I have been casting resin in pvc for a number of years now, and found that the best way to plug the end of the pvc is with a piece of dowel that matches the i.d. of the pipe. Also, I have never used release in my molds, and have found that tapping the casting gently with a mallet and another piece of smaller dowel pushes out my blanks just fine.

Zac your older videos are very good. Very instructive. I know you like your live broadcast but Keep making these too. I find them the most helpful

Zac, I really appreciate all the information you provide in your videos. I’ve learned a lot from you that has really been helpful. Thanks.

Thank you. I'm getting ready to do some PVC molding and you answered my questions.

Zac, I have watched a bunch of your videos. You are a really good teacher/demonstrator. Very fun to watch. I got the CA tech pot and am glad I did. It is so much fun. Thanks Sam

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Sam!! I can't wait to see what you make!! Any big plans for what you would like to make?

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

7 жыл бұрын

I do turn pens, but then I have to sell them. I do better with bottle stoppers. I will send you some photos. Mostly I am just messing around.... Sam

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Watch out, it becomes addictive!! I can't wait to see what you come up with

@xiaoyelu6955

7 жыл бұрын

很好

Thank You Zac! I haven't even cast alumilite yet but your method and tips are Excellent, We have no power from hurricane Mathew and it gives me a chance to catch up on your other videos. Thanks again Zac Kevin

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Oh man, hope that you get power back on soon and that you and yours are all safe. I'm glad to hear you get a chance to catch up on the videos though, can't wait to see what you make when you get up and running on your own casting :)

Watching as many of your videos as I can before I take the dive into making resin blanks for rings! Definitely subscribing

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+Aldair Verdejo That's great to hear! You're gonna love it I think, I know I do!! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Always glad to help fuel a new addiction :-)

@aldairverdejo4850

8 жыл бұрын

+Zac Higgins Will do! So far I've learned a lot just from your videos and your dunkin junk videos make me wonder what other stuff would look great in resin. Did you ever get around to making the fruit loops blank? I feel like that would make an awesome ring

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+Aldair Verdejo I never got around to trying the fruit loops. The cereal blanks require quite a bit of filling after you turn it, so I kind of moved on from them. I am thinking about trying to stabilize them though, so I'll come back to them if I get a chance to try that out.

Well this is going to be fun as I must do it all by hand! Only help will be my Dremel, have to go see what I can get to help me with buffing.

Thanks. I painted a tube holographic it was then casted it in clear. It was interesting. I was in Vargas Thursday. I stopped at Woodworkers emporium. It was my first time there. Have a great evening.

thanks for the tip on the silicone plugs, just ordered some using your link, hope you get some credit for that.

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Glad to help out!! I only get a referral fee for Amazon links, but I'd rather point people to products I use and know work well than get a referral fee. If I find some on Amazon that work well though, I'll swap out the links =D

I have some collapsible silicone funnels that I found at a big lots a long time ago and see them everywhere now like Walmart or kitchen supply stores things like that and they work great. Makes pouring resin into small spaces a lot easier and once the resin hardens it just peels right off. I also use some of those silicon ice trays and ice ball molds for resin casting different shapes and things and those work well too and are all super cheap.

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

That's a great idea, haven't seen any silicone funnels but I'll keep my eyes out for them now. I've used a few other silicone things for molds, they work really well!

I use funnels a lot when Pouring into PVC, makes really cool patterns especially with multi color pours.

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Great tip Carl! I've used them too a bit. Sure makes it easier to get the resin in a 3/4" tube

Awesome tips, Zac👍 Thanks for sharing!

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful, thanks for checking it out =D

@Shoerona

7 жыл бұрын

I'm still learning when it comes to casting blanks and you have a ton of great info...even the 2 year old videos;-) Just wanted to let you know it's all appreciated!

Zac, if you’re going to use the PVC pipes you should invest in PVC pipe caps for each size pipe. It’s easier, faster and they won’t leak. The nice part is they don’t wear out. In the long run it will cost less. Best regards, Richard

@steinbierz

2 жыл бұрын

I wonder if you should glue the cap on or leave it as a dry fit so that you could pull it off (sometimes easier said than done) allowing you to tap one side to get it to go out the other.

