Is this possible? I need to make multiple casts of a crystal, so they need to be clear and bubble free. I don't have access to a pressure pot - am I outta luck?
Clear castings without a pressure pot?
- Thread starter Hecubus114
- Start date
SUPERprops
Well-Known Member
I think you might be out of luck man. It's very hard to cast bubble free let alone free of all the millions of tiny bubbles. depending on how big it is you might be able to get a cheap pressure paint tank which can be used to cast it in.
The crystal I need is maybe 4 inches tall and 2 inches wide... I know nothing about pressure pots - how small can you get them?
Qui-Gonzalez
Master Member
exoray
Master Member
2 1/2 Gallon is a common paint pot size and cheap easy to find and re-purpose solution...
As for necessity, I would say you are wasting your time and money even attempting to find a way around pressure casting...
Yep that's the setup I have been using for over a year. It works very well but you need at least 40psi to pressure cast clear resin, anything less wouldn't compress the bubbles enough.
exoray
Master Member
If you follow their sales (yeah it's on a small sale now) you can get it for 40-60% off sometimes...
For me I just kept my eye out on Craigslist and Ebay for someone local selling a used 2 1/2 gallon paint pot... I got my first one for $10 local, a built like tank vintage Montgomery Wards rebrand, and then I found another of the same style a few years later, brand new in the box for $20 that some was selling on Ebay from an estate sale...
Now I have my grand daddy pot I picked up last year, a 10 gallon pressure paint pop rated up to 110 PSI, the beast weighs in at just under 100lbs but 5 gallon buckets drop right in with room to spare! I paid I believe around $100 delivered for it as no one wanted to pay the outrageous shipping so I was the only on that bid on it...
So keep your eyes out if you want a deal they are out there...
Never used it, but this stuff might be thin enough to case without pressure.
EasyFlo Clear
there's a company, brickintheyard, on youtube that have a ton of casting videos and they recommend this stuff often. You should check out their stuff.
EasyFlo Clear
there's a company, brickintheyard, on youtube that have a ton of casting videos and they recommend this stuff often. You should check out their stuff.
exoray
Master Member
Doesn't necessarily have to be but from my experience yeah make the mold under the same PSI as you will be casting... If the mold is not made under pressure any entrapped air pockets in the silicone will compress when casting and can deform the mold, or...
Even worse I have experienced what I will call a 'prickly' (think afternoon beard stubble) surface when pressure casting in molds that where not made under pressure, this causes a bunch of little scratches in the silicone when removing the part as well as requiring the entire surface of the part to be smoothed out... All those microscopic air bubbles in the silicone that never caused any issue on regular casting can jump out like a beast when casting under pressure...
No where near enough open time to even get the bigger bubbles out let alone the microscopic sized ones...
Trust me you will spend more time, effort and frustration trying to find a way around the pressure pot then you will simply getting the pressure pot and getting superior results right away...
SUPERprops
Well-Known Member
i've used that before, worked great. I've also seen a smaller like 2 quart one
Besides that listed resin is amber not clear.
Hrm, didn't catch that... I saw some stuff somewhere that poured like water and was just as clear. It was intended for making awards with the text suspended inside. I thought it was that stuff, but can't seem to find what I'm thinking of.
Poly-Optic 14 Series
found it, but they recommend pressure and vacuum degassing for best results... I don't remember them using it in the videos I watched, though it's been a while.
found it, but they recommend pressure and vacuum degassing for best results... I don't remember them using it in the videos I watched, though it's been a while.
exoray
Master Member
You can use it as is for vacuum as well, you just can't see what it happening
With a a little trial and error you don't really need to see what is happening all the time when vacuuming you can develop a pattern that works if you do it often enough with the same products, but there are certainly times I would like a clear lid... Nothing like missing your pattern and having a boil over, that instantly makes you wish you had the clear lid...I have a universal vacuum and pressure gauge on the tank and an air hose quick connect on the tank, with opposite quick connects on the air compressor and vacuum pump, easy swapping between both pressure and vacuum...
Mxlplx
Sr Member
I've watched my buddy pour flawless clear castings without a pressure pot. I'm not saying it is the correct way to do it, but it worked for him.
He always said to "Pour slow"! If its an open mold, pour slow from one corner of the mold and let it fill slowly. If it's a closedmold with just a pour spru and a vent, again, "Pour Slowly" hitting the wall of the pour spru and let it flow slowly.
This is just a helpful hint, might not be the right way, but it worked for him!
He always said to "Pour slow"! If its an open mold, pour slow from one corner of the mold and let it fill slowly. If it's a closedmold with just a pour spru and a vent, again, "Pour Slowly" hitting the wall of the pour spru and let it flow slowly.
This is just a helpful hint, might not be the right way, but it worked for him!
I've used this product before to embed coins into paperweights. They came out crystal clear.
Maybe?
Casting, Potting, and Encapsulating Resins
(first item on page)
Maybe?
Casting, Potting, and Encapsulating Resins
(first item on page)
