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Post by Excrewchief on Mar 24, 2017 1:04:36 GMT -7
Here are the beginning of the basic tools that you will need . Most can be made if you want to keep it on a budget. And some work better than the very high dollar one's you can buy. In fact most that you make work better than the ones that cost way to much. Unfortunately untell you try them all you wont have a choice. Most people will not take the time to make one then go out and spend a bunch of money to buy it after you already made one. And a lot don't have the funds or it just does not make sence to spend that much buying they are very proud to sell you most of it. I know a guy who made some nice pressure pots that worked then went out later and spent a small fortune on a high dollar one almost 900.00 and it turned out to be very large clumsy and slow to use. Now there is a reason for it was the size. Some projects are very large and don't fit in the small whole made chambers. But ut is big and akward so it seldom gets used for normal day to day work. If that was all i had i dont think i would do much work. So i hope this helps most of you. Lets get started and ask questions and please ask them here not by P.M. so others can also see. Thanks  |
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Post by Excrewchief on Mar 24, 2017 1:07:26 GMT -7
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Post by Excrewchief on Mar 24, 2017 1:08:19 GMT -7
 The above photos is the vacuum chamber that i use daily. Greg madethis one for himself he put the lexan in top so you can see when you are vacuuming down the silicone when you are doing this it will expand almost three times the size of what you started with so if you start vacuuming down 3oz of silicone when it foams up it would fill most of a coffie cupfor a minute then it will get smaller and smaller down to what you started with after all the air and moisture gets vaccumed out it will look a little different also. Smoother cleaner kinda creamier than when you started. I'll try to remember to get a photo for you. Back to what i was saying greg had modified this to make it bigger so you can fit the resin bottles in it so when he starts his day he can vac the resin silicone clear resin etc . Anyway i really liked it borrowed it and still have this one. It has turned out to be my favorite one to use it took me some time fixing all the pen holes . Lucky for me it had them or he might be using it instead of me . ( thanks greg) because it is my personal favorite. And i know he had to put a lot of work in it. |
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Post by Excrewchief on Mar 24, 2017 1:53:14 GMT -7
Now here is a couple of pressure pots ( presto ) of course .  I know you here us say presto now these are the old aluminum pans made by presto. The reason we use these is the gasket design and they are very easy to convert to a pressure pot. And the gaskets hold up really good. You dont want to have the gasket leaking a bunch of air while your in a hurry trying to get the mold poured top on it . Put in the pot add some weight to keep top of mold pushed down while you get the lid on And aired up before it sets up and hardends on you i have one pot that seems to work about every forth or fith time you try to use it i lnow i waisted way to much resin because of it. I have seen online people use the new electric pressure pots and i see alot of them at goodwill but i have never tryed to convert one of these yet. Probably should i saw a youtube vidio tonight but i did not watch it. Maybe its very easy and fast to convert and use. I can see one possibility with it is its electric and if you got one that works i could see how it could maybe be used to preheat the molds in the winter maybe use to preheat small silicone molds to dry faster and better who knows not me ( yet ) potential is definitely there. |
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Post by Mastercaster on Apr 27, 2017 9:49:01 GMT -7
 I want to point out a problem that will cause you to have problems. This is a 6 quart pressure pot that I poured resin in, maybe 300 milliliters. This surface will stay flat for your molds. Without this, the parts in the center of your mold may not make good parts. The flash around them may be thick. I set this pot on a level surface and poured the material in and put the lid on and slowly turned up the pressure and let it cure. What happens when you put about 60 psi on it the bottom will bulge out and it will no longer be flat. 60 PSI is supposed to be the magic number to crush bubbles in resin. |
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Post by fordboy1975 on May 14, 2017 19:38:00 GMT -7
I don't know how to cast resin, I've never done it before, where do I start, and how do I make the molds, and pour the resin into it, I'm kinda confused with all the information on the internet, i just want a down and dirty explanation on how to do it.
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Post by Excrewchief on May 15, 2017 12:41:32 GMT -7
Sorry for the slow reply what are you wanting to cast small parts . Body's. Engines . Little parts for you projects . Just give me some idea and I will try my best to help you. The reason for all the questions is the quality. Can be a big difference. Small things you can get a nice part for very little effort. Big stuff like body's that a whole different story but just one or two for yourself it can be done . Thanks send as much info and even pic helps.
