What kind of aluminum powder is best for cold casting?

[asok]

What kind of aluminum powder is best for cold casting? I have used 1000 mesh and Smooth On Smooth cas 325 and it comes out ok. I never get a good metal finish. I was going to maybe play with putting the power in the fiberglass resin but, am not sure what resin to buy. Any suggestions?

 

[JBReplicas]

Theres a member here, MFXREPLICAS, His name is Neill and he will be able to answer your question im sure, good luck :thumbsup

 

[asok]

Thanks.

 

[Don Jarr]

Hi m8

Normally the harder the resin, the better it comes out. Also if itÂ’s something that is being cast flat, as in the face that will be showing down, using a slower setting resin will let the metal powder settle. I have tried this in all sorts of resin, and by far the best is normal polyester resin, but itÂ’s a tad brittle to be practical. I am currently making some pulse rifle grenades and using aluminium powder, with sika g26 resin which is a five minute gel time. I made the mould in a piece of plastic pipe, and spin it horizontally in my lather for 5 minutes and this has a centrifugal effect pushing the denser metal powder to the outside. So far comes out a treat. It seems the harder the resin the better it polishes up.

Don