Blind_Squirrel
Member
I know a few of you use an ultrasonic cleaner to degas your resin. Do you degas the resin before or after you have added the hardner?
Degassing using an ultrasonic cleaner
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its_virgil
Member
Yes! I do it after and others do it before. I know how long I can "zap" it before it starts to get too thick (with the amount of catalyst I use).
Do a good turn daily!
Don
Do a good turn daily!
Don
Blind_Squirrel
Member
Thanks!
I am only using 3 drops/oz. like you. How long are you zapping it?
I am only using 3 drops/oz. like you. How long are you zapping it?
And I do it before adding the catalyst. There are probably good reasons for either approach. Doing it before eliminates the chance of the resin setting up as ultrasonics does introduce heat, but creates the opportunity to introduce air back into solution when you stir in the catalyst. Either way is big improvement over not degasing at all, so whichever way you're more comfortable with will probably work, particularly if you use a small amount of pressure during the cast to make sure the last of the air stays in solution.
I zap for 5-10 minutes
I zap for 5-10 minutes
Blind_Squirrel
Member
I am hitting my resin for approx. 5 min. I don't see it forcing the bubbles up/out of the resin. I have to coax them out with a toothpick.
I do have a pretty old ultrasonic cleaner that I am using. I fill the water to the fill line and put a double-layered cup with approx. 3 oz. of resin in. Suggestions?
I do have a pretty old ultrasonic cleaner that I am using. I fill the water to the fill line and put a double-layered cup with approx. 3 oz. of resin in. Suggestions?
its_virgil
Member
480 seconds, that's as long as the timer will go...8 minutes. This is in an airconditioned shop and the resin is getting close to that stringy globby state, but not jelled. You may need to do it less if the shop is hot. I do not turn on the heat setting in the unit.
Do a good turn daily!
Don
Do a good turn daily!
Don
I only put about 1/2 inch of water on the bottom. I put my resin in a 16oz deli style container - the kind they sell potato salad in and set it in the water. Think you may either have too much water or the double layer cup is not transferring the ultrasonic energy. Try on of the disposable plastic containers; the ones made from polypropylene (recycle code 5) have plenty of heat resistance.
Jerryconn
Member
I do it for three minutes after mixing in the colors and then for 3 minutes after mixing in the catalyst. To date I have had no problems. I use 5-6 drops per 2 oz. of resin.
Smokey7385
Member
First post here -
Where do you folks get the ultrasonic cleaner. Are they available at Wally-World or ???
Where do you folks get the ultrasonic cleaner. Are they available at Wally-World or ???
rhahnfl
Member
Try Harbor Freight. I have seen some good deals there.
Got mine on ebay for $25
Glass Scratcher
Member
Originally posted by Hosspen
I'm thinking of making a pinto bean pen, I'm wondering if maybe I should "degas" the blanks? [)]
Perhaps a drop of Bean-O per ounce of beans would be best in this case.[8D]
Glass Scratcher
Member
What size is it? It only looks like the small jewelry cleaners are going in that bidding range.
This is the one I got but not from this seller
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PRO-LARGE-D...ryZ67720QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Guess it was a bargain. If I remember, there were a bunch selling near this price when I got mine and then a few popped up for less. Keep watching.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PRO-LARGE-D...ryZ67720QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Guess it was a bargain. If I remember, there were a bunch selling near this price when I got mine and then a few popped up for less. Keep watching.
Smokey7385
Member
Thanks guys.
I made my first pour last night. I poured into my ice cube mold and put it on my air compressor while it was running to produce the vibration to hopefully purge the air. We'll see how it turns out this evening.
I made my first pour last night. I poured into my ice cube mold and put it on my air compressor while it was running to produce the vibration to hopefully purge the air. We'll see how it turns out this evening.
Freethinker
Member
Was that the Codyson, Model: CD3800 .....??
Are the one pint cleaners big enough, or do you need a +2 liter cleaner??
Glass Scratcher
Member
It looks and is described amazingly like the 1.6L HF model
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93035
I don't know. I don't have one yet. Still waiting on a sale.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93035
I don't know. I don't have one yet. Still waiting on a sale.
The only size requirement is that the container you are using to hold the resin while degasing will fit.
Looks like the HF model and the one I got are essentially the same. If you are doing small batches, a smaller unit will work.
Looks like the HF model and the one I got are essentially the same. If you are doing small batches, a smaller unit will work.
TBone
Member
Does it degas easier/better from a larger shallow container than from say a drinking cup?
I haven't run that particular xperiment, but I have done both smaller (about 3-4 ounce) and larger (about 16 ounce) in the same ultrasonic unit and achieved similar results. Its really a very simple process and if the quantity of resin is a little larger or if its a little cold and more viscous I just leave it in the ultrasonics for a few more minutes.
Personally I would try to stay away from containers that are too shallow to minimize the chances of getting any water in the resin, or if you do use a shallow container, just keep the water level well below the rim of the container.