Turning Amazing Clear Cast - How do you do it?

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

CabinetMaker

Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
256
Location
Arvada, CO
This is my first time working with Amazing Clear Cast. I recently cast a blank and put it on the lathe. The main problem I encountered is that I could not sand it to a clear and glossy finish. Try as I might, I couldn't get the scratches out. I started with a very gentle hand on my tools to minimize chip out. That part went well. Then I started sanding using the Plastic Finishing Kit for Pen Turners from PSI. I have worked with various acrylic blanks in the past and this system has always produced a nice glossy finish. This time it did not work at all.

I would appreciate any tips/tricks/traps for producing a nice clear glossy finish with the Amazing Clear Cast.

Thank you.
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

PBorowick

Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
264
Location
Portland, Oregon
I think it is because the amazing clear cast doesn't become as hard as the alumilite clear. That is if I remember previous conversations I have read correctly.
 

Chippa

Member
Joined
May 22, 2019
Messages
67
Location
New York
This is correct but you can still get a mirror polish, just takes much longer. You can heat up amazing clear pretty easily.

what is your sanding procedure?

a microfine paste also helps
 

Kenny Durrant

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2012
Messages
2,480
Location
Sachse Tx. 75048
Donn I'm not familiar with the product you mentioned. I tried to research it and found that Alumilite carries something by that name. If it's their product try calling them and they will try to answer your questions. I use their Alumilite Slow resin a lot. Just off the top of my head here are some possibilities in my opinion. How long did you let the blank cure? Not counting the time in the pressure pot the resin needs time to cure. That can take several hours to days to happen. If it's an epoxy resin they're not very tolerant of heat. So when sanding any heat buildup will cause it to soften and will give you all kinds of problems. Not all resins polish and shine as well as the others. Alumilite doesn't shine as well as P.R. When I finish sanding and polishing an Alumilite blank I put a coat of carnauba wax, stick form, and that bring out a really nice shine. Good Luck
 

JoeCallahan

Member
Joined
May 22, 2018
Messages
235
Location
Bolingbrook, IL
Amazing clear cast is Alumilite's epoxy resin. I've used it for a few years now. It sounds to me that you didn't mix your parts A and B well enough. I agree with Chippa that it's very easy to heat up the resin if you press too hard during sanding. But if changing your sanding technique doesn't resolve the problem, then your mixing is the problem. Try putting the bottles in a warm water bath prior to casting. The heat will thin the liquids.
 
Top Bottom