first time casting

[topbind]

I want to turn a bottle stopper out of clear casting with a fishing fly in center. I bought some casting and hardner from Michaels.If i mold this in a plastic cup can i turn it and sand it to a clear finish? any advist would be great.

 

[sbell111]

Yes.

However, use care in your selection of cups. PR will eat some plastic cups. I generally buy the generic colored plastic cups. They will still melt, but slowly enough that I can mix and pour before hand.

A couple weeks ago, I was mixing up red, white, and blue resin for some US Flag bottle stoppers. Since I didn't need much resin of each color, I didn't use the large generic cups. I used the smaller 'Solo' brand ones, instead. The Solo cups started leaking on my workbench before I had a chance to complete the pour.

Neither the Solo cups nor the generic ones would have worked as molds.

 

[topbind]

So you are saying that using the cup as a mold wont work only to mix and pour.

 

[Jarheaded]

Plastic cups don't make for good molds. A couple of paper cups stuck inside each other would work better, but your best bet would be to buy a silicone mold.

 

[gketell]

Or just buy some PVC pipe and end cap. Comes in 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2", 2", 3", 4". Just buy the size you need.

Someone said that the plastic cups made from PETE plastic hold up to PR but I haven't tried it yet.

GK

 

[Russianwolf]

Once you have a mold, you may still have problems with what you are shooting for. To cast something like a fishing fly, you will likely need to cast it under presure or vaccum. The reason being that you will likely get air bubbles trapped next to/around the item you are casting. The air bubbles likely won't rise to the surface as they will have something to hold onto (the fly).

Good luck.

 

[Glass Scratcher]

Go and ask your local Publix, Walmart, Walgreens Pharmacist- you pick which, for 2 or 3 of the 30dram amber plastic pill bottles. They are about 3 inches tall by 1 5/8 or larger depending on the manufacturer. They are made of Polypropylene(they are marked recycling code 5 with PP under the triangle). They will not melt or stick(post curing) to with Polyester or Polyurethane resins. I posted some photos in another thread a month or so back about this. I would repost them but the computer with all my photos crashed and burned.

 

[PaulDoug]

Just to mix your PR in. I think a plastic cup is OK. Just don't use it as a mold. I mix epoxy in plastic cups all the time. No problem. If it starts to "go off" before I'm ready, I put it somewhere it won't hurt anything, like outside on the ground. If it goes off it will melt the cup.

 

[RONB]

I buy and use the cheap clear plastic cups from Wally World and the work just fine for mixing.

 

[sbell111]

For golf ball molds, someone here recommended these containers: http://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/fin24d.html

I bought a dozen and they work very well.

 

[Paul Downes]

Ditto what RONB just said. I look for the clear cups with the '1' in the triangle. I haven't had any of those melt, using them for mixing.

 

[sbell111]

Originally posted by sbell111

For golf ball molds, someone here recommended these containers: http://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/fin24d.html

I bought a dozen and they work very well.

Ummm, what I meant to post is that for bottle stopper molds, someone here recommended these golf ball containers.

D'Oh!

 

[mick]

I use the crystal clear cups to mix in. for lack of a better name I've always called em Highball cups cause the size reminds me a highball glass. holds about 6 to 8oz and made from a hard plastic. They're pretty cheap and being crystal clear you can se your colors really well. They might be too big for stopper blanks but great for mixing....no melting

 

[Skye]

You have any empty prescription pill bottles?

 

[Glass Scratcher]

Originally posted by Skye

You have any empty prescription pill bottles?

Who are you asking?

I advocate the pill bottle route (see above), recycling or retasking at it's finest.

 

[jason_r]

I'll also second (third?) the used prescription bottle for
a mold.

If you don't have any/enough, find your local freecycle
list and ask. I did and a day later had 3 grocery bags full.