Zac I think you are great and I've learned from you. Haven't gotten into casting yet. One thing I would like to know. How or what do you use to clean up. Suppose you have a spill in the pressure pot, how would you clean that. I may have missed the subject but I haven't seen anythig regarding cleanup resin. Thanks and keep up the outstanding work.

If you make your own plug from a Delrin (acetyl) rod you can control the depth of the plug and put a shoulder on it for easy extraction.

I have used rubber caps that secure with worm gear clamps on my 2,3,4 and 6 inch pvc pipe molds. I cut circles of plastic 1/4 inch thick for the 2,3,4 and 6 inch pvc pipe with my band saw jig I got from woodcraft to put on the bottom of the pvc pipe. Then the rubber caps hold the plastic circles in place. With using the mold release, it works very well.

I go along with Marty, they make caps for every size of PVC, but I use a piece of blue tape to hold the cap in place and to prevent leakage.

A quick cheap alternative for the wooden block holders.. turn an empty milk carton on edge, measure and cut diameter of pvc like an X and punch the bottom of pvc through. Hope it helps

Hi Zac, when pouring Alumilite into pvc pipes, can you do a deep pour then pop into pressure pot?

Zac my wife and I are just getting into casting a new friend gave us a lathe tools and a pressure pot as well as a bunch of kits, in your video I noticed a pressure pot when do you use it and do you have a video of that. Thanks for a great video

Hi Zac, Altho I turn, i've never attempted to make my own acrilic blanks. My question would be. Couldn't you use pvc end caps to seal the butt ends of your tubes just friction set or would the resin lock them in place?

GOOD AFTERNOON SIR , I BEEN USING ( POLYESTER RESIN) FOR 8 YEARS AND I ONLY USED PVC PIPE 3/4" AND 1/2" I USED ONLY CORK AND WORKS GREAT , I DO MY POURING AND WAIT 24 HOURS AND I LOVE MY BLANKS , I BEEN WASHING YOUR VIDEO WITH ALUMILITE RESIN AND I LOVE IT , I MAY START USING THAT PRODUCTS , I HAVE A PRESSURE POT , COMPRESSOR AND PEN MOLDS MADE OD HDPE , THANK YOU FOR YOU GREAT VIDEOS.

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+Lazaro Marcel Hey Lazaro, Glad to hear that you're enjoying the videos. Alumilite is a pretty nice product to use for casting too. I love how quick it is, and it turns like butter. I think you'll enjoy it. Send in some pics when you try it out, I'd love to see what you make :-)

@lazaromarcel36

8 жыл бұрын

GOOD MORNING SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Thnx again for this informative video. You think it will work if I close the one end with piece of plastic and hot glue?

Hi Zac. Would a clear pvc pipe like those used for central vac systems work. I imagine they only come in 1.5 or 2 inch diameters and they might be a little more expensive, but you would be able to see how the mixture blends in them.

Hey Zac. Great info. You said one thing that I thought was understated. That being the material savings you get when you pour into the round tube versus into the rectangular box. I did some math on that (if you want the actual numbers, let me know and I'll post them). In a nutshell, using a rectangular mold to generate the 3/4" square blanks versus the round 3/4" pipe costs you 64% more material (2.91 oz. versus 1.77 oz.). I personally use 1/2" PVC pipe for my blank making. Harder to fill for sure, but compare that round size to the 3/4" square and now you're talking about 2.91 oz. versus 1.01 oz. Almost three times as much material!!!! Have a great day! P.S. The Alumilite folks will likely be VERY PISSED if they read this! :)

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

dawgpoundbutch Great info! I guess I don't stress the resin savings because I generally prefer doing pours in a square mold for most of my blanks. It's definitely a good point for people on a budget though. Thanks for sharing the calculations with us

@he-mansuncle7661

5 жыл бұрын

You can also get an HDPE rod for the cap or if you have some thicker pieces of HDPE than you can turn it to fit the pvc pipe(or just fuse pieces of HDPE together for your larger pvc molds), depending on how often you use them silicone may be the better long term solution but if you have an old cutting board, chop that to size and round it into the necessary diameter.

Hi Zac, I'm new to casting, having only started this week! I'm using the 3/4" tubing as moulds. What I've done to seal the bottom is I turned some wood into caps that the tube sits into. I cut some latex glove to cover the end of the tube before I sit it into the timber cap. I don't use any mould release before pouring (didn't even think of using it!). The blanks popped out of the tubing after setting no problem. Had one that needed some gentle persuasion but other than that, perfect!

