West Systems Epoxy Experiences

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SmokeGSU

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Apr 18, 2019
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25
Location
Georgia
I'm new to resin casting and rather than go with the gold standard Alumilite, I decided to give West Systems a shot. A lot of that decision was because of the handy pumping system. I've used both mica powders and Alumilite dyes to color my epoxy, and I'm using the 206 to allow longer time to get the molds into the pressure pot.

West Systems is very runny, or at least the combination I'm using. I'm wondering if others have had this same experience? If you want only one solid color, it's wonderful, and I've created some awesome cholla cactus blanks with a single color epoxy, but at times when I've tried to combine colors to create those really awesome resin blanks you see for sell online, the colors end up mixing together and don't stay separated and distinct. Sometimes this creates a nice subtle effect, but that isn't always the effect that I want - I want the distinct colors. Have others experienced this? Is there a way to "harden" the epoxy before the pour so that it isn't so runny?
 
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vtgaryw

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Joined
Jul 24, 2012
Messages
657
Location
Milton, VT
Stands to reason. West 105 w/205 hardener is 975 cps. Alumilite Clear Cast mixed is 2600 cps. West makes a lot of fillers, not sure which of them might or might not work for turning, but they have wonderful tech support if you call them.

-gary
 

SmokeGSU

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Joined
Apr 18, 2019
Messages
25
Location
Georgia
Gary, I'm not familiar with the cps rating you've shown, but I assume that's an indicator of how "runny" or "thick" the mixture will be?
 

lorbay

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Jul 2, 2009
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3,378
Location
BC. Canada
Gary, I'm not familiar with the cps rating you've shown, but I assume that's an indicator of how "runny" or "thick" the mixture will be?
I use the 410 fairing powder and you can make it as thick as you want. These also accept colours.
Lin.
 

vtgaryw

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2012
Messages
657
Location
Milton, VT
Gary, I'm not familiar with the cps rating you've shown, but I assume that's an indicator of how "runny" or "thick" the mixture will be?

Yes, exactly. Centipose. For comparison, a thin CA might be as low as 5 CPS (practically water.) A thick might be up around 700 or so.

-gary
 
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