Sets like amber / glass

[Matthew Gates]

I'm looking for a product which is like something I saw in the US (the exact name I can't remember), It's a viscous fluid which sets like clear plastic / glass over a 24 hour period.  Used in crafts and jewelry making. If you were to pour this stuff over a miniature, it would be a little like setting it in amber.

Does anyone know of a good (and hopefully quite affordable) product available in the UK for this sort of thing?

Thanks,

Mouse.

[Spencer Owen]

I bought some of this polyester casting resin from The Beetroot Tree a couple of years ago for my sister;

http://art-supplies.thebeetroottree.com/clays-resins-and-liquids-for-modelling/resins/pt70?section=4

I think this is what you're looking for, although it is totally transparent, so you'd have to mix in something orange to give it an amber look.

Spencer

[Michael Erskine]

Back in the 70's I had a kit that used "Isopon Clear-Cast" that was
exactly for this purpose - probably illegal these days as working with
it was effectively like sniffing glue for hours on end!

This stuff may be similar...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EasyFlo-Clear-500ml-Fast-Cast-Polyurethane-Liquid-Plastic-Kit-/320832640294

On 1 November 2012 14:37, Matthew Gates <matth...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Matthew Gates]

That's the sort of thing.  There are craft supplies which sell in places like that one at HobbyCraft and the like, but they're over £5 for 60 ml for gunk in a pot with a glittery label on... 

This is much more like it. 

Thanks

[Kai Pays]

something like this maybe?

http://www.mindsetsonline.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=418_6_474&products_id=1009842

--
Regards, Kai Pays ॐ

[Bill Bigge]

Try clear casting Polyester resin - used for exactly this type of thing, you can get it from here:
http://www.tiranti.co.uk

You can also get pigments to give it different tints.

Direct link to the relevant page:
http://www.tiranti.co.uk/subdivision_product_list.asp?Content=Clear+Casting+Resin+-+Polyester+Resin+-+Casting&Subcategory=57&Subdivision=209

Be warned (from bitter experience) that if you want to cast something large then you need to do it in layers - the resin heats up as it cures and if there is too much you get thermal runaway - the resin can't cool quick enough and the temperature rockets, then it cracks. In my case it melted all the plastic and electronics I was carefully encasing!

If you fill a family sized ice cream tub with this stuff then you are going to have a bad time.

If you are pouring into a mould then it is a good idea to treat the mould with some release agent (parting agent)

Bill

[Matthew Gates]

What kind of thing works as a parting agent?  My first thought was talc, but that would presumably stick to the resin and ruin the clear finish... of can you rub it off with a very fine abrasive, and retain the finish?

[Matthew Gates]

I ordered some of the polytek 2 part stuff. Will post results when I've had a chance to play with it. 

[Bill Bigge]

Well you can buy proper stuff - from the same place - but I've used
furniture polishing wax in the past. The proper parting agents should go
onto the mould like fine polish so when properly applied you will get a
good finish straight away.

Sandpapering, even with the finest grade, will make the surface slightly
diffuse (which can be good for some effects). To get a better finish you
need some polishing compound, a cloth, and lots of stamina (or a dremmel
with a polishing head)

Bill

On 01/11/2012 16:37, Matthew Gates wrote:
> What kind of thing works as a parting agent? My first thought was talc,
> but that would presumably stick to the resin and ruin the clear
> finish... of can you rub it off with a very fine abrasive, and retain
> the finish?
>
>
> On 1 November 2012 16:12, Bill Bigge <bbi...@gmail.com

> <mailto:bbi...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Try clear casting Polyester resin - used for exactly this type of
> thing, you can get it from here:
> http://www.tiranti.co.uk
>
> You can also get pigments to give it different tints.
>
> Direct link to the relevant page:
> http://www.tiranti.co.uk/subdivision_product_list.asp?Content=Clear+Casting+Resin+-+Polyester+Resin+-+Casting&Subcategory=57&Subdivision=209
>
> Be warned (from bitter experience) that if you want to cast
> something large then you need to do it in layers - the resin heats
> up as it cures and if there is too much you get thermal runaway -
> the resin can't cool quick enough and the temperature rockets, then
> it cracks. In my case it melted all the plastic and electronics I
> was carefully encasing!
>
> If you fill a family sized ice cream tub with this stuff then you
> are going to have a bad time.
>
> If you are pouring into a mould then it is a good idea to treat the
> mould with some release agent (parting agent)
>
> Bill
>
>
> On 01/11/2012 15:52, Kai Pays wrote:
>> something like this maybe?
>>
>> http://www.mindsetsonline.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=418_6_474&products_id=1009842
>>
>>
>> On 1 November 2012 14:49, Spencer Owen <spe...@sowen.com

>> <mailto:spe...@sowen.com>> wrote:
>>
>> I bought some of this polyester casting resin from The
>> Beetroot Tree a couple of years ago for my sister;
>> http://art-supplies.thebeetroottree.com/clays-resins-and-liquids-for-modelling/resins/pt70?section=4
>> I think this is what you're looking for, although it is
>> totally transparent, so you'd have to mix in something orange
>> to give it an amber look.
>>
>> Spencer
>>
>>
>> On 1 November 2012 14:37, Matthew Gates <matth...@gmail.com

[Spencer Owen]

I know it's been bought up on the 'Awesome' thread before, but you might want to revisit this page again;

http://runawaybrainz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/audio-crystal-cmoy-freeform-headphone.html

Spencer

[Michael Erskine]

On 1 November 2012 16:37, Matthew Gates <matth...@gmail.com> wrote:
> What kind of thing works as a parting agent?

I seem to recall that the David's Isopon clear-cast kits had carnauba
wax for a releasing agent. Not 100% sure though. Whatever product you
purchase should come with instructions if all is well.

[Bill Bigge]

If it is sold as a 'hobby' product then it ought to come with good
instructions, but if it comes from somewhere like Tiranti then, because
they are usually selling to professional model makers and sculptors, the
instructions will probably only cover mixing ratios and pot life for the
resin.

I've been trying to remember which wax I used to use, and I finally
remembered - Honeywax - which contains carnauba wax.

Just stumbled on this uk website selling it, and lots of other resin,
fibreglass and carbon fibre supplies:

http://www.mbfg.co.uk/release-wax-agents/2603.html

Bill

[Wendy]

I've used resin a few years ago, but on a canvas art piece, i bought it in a large amount from one of the industrial workshops on the estate near the HS.

It can be really expensive in kits, but you will get the amounts perfect, if they are out the curing time can be ruined and extended and the smell is something else! Not nice at all.

I have never used it in casts and would be very interested in this, as have a few idea's of my own that i would eventually like to try when cash allows...  have to let me know when your planing to do this, as would be interested in watching the process and the changes in its state as it dries... lol i'm a artist that enjoys watching paint etc dry :)

[Wendy]

actually, if you wait a week, i could perhaps go in with your order as it would work out cheaper? ;)

[Wendy]

I've been watching this guy's technique, more high tech than what we could do without the right equipment, but you get the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAlchemyWorks?feature=watch

I've been wanting to try something like this for ages, but would definitely like someone to work with doing it for the first time, so i don't confuse myself when it comes to the amounts.

I have some Latex moulding, that i have had for a while which we could use, i think it will still be ok, as there is no use by date on it and have a jewellery piece that i bought a fews years ago that you could look at to see what can be done to.  I think from research i did a few years ago, paint and ink can also be added to the mix, but would need to check this to ascertain what types do not interfere with the curing, but again i have these item for use :)