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that you're getting into casting, the fun is just beginning =) Great idea for the plugs! Are you using Alumilite or PR/epoxy for your resin?

@MayoMick

7 жыл бұрын

Yeah, its really addictive! Its PR resin I think, its quite difficult to get here in Ireland (from what I can see so far), I sourced it from Amazon. I also got the casting craft dyes for colouring, will have to experiment with mixing colours. I've yet to mount one on the mandrel to turn, will be a day or 2 before I get back to the lathe. Thanks for all your video tutorials, enjoying going through them all.

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Ah yeah, it is tough to get Alumilite overseas. PR and epoxy work great too though. Have you checked out Nick Zametti's channel? He's in the UK too, and he's using an epoxy product that seems to be pretty decent. You might check prices out on it to see how it compares. Here's a link to his channel: kzread.info/dron/3-0S7vXfwYY2jj5EkMpymA.html

@avar37

6 жыл бұрын

can you link us to the resin you used?

I found that if you use the caps designed for capping the pvc pipe on the outside, available at the big box stores where they sell pvc (The rounded bottoms work best if you sand them flat first). After they cure, you can just twist off the cap and about a 1" section of the resin is exposed (as long as you didn't 'push the cap on too far.) Then you simply twist the blank at the bottom and it should come out easy. This works well with polyester resin and I don't need mold release.

Question, I'm going to Cast a 6 inch wide 6.5 inch deep pvc pipe. If I use de mold spray like stoner would a clear epoxy resin be able to pop out or should I cut the pvc pipe before molding?

Also try a double backed duct tape with the non adhesive side inside the pvc. Hope it helps. Great videos thx.

If I wanted to make a Red, White, and Blue project would I end up with pink and purple or do the colors mix but not blend together?

Could you use siran wrap over the bottom then put a pvc cap over the siran wrap

If you are choosing to use packing tape, something you could do to make removing it easier is fold the ends in on themselves to give you something to grab when removing the tape. You could also apply heat via a heat gun or hair dryer to loosen the adhesive of the tape.

you do nice work . I am getting there .thanks for the videos . they realy helped me .....

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+Joe Pogoda Thanks Joe! I'm glad that the videos have been helpful for you!! I have many more planned too :) You'll have to send in some pics of your work sometime, I'd love to see what you're creating

@Tsunamiguitars

8 жыл бұрын

+Zac Higgins You would have to glue on a screw on fitting, which may or may not create an edge inside. Then, the cap size is slightly bigger than the pipe. You could take off the pipe cap and punch it out that direction, but to me that would cause a larger use of Alumilite, which would have to be sawed off as scrap. Also have to make the holes in the little tray larger to accommodate the caps. Still, an option. I found that corks with cut off silicone glove fingers (use the cheap HF blue gloves) put over the end of the corks, at least the ones for the 3/4", work great, and about 75% of the time I get the glove finger end back since it does not stick to the resin.

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+Tsunamiguitars Cool, thanks for the cork/glove idea. That's a great idea :)

How long do you leave them in the pressure pot?

I use pvc for my molds. I went to my plumbing distributor and purchased flat end caps, different from the ones Home Depot sells. You can also get them in different sizes.

What sorts of things can you do with resin poured like this?-- sorry i am new to resin

Zac, Do you know who could properly wrap a pen blank with photo. Alum alight or Black diamonds.. So i can turn it for gift??

Can I use clear polycarbonate tubes instead of pvc? I have some I want to use.

Hi zac. What kind of spray is stoner. Polish or .... Another question is that if i want to use resin without color and want glassy resin exit from my mold does it become glassy or pale?

Thanks Zac. It looks like the mold release works very well. Why not just put a PVC cap on the bottom of the pipe? Not glued but just pushed on after spraying the mold release. It should come off easily and saves the tape and using silicone plugs,

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

That's a good idea too Warren. I never tried that because I was worried that the resin could get stuck in the cap. I'll have to give it a try though, thanks for the suggestion.