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Post by Mastercaster on May 15, 2017 16:26:40 GMT -7
I don't know how to cast resin, I've never done it before, where do I start, and how do I make the molds, and pour the resin into it, I'm kinda confused with all the information on the internet, i just want a down and dirty explanation on how to do it. Hi fordboy, There are some examples in the UNDER CONSTRUCTION subject that should help you get started. I also sent you a PM. Time and patience will be a must when starting out |
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Post by grozny on Jun 10, 2017 18:21:21 GMT -7
The Presto pressure cookers are the way to go. If you live in Eastern Europe, look for Khorg brand. They were built in Russia and Yugoslavia and are built like tanks. They also already have a spot in the lid to accept the air fitting. The lids (cooker pots) fit much better than a paint pot ever will. If you use a paint pot, consider using f pairs of vise grips instead of the stupid little wing-nut clamp things. They are much faster, and it sure matters when using the faster resins. You have them setup so all you do is clamp them down 90 degrees apart. The pressure cookers from the 70's and early 80's are still better though. The lid design is so much better. You just have to keep the surfaces clean to prevent leaks or damage to the gasket, especially if you cast with it on it's side. Brushing mold release onto the gasket twice a week helps.
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Post by Mastercaster on Jun 10, 2017 19:18:34 GMT -7
Thank you,
It is good to know what exists beyond the USA. I spray mold release occasionally on my pot gaskets too.
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Post by gothic on Jun 10, 2017 21:52:25 GMT -7
The Presto pressure cookers are the way to go. If you live in Eastern Europe, look for Khorg brand. They were built in Russia and Yugoslavia and are built like tanks. They also already have a spot in the lid to accept the air fitting. The lids (cooker pots) fit much better than a paint pot ever will. If you use a paint pot, consider using f pairs of vise grips instead of the stupid little wing-nut clamp things. They are much faster, and it sure matters when using the faster resins. You have them setup so all you do is clamp them down 90 degrees apart. The pressure cookers from the 70's and early 80's are still better though. The lid design is so much better. You just have to keep the surfaces clean to prevent leaks or damage to the gasket, especially if you cast with it on it's side. Brushing mold release onto the gasket twice a week helps. Kewl, thanx for the heads up on this |
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Post by gothic on Jun 10, 2017 21:55:41 GMT -7
I want to point out a problem that will cause you to have problems. This is a 6 quart pressure pot that I poured resin in, maybe 300 milliliters. This surface will stay flat for your molds. Without this, the parts in the center of your mold may not make good parts. The flash around them may be thick. I set this pot on a level surface and poured the material in and put the lid on and slowly turned up the pressure and let it cure. What happens when you put about 60 psi on it the bottom will bulge out and it will no longer be flat. 60 PSI is supposed to be the magic number to crush bubbles in resin. Could ya of used like a round mini BBQ grate inside, with the legs on it, kinda what I use to hang parts on when I do chrome I will post a pic tomorrow of my "Chroming Rack", lol. |
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Post by grozny on Jun 11, 2017 0:16:54 GMT -7
I have used what you describe, and use a replaceable disk on top made from white sign sheet, available at any brigadier, Kiber, ACE, Magnit etc. When the disk gets covered in hardened resin I make a new one. I find the one above with the resin cast into the pot is a great idea, I would probably recommend doing that and making replaceable disks and spraying them with mold release or Neosporin ointment. (Cheap from your chemist, and it's merely Vaseline with an antibacterial component). I like that it comes in small tubes and isn't as greasy. I am adverse to spray as it ends up on everything, and if you paint, you know about the potential for fisheyes and other drama. That aerosol travels pretty far.
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Post by 1320wayne on Jun 15, 2017 19:48:44 GMT -7
I use pressure pots from Harbor Freight. Normally run around $40 and have never let me down so far. You can't see in this picture but i use a plastic base made from heavy stock styrene that is cut and designed to follow the contour of the pressure pot laid on it's side so the mold box can sit flat and level.  |
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Post by 1320wayne on Jun 15, 2017 19:55:37 GMT -7
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Post by Mastercaster on Jun 15, 2017 20:36:28 GMT -7
I was doing this with a different silicone I was using. After awhile they started to come apart so I switched silicone.
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Post by Excrewchief on Jun 15, 2017 21:57:07 GMT -7
This is one of the reasons I started this forum. Everyone has different ideas and there is so many to choose and try.
Some work great for you and dont for me etc. And when I first started I could not find much at all online now there is getting to be alot out there .
But we can all share . I know i did and still do make lots of mistakes and I always want an answer good or bad. Plus I still forget so much. And somebody will mention something and its like ok I remember doing that. Greg used to grind up his old molds and has alot more that should be . But myself I'm always in to big of a hurry and would never take the time .other things I will do 10 other people will think im an idiot. But that is another story what I would like to say is thank you and keep them coming. Good or bad it helps a lot of people we 80 to 100 views a day and that is a good things thanks again. Everyone keep them coming..............
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