Help with my first casting...

[badger]

So, I'm getting ready to do a cast blank for the first time. I've some basic resin casting so I'm familiar with some of the concepts, but pen blanks are a different story.

I have clear PR from Michaels craft store, and the catalyst.

I was hoping to use the insides of PVC as a mold, since it's already round.

Questions:

1. what is the working time of Michaels PR?
2. Do I need a mold release with the PVC pipe?
3. how do I cap the end of the pipe?

Any tips? or links to articles or posts would be great!

badger

 

[gketell]

1) Working time is several 10s of minutes. Time to removal from mold is 4 hours and up depending on temp, humidity, amount of mekp you add in.

2) Some say yes, some say no. If it sets quickly enough it will shrink away from the PVC. But it also depends on the pvc. I can't tell you more than that because I don't use pvc. Sorry.

3) PVC end cap. You will want to degass and then pressure, if you can. If not, at least degass. You can put it on your out-of-balance washer or on a scroll saw table, or anything else that vibrates.

 

[its_virgil]

Badger,
Have you not looked in the library here on IAP. There are several articles on casting polyester resin.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Originally posted by badger



Any links to articles or posts would be great!

badger