@Misfit1026

9 жыл бұрын

Zac Higgins the caps they sell for the PVC pipe has a rounded dome. Its another waste of resin. To beat that problem, get silicon caulk and fill the cap with just enough caulk to fill the domed part. Smooth it as well as possible. I took a piece of dowel that fit loosely, put saran wrap in the cap after it had the caulk in it, gently pushed the dowel in and moved slightly side to side to spread the caulk and smooth it flat. Let it cure. then start using it. I also filled the cap with resin, popped out the cap and glued it back in, then i had a pipe i ground the edges down on until sharp, used it to cut round wax paper pieces. I folded the wax paper over and over until it was just big enough for the pipe to fit. Put the pipe on it, then whack it a few times with a hammer or mallet and the sharp edge cuts round pieces. I could make a few hundred in no time. Spray the cap with mold release and place a wax round in the cap, the mold release was insurance and it holds the wax paper. Fill the pipe and let cure. done. I still like the square molds, I like worthless wood, the combo of resin and wood is just so much nicer looking. I use silicon cutting boards bought online to make my my molds. Cut them into the pieces i need using table saw and radial arm. Screw together with drywall screws, fill seams with super glue, use kicker to harden fast if in a hurry. Leave one end free of glue, gotta take it off to get the blank out.

Zac, you can buy caps for almost any size pvc pipe (plumbing supply house) and you can sand the cap flat so it gives you a bit of a base. If you don't glue the caps on you can remove them for access to both ends of the mold.

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip Dave =D

Have you used the pipe ends with clamps? I saw Hobby Jump using them and wondered if you had checked them out? Amazon carries them at: 2 in. PVC Flexible Pipe Cap with Stainless Steel Clamps (Pack of 4) Thanks

I did a short research and discovered that a pressure test plug is a lot cheaper than a silicone plug or tapered silicone plug. Pressure test plugs are made of rubber which I am sure with a mold release, no issue removing.

Zac, I have just started casting using pvc pipe. I was able to find rubber stops for chair legs that work well and come off and on really easy.

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

Great idea Andy!! Where did you find the chair leg stops? I might try that out sometime

@andysmylie1184

6 жыл бұрын

Zac, just the local rubber store we gave here. They sell all things rubber and foam etc. Got sizes for a 20 mm & 25 mm tube.

first tip using corks on the 3/4 tubes take and cut the fingers off your used gloves put your cork in them before plugging tube and I use resin doesn't set as fast and I have a holder I set on an old turntable and spin the tube as I pour the resin in

I recently picked up some alumilite, I have yet to cast any blanks, but I do have the pressure pot ready to go...mostly haven't really decided what I want to cast yet HAHA!!! Weather has been pretty nice lately so I've been doing some outside chores and haven't been in the shop much.

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

Gees, sounds like you need to postpone those chores and get to pouring some Alumilite =D

What about using a flat end PVC CAP as a plug for the bottom?

Two questions?? Would just using condoms to pour in work. Tie em off and hang them? Second question, could a small pipe be inserted into a larger one to make a resin tube?

Hello Zac Thank you for this very interesting video. I was wondering if the PVC pipe molds have any effect on pressure. The surface area of the Aluminite is tiny in respect to The "usual" oblong molds. The pressure in the chamber would have to travel further to compress air bubbles but in the oblong ones the pressure only has to permeate 19mm or so. Do you have any views on this . Best etc Frederick

@ZacHiggins

5 жыл бұрын

Hey Frederick, I don't think it makes a difference. Pressure is being applied to the air bubbles simultaneously and equally

i use a cork and a peice of latex glove for a stopper on pvc pipe, also wd40 works as a mold release

Nice video, Zac. I have been wondering whether PVC pipe would make good molds for alumilite. Glad to see you dove in and tried it first.

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

Andrew Grover Glad it was helpful. It took me a while to actually try it out, all I had heard when I got started was you get castings stuck in them with Alumilite.. Not true if you use mold release! It's a great way to do it, and will definitely save you a ton of resin too

Hi Zac, thanks for your how to videos. I have a question about larger molding like 4 inch. Do I need to use the heavier pvc or can I use the thinner? Thanks again.

@steinbierz

2 жыл бұрын

I was hoping this question would be answered as I have the same one. I happen to have some left over 4" well casing as well as 4" DWV left over from projects but they are not pressure rated. I wonder though that since it would have the pressure from the pot working against the outside of a pipe filled with resin, wood, etc. if it would work.

Why not use PVC end caps sprayed with mold releas?

