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Registered Member #3888
Joined: Sun May 15 2011, 09:50PM
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 649
hey guys, I'm thinking about encasing some interesting indium metal pieces i made by throwing vials of the molten metal into a beaker of water and letting them explode into cool shapes. They're cool little sculptures but they're fragile. I need something that I could easily pour over them, inside of a mold, and have it solidify nice and clear with minimal air bubbles. Anyone have any suggested compounds from experience? thanks
Registered Member #2939
Joined: Fri Jun 25 2010, 04:25AM
Location:
Posts: 615
You can buy polyester resin intended for exactly this purpose - its a slow cure so it doesn't heat up much, allowing large blocks to be cast in one hit. You may want to apply vacuum initially to remove air bubbles. I'd look in an art supplies shop for the resin.
I guess you could get spray polyurethene. What would be cool is if you electroplate them with a thick layer of some sort of compound. Gallium would also be cool, that is, if you don't live in Florida where room temp is above 85 degrees hehe
Registered Member #2431
Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639
ive used the epoxy casting resin and the polyester casting resin, both work really well, if you follow the instructions to the letter, its the epoxy that takes 24-48 hrs to fully solidify, the polyester one (with methyl-ketone peroxide catalyst) can be made to solidify 5 cu in, in about 45-60 min, first comes out a light amber, then shrinks and turns as clear as can be, but stinks like hell for 2 hours.
the polyester can be used for almost any volume pour, but the epoxy is only good for 6oz volumes max!
I would reccomend testing your chosen casting volume first though, its an art. Castin Craft are the makers i like best.
Registered Member #3888
Joined: Sun May 15 2011, 09:50PM
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 649
Alright thanks guys. I'll pick up something from the art or hardware store next time I'm there and try it out on something else first. It was just a random idea. I've been in a very deep, artsy mood for a few months now, and thought it'd be cool to cast those things in a clear cube for display or gifts. I've also been making lots of rings and few sculptures. lol. I'm crazy... I've also recently gained access to a laser engraving machine at work, so that might come into play soon. Anyone ever stick there arm under one of those lasers? I've been curious to try it. It just barely ablates the metal off the surface (like, enough to just take the paint off of a soda can) so I don't imagine it would do much damage to skin, if any.
Registered Member #2939
Joined: Fri Jun 25 2010, 04:25AM
Location:
Posts: 615
Forty wrote ...
Anyone ever stick there arm under one of those lasers? I've been curious to try it. It just barely ablates the metal off the surface (like, enough to just take the paint off of a soda can) so I don't imagine it would do much damage to skin, if any.
You're not serious, are you? We have one that happily cuts through 10mm acrylic, but barely touches metal. The damage to your arm would be ... severe. You would also have to bypass safety interlocks to stick your arm in through an open door, and that means a risk of beam exposure outside the cutting area. Bad idea.
If you want to experiment, use a piece of steak, not your arm.
Anyone ever stick there arm under one of those lasers? I've been curious to try it. It just barely ablates the metal off the surface (like, enough to just take the paint off of a soda can) so I don't imagine it would do much damage to skin, if any.
You're not serious, are you? We have one that happily cuts through 10mm acrylic, but barely touches metal. The damage to your arm would be ... severe. You would also have to bypass safety interlocks to stick your arm in through an open door, and that means a risk of beam exposure outside the cutting area. Bad idea.
If you want to experiment, use a piece of steak, not your arm.
I picture a new business starting. It will be a KFC spinoff. It would be LCB--Laser Cooked Beef :P
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clear potting compound suggestions
