What happend

[neon007]

I have been doing my own castings for 5 years. I used to make handles for knives then I got bit by the pen bug. Last night I made a solid red casting that I planned to do some segmenting with. I used the same amount of mekp as always about 1 to 1-1/2% but something weird happened. The block started to turn black. It even turned the mold an orange color. Any ideas how this happened??? I am perplexed over this. Here is a pic so everyone can see what can happen.

 

[doberman]

My experience is when resin turns black moisture got into the mix somewhere - is it a liquid dye?

 

[neon007]

Yes it is more like a gel dye. I have used it many times and never had this happen. Maybe it was to old. Had it for a while

 

[Tubby]

Keith,

When using liquid dyes, I have found that using 1-2 more drops of mekp will help set it easier. I have never seen anything like that before though. How old was the dye?


Perplexed in Texas

Ed Jordan
Wichita Falls, TX

 

[neon007]

well over a year or two maybe

 

[gketell]

The mold looks like it got hot and started to melt. You say you used the same number of drops of mekp as you do with knife scales; do you make the block for the scales that thick? If not maybe you put too much mekp for the thickness of the block and it got wayyy too hot. The thicker the block the less mekp you need.

It's a theory anyway.

GK

 

[neon007]

yes the molds are the same and the knife scales are same thickness, I rip them in half

 

[gketell]

So much for That theory. []

Murphy must have just paid you a visit on this one. [B)]

GK