@robkerf

4 жыл бұрын

Marty Erlandson caps are rounded, so they don’t stand up straight

Any advice for bring back the shine on resin and wood jewelry, done the sanding down but just need advice on what polish to use. Cheers

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Best thing to do is just keep going up in grits with the sanding. Here's a link to my sanding/polishing method for turning blanks: kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZZx7yJqqc8epkco.html I do pretty much the same approach to polishing resin when it's not on the lathe. Just keep going finer and finer with the sandpapers then finish up with buffing wheels. The buffing wheels are really awesome for bringing out that shine.

Can use Mann’s 200 an polytech 2500 mold release. You can glue the pvc to cardboard with silicone caulking gun.just my 2 cents .👍🏻😎bro

Zac, They make a removeable plug for testing PVC in all sizes I use them with some Saran wrap ! Tom

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

Hey Tom, good idea. Can you find them in the same places PVC is sold?

can this be a good way to make poker chips? and if so i would love to see that.

Hi Zac, i might be asking same question that has been asked before, after i micro mesh it does not shine up like the blanks i buy from psi, we use the clear alumalite mix from hobby lobby is that supposed to be that way or am i doing something wrong, do you know of way to get that super shiney look like from psi blanks? Great videos thanks for your time.

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

Hey David, I have a video on method that might help out: kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZZx7yJqqc8epkco.html It's just a matter of sanding really well on each step, and I also think that buffing helps out a ton

Zac have you ever thought of using Fernco caps for your PVC? I'm thinking of trying it.

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

Hey Don, I haven't, but after looking it up it would probably work pretty well. I'd recommend hitting it with mold release to make sure it doesn't stick to the resin. I think I'll pick some up and try it out. Thanks for the tip =D

Another great video! Do you use Alumilite white to get the red and white mixture? On a different aspect of casting, one thing I use is a "Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer With Laser Targeting" that's a fancy name for a $35.00 thermometer at harbor freight. Casting resins have a "string" temp, with alumilite clear its about 125-130 degrees. The closer you get to that temp before mixing the colors the more your colors will remain separated from each other. You can get a very defined swirl pattern this way. For example you can get true blue and red swirls as opposed to blue red and purple mixture. And with a little experimentation you can tell just how much time you have before you need to get the alumilite in the pot. Thanks for all you do, and have a good day.

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and for sharing that info, I didn't know about the string temperature. I'll have to give that a try and see what I can come up with.

I am thinking about casting wood scrapes and alumilite in 3" X 14" round pvc moulds to make peppermil blanks. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this yet. I need to find a way to keep the wood to the side of the blank. Do you have advise?

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a cool project! Hmm, my first instinct is to suggest hot glueing the wood pieces to the pipe, but you'd have to apply some type of mold release to the pipe in all the other areas but where you glue it. It would be a little more work, but you could apply some paste wax to the pipe after you glue the pieces onto the pipe. Worst case scenario, if the blank gets stuck in the pipe you can just cut or turn it off

QUESTION: what is the greatest length you can theoretically do before you run into issues. What would those issues be? Are there other resins that are curable with extremely large "height" dimensions? Thank you.

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

That's a good question! It really depends on the specific resin you are using. Alumilite Clear Slow Set is made to be poured in pretty large batches, but I'm not sure what the largest amount is. There are also super slow setting resins that are made for really large castings. I'd probably recommend contacting Alumilite to ask them, and I'd also recommend contacting Smooth-On as well, they have a huge selection of different types of resins

do you recommend the clear slow or just the clear alumilite

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+Grizzly-Outdoors It just depends on what you need really, the end result is the same. I typically don't need any longer than 5 minutes to get a batch poured, so I use the regular for most things because it will cure faster than the slow set version. If you need more than 5 minutes of open time, I'd go with the slow set.

I cannot seam to find this mold releaser here in canada :( do you know any good alternative that I could get here? I swear canada is no fun with supplies xD All the videos I watch are most of the time from the US and I cannot seam to find half the products lol. Thanks to anyone who will reply :)

when mixing multiple colors, do you notice the colors merging to form another color? for example: pouring red white and blue and end up with red white blue pink purple etc? or do the colors stay clean as long as you dont REALLY stir them alot? thanks

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+rockhead390 It just depends. If you wait until the resin is starting to thicken up, you should get much better separation. I do have issues with yellow and blue Alumilite dyes in the White resin though. It is really tough to keep those two dyes separated for some reason, and I end up with slight bits of green here and there. Most colors I can keep pretty well separated though.

