Originally posted by Hello
how much might it cost to get set up with all that would be needed to do some casting?
I've got a number of pieces of wood that I've been saving for "worthless wood" blanks and quite a few corn cobs I want to stabalize.
Is there a "ready built" system of compressor, tank, valves/guages, tubing that I could buy? what goop should I use for stabilizing? can I put that "pearly" stuff in any goop I use?
That's alot of questions each leading to several alternative methods.
You might want to wander around this area of the forums for a bit reading several threads. Browsing the library is also a very good way to get this information. A forum search will also help answer individual questions. If you have any specific questions that you can't easily find the answer to, don't hesitate to start a thread.
I'll try to answer your questions the best I can:
1. For a pressure system, about $50 if you already have a compressor. For a vacuum system, it can be done for 15 bucks or so, but a good, easy to use system will cost maybe $100 and up if you use a HF paint pot and find a used pump locally or on ebay.
2. While yu might be able to find a specialty-built system, it will cost you tons more than you could build your own for. They are easy to build. An article on how to build one can be found here:
http://content.penturners.org/articles/2007/pressurepot.pdf
3. There are several products that can be used to stabilize wood. I usually use Minwax fast drying polyurethane as described in this article:
http://content.penturners.org/articles/2004/polyurethane1.pdf
That article also shows the cheap way to build a vacuum system. Many people don't stabilize corn cobs using pressure/vacuum. They merely use CA on-the-fly as explained here:
http://content.penturners.org/articles/2004/corncobpen.pdf
4. If you are using PR or alumilite you can add dyes, pigments, pearl powder, or whatever to color the resin. A number of people dye wood blanks as part of stabilizing it, but I haven't figured out a method that I can make work.