Casting - HELP!

[Pdub]

I started with a silicon mold. They turned out pretty good. (for the first batch)

I am using Alumilite Clear This http://www.alumilite.com/store/p/933-Alumilite-Clear.aspx

I tested it using an open mold (1 piece [I was too impatient to wait an additional 6-8 hours to see any results after spending 100$ materials]) and a closed mold ( 2 piece )

The open mold produced a lot of bubble even though when i poured it, there were virtually none. ( I under stand this is what a degasser is used for. I just have not gotten one yet) Is there anything I can do other wise.

I also made a cast with the 2 piece and... it became brittle and kind exploded out of my mold. (I did not heat the silicon prior, is that my problem?) I will post a picture below of this.

Currently I have a 2 piece cast in the mold. I heated the mold and made sure there are no bubbles at all. Now it is time to play the waiting game.

AND... I tested the clear with some blue dye I got. This ... http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007X4AGE6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01

But when I added the TINYEST amount. not even a full drop, I used a needle then dipped it into the resin and mixed and it made that test  cap come out sky blue, but solid. Is there a trick to getting the clear to come our trans? Am I suing the wrong material for the resin?

Thanks in advance for the help! 

[Pdub]

Left is clear but had bubbles. Right is absolutely brittle.

[zazie_rx]

I started with a silicon mold. They turned out pretty good. (for the first batch)

I am using Alumilite Clear This http://www.alumilite.com/store/p/933-Alumilite-Clear.aspx

I tested it using an open mold (1 piece [I was too impatient to wait an additional 6-8 hours to see any results after spending 100$ materials]) and a closed mold ( 2 piece )

The open mold produced a lot of bubble even though when i poured it, there were virtually none. ( I under stand this is what a degasser is used for. I just have not gotten one yet) Is there anything I can do other wise.

I also made a cast with the 2 piece and... it became brittle and kind exploded out of my mold. (I did not heat the silicon prior, is that my problem?) I will post a picture below of this.

Currently I have a 2 piece cast in the mold. I heated the mold and made sure there are no bubbles at all. Now it is time to play the waiting game.

AND... I tested the clear with some blue dye I got. This ... http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007X4AGE6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01

But when I added the TINYEST amount. not even a full drop, I used a needle then dipped it into the resin and mixed and it made that test  cap come out sky blue, but solid. Is there a trick to getting the clear to come our trans? Am I suing the wrong material for the resin?

Thanks in advance for the help! 

I'm not really sure whats going on with your color, perhaps the quantities of resin you are using is just too small.

When it comes to your bubbles, when you mix the two parts together, you introduce a lot of air... No matter how careful you are. It may not look like it when you mix, but once it solidifies it becomes much more apparent. After you mix, this is where you could use the vacuum chamber to pull those air bubbles out you just made. All those tiny little specs in your resin are air bubbles. Depending on how your pouring your resin, those bigger bubbles are probably pockets of trapped air when you're pouring. You may need to figure out a way to force that air out, perhaps by filling from the bottom, or just overfilling it enough to force those bubbles out (i use plastic disposable syringes). The extra step after this is of course is storing the cast under pressure to compress any remaining bubbles until they are invisible.

[zazie_rx]

I'm guessing the reason why your piece broke when you tried to demold it, was because you demolded before it was cured completely. The 'demold time' is not when the piece has been cured completely, thats when the manufacturer thinks it safe enough to handle. With things as small and as complex as caps, its best to let it cure completely in the mold before attempting to remove it, otherwise it will be brittle, give it 12-24 hours and see if your results are different.

[retrochick]

I'm guessing the reason why your piece broke when you tried to demold it, was because you demolded before it was cured completely. The 'demold time' is not when the piece has been cured completely, thats when the manufacturer thinks it safe enough to handle. With things as small and as complex as caps, its best to let it cure completely in the mold before attempting to remove it, otherwise it will be brittle, give it 12-24 hours and see if your results are different.

I like you and your caps. Let's be friends

[zazie_rx]

I'm guessing the reason why your piece broke when you tried to demold it, was because you demolded before it was cured completely. The 'demold time' is not when the piece has been cured completely, thats when the manufacturer thinks it safe enough to handle. With things as small and as complex as caps, its best to let it cure completely in the mold before attempting to remove it, otherwise it will be brittle, give it 12-24 hours and see if your results are different.

I like you and your caps. Let's be friends

Sure! Your caps are pretty fancy too, I think If were able to sculpt like you, my caps would be a whole lot more interesting .

[__red__]

Invest in a vacuum chamber and pressure pot.  Also, avoid water.  Everything must be completely dry.  Water makes bubbles and weak parts.

[ImpendingxDoom]

The alumilite colorant will come out transparent if the resin cures properly. Most likely reason for it to become opaque is moisture. That particular resin is very viscous and does not degas easily on it own; the obvious shortcut is to find a method to degas it forcefully. If that is not an option, be VERY VERY gentle when mixing it. It has a long enough pot life that you can realistically mix it slowly enough that you won't put a lot of air into it, and you can still get a consistent mix. It will still take a lot of trial and error, and it tough to give exact instructions without knowing exactly what your environment is like. The best advice I can give you would be to contact a resin/silicone supplier of your choice, tell them what you are trying to achieve, what problems you have had in the past, and what the scope of you projects could include. They know the materials better than anyone here does, and can help you create decent quality casts with as high a success rate as possible.


Stick with it, its a fun hobby

[Binge]

The alumilite colorant will come out transparent if the resin cures properly. Most likely reason for it to become opaque is moisture. That particular resin is very viscous and does not degas easily on it own; the obvious shortcut is to find a method to degas it forcefully. If that is not an option, be VERY VERY gentle when mixing it. It has a long enough pot life that you can realistically mix it slowly enough that you won't put a lot of air into it, and you can still get a consistent mix. It will still take a lot of trial and error, and it tough to give exact instructions without knowing exactly what your environment is like. The best advice I can give you would be to contact a resin/silicone supplier of your choice, tell them what you are trying to achieve, what problems you have had in the past, and what the scope of you projects could include. They know the materials better than anyone here does, and can help you create decent quality casts with as high a success rate as possible.


Stick with it, its a fun hobby

someone tattoo this on my butt

[Nai_Calus]

someone tattoo this on my butt

Hold still.

[__red__]

This:

[Pdub]

Ordered a degassing chamber and vacuum! My wallet hurts.

[__red__]

Ordered a degassing chamber and vacuum! My wallet hurts.

So, how did it go?

[Pdub]

New Sale!

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=80180.msg2080072#msg2080072

[Sneaky Potato]

Ordered a degassing chamber and vacuum! My wallet hurts.

I'm about to pull the trigger as well...what vacuum chamber did you end up getting? I'm debating between a couple.

[Pdub]

Ordered a degassing chamber and vacuum! My wallet hurts.

I'm about to pull the trigger as well...what vacuum chamber did you end up getting? I'm debating between a couple.

Let's have a chat on Skype! (Just text messaging. I have some information that could get you started. )

[Pdub]

Ordered a degassing chamber and vacuum! My wallet hurts.

So, how did it go?

Really well!!