I'm looking into casting. I've done PR casting with success but I want to cast alumilite. Could you do a video on setting up a pressure pit for casting? Thx

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

BayouVapor I got you covered!! I have a video on setting up the Harbor Freight pressure pot for casting: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qINl1aZsotnAlKQ.html

Hi Zac Love your videos, one idea that might work that I will try is to machine some high density polyurethane plugs I can purchase the round rod here locally in small lengths then I will turn them on my Lathe these should also be able to be used time after time since the resin should not stick... Thanks Roger

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

Hey Roger, yeah that's a great idea!! You'll have to let me know how it goes. One idea that just crossed my mind is if you add a thin groove in the plug that goes up in the pipe then fit an 'O' ring into it, it might give you a dead perfect seal on it with no leakage at all. Not sure if the resin would stick to that or if it might cause any issues, but thought I'd toss the idea out there in case you wanted to try it out

Hi Zak I am going to make a tapered plug first and try that, if it works I will tag you R

what type of pressure pot do you recommend for resin?

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

I prefer the CA Technologies pots myself. They are a little more expensive, but much nicer to work with than the cheap ones. However, I still use my Harbor Freight pressure pots, and they get the job done too. I have a playlist that covers those two pots along with setting them up for casting: kzread.info/head/PLoeB-EPC_91uBZHKS1mbeoy9AZyjjZmrA

What are you using as a pressure level in your pot for these? Thanks!

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

I usually go up to around 50 PSI for pvc pipe castings

If your resin sticks and you can’t knock it out, how do you cut it out???

Hey Zac, how long do you keep the molds in the pot and at what PSI, Thanks

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+Calvin Flood It just depends on which resin, the ambient temperature in the shop and how much resin you pour at once. In the winter, I'm leaving Alumilite White in the pot for about an hour, Clear for about 2 hours. Small amounts like the single tube-in silicone molds I might leave in overnight just to make sure it's fully hardened before popping it out of the pressure pot. For PSI, you want to be above 40 PSI, and from there it mainly just depends on which pot you're using and if you are embedding things in it. I generally stay 10 PSI under the stated max PSI for the pot. So for Harbor Freight pots, I only go to 50 PSI since the max is 60. For C.A. Technologies pots, I go up to 70 PSI because the max is 80. For resin only, no embedded objects, anything over 40 PSI is fine. If you are embedding wood or other things, the higher the PSI the better.

You were talking about how you don't like to throw out the tape after molding and you prefer the silicon cork, because you can reuse it right? So my question is what about the cups that you use to pour the Alumilite can you reuse those or you use a new cup every time?

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

I have been using Solo brand cups that I just toss each time, and that was starting to get quite old. I've recently switched to using mixing cups, and I just let the resin dry in it and then pull it out in a big chunk. I'll probably mention the cups I use in an upcoming video.

is there a good spot to get the stoner mold release

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+Grizzly-Outdoors I recommend getting it direct from Alumilite (and I recommend getting the resin from them too to ensure you get fresh resin). There is another type of Stoner out there that isn't a polyurethane release specifically that doesn't work as well. The one from Alumilite is the right one though. Here's a link to the product page: www.alumilite.com/store/p/960-Stoner-Mold-Release-12oz.aspx

I'm assuming you know that the black pipe is ABS. Not sure how well ABS would work under pressure or did you already test it? ABS, at least the little that I have worked with, kind of has cellular foam walls, aka bubbles. Not sure if the pressure could distort the mold.

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

Cliff Hartle I've used ABS pipe too, haven't seen any noticeable issues with it.

What about using a pvc end cap?

hey zac i seen another youtuber use his old laytex gloves to make the seal with corks in pvc makes a great seal apparently no tape needed ,hope this helps

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Alan, great tip!

