tries would you?

Mike B
 
For those who watch Top Gear --> "How hard could it be?" :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

I'm having enough of a time just casting the occasional blank in PVC and trying to get it to come out nice. I wouldn't even consider trying to tackle PC yet.

Some people have more money than good sense. I've seen it with camera equipment. I know someone with sufficient disposable income who spent a huge amount on a camera and lenses and then wondered why his pictures were worse than his cell phone shots. The only good that came of that was that he decided one of his lenses was "too heavy" and I was able to pick up a Canon L lens for a very attractive price.

That being said, it's rare that someone lucks into being successful. It can happen, but due more to happy accident than anything else. Maybe this person will be successful. Either way, this is armchair quarterbacking. It's the person's money to use to spend as they wish. Hopefully they don't make too big of a mess of things.

You gotta play scales for a while before you attack Rach 3.
 
WOW! So that's it. I have been doing the wrong casting. That looks like a lot more fun.
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Everyday I'm vertical is a great day
 
I can't tell you how much resin and materials I went through when trying. Also, how many you need to turn before you know you have consitency with your casting. I still have failures after a few years of casting.
 
Casting has definitely humbled me. All of my attempts have been, let's just say, less than perfect. I had this great Christmas plan I have been working on for two months now, and all I have is cloudy, bubbly crap.

I have tried many things. But getting a clear and bubble free cast I have yet to achieve. I'll leave it to the experts...
 
I was considering casting some blanks to use in pens that my daughter wants to give her wedding party. I'm too inconsistent with the colors and casts that I decided that everyone would be happier with purchased blanks.

A very wise man once said "A man's got to know his limitations." :biggrin:
 
I've eaten those words a few times. I charged a lady $45.00 to put an alternator on, BECAUSE IT LOOKED EASY. 4 hours and lots of curse words later, i determined i should of looked at the labor guide.

But experimenting is where the fun is. It's quite costly most times, but atleast you can say you tried:biggrin:
 
There is a learning curve to just about everything.
There is 'failures' with every endeavor.

I would never tell someone not to try doing something. But I can see 'holding secrets' to keep others from saving some money by doing their own.


Scott (nothing wrong with profit) B
 
Just to try to nudge this thread back in a little different direction:
OK we know casting can be challenging. In order to help out those with more enthusiasm than experience how about telling us what are some of the easier things to cast so we can get that experience. That seemed to be the takeaway from ED's original post but nobody has said what the new caster SHOULD start with. :)
 
Well if casting was 'easy' then everyone and their brother would be doing it and there would be countless pro's walking around. Which neither is the case.

If it was 'easy' then we would see perfect castings more often. Sad truth is it is very hard to get a good perfect cast and even the experts struggle with getting good perfect cast.

I could post several images of flawed castings but I won't.
 
edstreet said:
Well if casting was 'easy' then everyone and their brother would be doing it and there would be countless pro's walking around. Which neither is the case.

If it was 'easy' then we would see perfect castings more often. Sad truth is it is very hard to get a good perfect cast and even the experts struggle with getting good perfect cast.

I could post several images of flawed castings but I won't.
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i would be interested in seeing those flawed castings. if you're willing to post on line or PM me privately? i just attempted my first cast this weekend......a major train wreck!

Pitoon
 
kirkfranks said:
Just to try to nudge this thread back in a little different direction:
OK we know casting can be challenging. In order to help out those with more enthusiasm than experience how about telling us what are some of the easier things to cast so we can get that experience. That seemed to be the takeaway from ED's original post but nobody has said what the new caster SHOULD start with. :)
Click to expand...

GOOD question, Kirk!!

Initially, do you want to do 'clear casting' or make colored pen blanks?

Clear casting: The main issue is finding the correct ratio of catalyst to the ounce of resin---if you are using PR. If you are using Alumilite, again the ratio is defined in the instructions---but you need a scale-so test casting is certainly worthwhile. TURN YOUR RESULTING BLANK. This is the best "acid test" of your work.

Color casting: Ratios are still important. Another factor will be the dye you use to color. Dyes affect the time it takes your resin to cure. When Dawn did casting, RED was still liquid the next morning. Black cured in about 10 minutes. HUGE variation from one dye to the next.

These are the things I suggest you learn BEFORE trying to cast "objects" or make "a simple three-color cast" as someone said to me, the other day.

TWO color is not simple---THREE color is worse!! If he had ever attempted it, he would know this. So, I asked and, no, he had not cast anything YET!!

Hope this helps,
Ed
 
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