@Smirnoff44

7 жыл бұрын

Zac Higgins no problem Zac I found you through Sam the wood Turner he highly recommended you happy to help

@nathanpotter8569

7 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing

Hey Zac, I was wondering is any of the casting resins food safe? If you used it in say a goblet or bowl? Thanks man Cool channel

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Hey Jason, technically they are all "safe" once fully cured. The problem is if the part A & B hasn't been 100% completely mixed up there could be some uncured resin in there that is definitely not food safe. That is why most of the casting resins are not considered food safe. I believe Amazing Clear Cast from Alumilite is considered food safe. I'd imagine there are others out there as well from other companies. I would suggest contacting Alumilite to discuss your application before buying it just to make sure. There are probably other ones out there from different manufacturers as well, but the only one I know of that has an FDA compliance is the Amazing Clear Cast

Zac -- Thanks for the info. Any idea how large a diameter PVC pipe you could use? It would seem that this method could be used for casing pepper-mill blanks and blanks for other larger items. The limiting factor would seem to be how much a large pour of Alumilite heats up. One of your sagebrush blanks 3" x 12" would make an impressive pepper mill.

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

Hey David, we are on the same wavelength! That is actually one of the big reasons I decided to try out PVC. When I did the tap handle blanks for Kyle Toth, everyone suggested PVC for the mold, but Kyle needed the blanks to be square. I'm hoping to try out a larger pipe casting for pepper mills one of these days, and there will definitely be a video to accompany it. I didn't have any major problems using Alumilite clear with the tap handles, and they were 3" x 12" square, so I'm certain that size would work fine in PVC. I'd bet that you can probably get up to a 4" x 12" or so, and Alumilite also sells a slow setting resin that would work fine for even larger pours.

Could you use butchers paper on the bottom instead of tape? Heavy rubber band to hold it ?

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+MrVailtown Possibly, but I think you'd have a greater chance of it leaking out the bottom, and that would suck!

I have motorized lazy Susan that spins my tubes while I pour my colors works great

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

Hey Mark, thanks for watching! That's a great way to do it, it's tough trying to mess around twisting multiple cups and all. I'll have to look into setting something like that up. Thanks for sharing that tip.

GoodMorning Zac, thank you for taking the time to make this informative video. Where can I purchase a pressure pot? Thanks again!

@TheProjectHelpDesk

5 жыл бұрын

You can buy them on Amazon. But most people make their own using a Paint Pressure Pot from Harbor Freight. That is what his looks like. I am currently making one as well and we have a video on our channel.

@gwynneclark6372

4 жыл бұрын

JimmyDeel

would silicone spray work for a mold release?

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure if it will work well with it or not. The best spray type to use is Stoner Urethane Mold release, available on the Alumilite website. I've also used paste wax and petroleum jelly with it, they both worked fine

Which Stoner Mold release do you use? Great vids Zach!!

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!! You want to use Stoner Urethane Mold Release with Alumilite, you can get it on the Alumilite website

Suggestion: One of the demonstrators on Beaducation - Resin Foundry was the video I saw - uses Silly Putty as a reusable seal for open back resin molds. I've also seen regular modeling clay used as a sealant. You could make your own reshape-able mold plugs from these. I also wonder if Playdoh could be used, since I've seen that in the dollar store. It's worth a try.

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

Those are great ideas! Thanks for the tips, I'll have to give that a shot next time I'm pouring pipe castings

Wondering here... ever have a bad blank, one that can't be used, try smashing it into crumbs, dump those into a mold, fill with clear or slightly tinted. Think it would work?

@ZacHiggins

5 жыл бұрын

I've tried before, it doesn't work too well with Alumilite, stuff is indestructible! Great idea though with a more brittle material =D

Enjoy your videos. For PVC Tubes, why not try the end caps that slide on. I would think with mold release they would come right off. Thanks. Steve

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

Hey Steve, glad you're enjoying the videos! Those would probably work great too, haven't tried them out yet

You can by silicone corks. I use them a lot.

Hey Zac, you ever use Pam for the release spray? Might work.. Probably cheaper? Not sure if veggie type oil would cut it though.

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

I don't think it's good to use an oil with Alumilite, better to use the stuff that's made to be used with polyurethane resin. Stoner is only $12 anyway and it lasts forever

@Sludgepump

7 жыл бұрын

Good to know. Yea, $12 is well within a reasonable price. Thanks Zac!

@ZacHiggins

7 жыл бұрын

My pleasure! Glad to help out =D

I have a question about resin and glitter. Is there any way to stop it from sinking to the bottom? Is it my resin?

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

No worries, it happens with all resins. The glitter just ends up sinking to the bottom if you pour it in too soon. The way to combat it is to wait till the resin starts to thicken up rather than pour it in right away. Same thing can happen with dyes, some are heavier than others and tend to sink to the bottom if you don't wait on it. The hard part is figuring out the right timing on it. You may need to give it a couple tries to get the timing right on it

@tiffanyethridge8426

8 жыл бұрын

+Zac Higgins thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try.

Been using PVC and Alumilite for 10 years. for a 3/4 PVC. Use the wide Blue tape about 2.5-3 inches long. center it on the PVC, Push down on it to seal. then take the 3/4 wide Blue tape go around the the bottom of the tube. to seal the the ends of the first piece. (basically You are making a Cap. be sure to press the tape firmly all the way around. Then Spay the Stoner. If You spray the Stoner first you may get it on the outside of the PVC and the tape will not stick! You do not need as much tape as he suggest. just 2 pieces.

Hello Zac. I have been watching your chanal for some times now, and i learned a lot from you, so thanks alot for that :) I want to get started with the Alumilite casting, mostly for pen blanks. The alumilite does cost some money and to have it shiped to Norway often double, or in some cases almost triple the cost of a product, the amount on the Alumilite containers are in lbs, but a mold is messured in milliliter or deciliter, so to find out how many blanks i could get out of lets say the 16 lbs, my question is how much resin is needed for a pen blank, i know it depends on the size of the blank but lets say a slim line penn,or if you use a standard size mold..... I hope this made some sence to you

@ZacHiggins

8 жыл бұрын

+Tor Morten Solberg Hey Tor, I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! Alumilite has a material volume calculator on their website that should help you figure out how far the resin will go for the projects you'll be making. I can't tell you how many blanks you'll get out of 16 pounds because it depends on a number of factors, especially what type of mold you'll be using. Here's a link to the material volume calculator, just plug in the numbers (you'll have to convert it to ounces first), and it should give you a good idea of how far it will go based on the sizes of molds you'll be using. www.alumilite.com/store/pg/12-Volume-Calculator.aspx

what is the simplest way to determine how much resin goes in the tubes? I have heard to fill with rice to determine the proper weight.

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

There are calculators online to estimate how much resin to use, or you can use something like rice to calculate the volume of resin. Here's a link to Alumilite's calculator: www.alumilite.com/store/pg/12-Volume-Calculator.aspx

@jlewis979

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Zac

I would put A into a cup and then add the color(s) I wanted and mix. (long mix time or wait - not cooking!) When I'm ready add B and mix and pour. We could mix multiple A's and get them mixed and matched colors to pour a larger item and then B, pour, B, pour, B, pour. So a long thin one with three cups of mix goes quick with fast acting material.

Brush the inside with regular Vaseline, it works great I use it with Smooth-on oomoo

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

AlaskaRailroadguy Haven't tried vaseline yet, I'll have to give it a shot one of these days. How do you like the oomoo? Is it super thick like a lot of the other silicone mixes?

Like the shirt. Carl send that to ya. Thanks for the video.

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yeah I bought it from Carl a couple years ago. Seem to have lost it though, need to find it again!

Where do I purchase the alumnite resin

@ZacHiggins

6 жыл бұрын

I recommend buying it directly from Alumilite or from ww.TurnTex.com. Both turn over inventory fast, so you know you're getting fresh resin. TurnTex has a size that you can't get anywhere else also, the 1 gallon kit (1/2 gallon Part A and 1/2 gallon Part B).

Do you put these in the pressure pot?

@ZacHiggins

5 жыл бұрын

Hey Mark, it depends on the resin you are using and what you are trying to do, but generally speaking I would recommend it. You have to pressurize Alumilite Clear every time, but some of the slower setting resins could be poured without using pressure

Just watched this and a few others including the casting larger blocks for the beer taps. Wouldn't it have been easier and simpler to have just cut the top off some milk jugs? I'm sure they are available in several sizes and you could cast about 4 4 pint jugs at a time, hey you could probably mix the stuff in them!

@ZacHiggins

9 жыл бұрын

Hey Ben, that's a great idea! I think I'm just used to the normal molds and never thought about using something like that. One advantage PVC is there's no extra milling required to get it to the final blank dimensions, but you could use just about anything that is relatively non-stick to use as a mold. Using them for mixing cups is brilliant too, it would save you some money. One thing I would say if you're going to use something like that though, make sure to clean it out really well. Thanks for watching and sharing a great idea!