The resin test #4 results are quite a mixed bag.
First, I used one mold with mold release spray and one without. The one with mold release spray did not simply release, as one would expect. Instead, I had to push them out from the bottom. This was the same technique I used on the mold without release spray. The conclusion, then, is that the mold release spray I am using (Castin' Craft® Mold Release/Conditioner) is ineffective.
Second, there are just as many bubbles in the jewels from the sprayed mold as from the unsprayed mold, as you can see from the pictures below.
The square jewel (on the left), which came from the sprayed mold, seems to have more numerous bubbles than the round jewel (on the right), although the round jewel seems to have larger bubbles.
Third, the jewels are still malleable. There should be no bending once the resin has cured. It should be a hard plastic.
Clearly, there is still something I am not doing correctly. As I recall from resin test #4, the weight of the hardener was greater than the weight of the resin. Also, I forgot to use a clean stick in the second mix. These could account for the non-hardening, which, in turn, could account for the failure of the jewels to simply pop out using the mold release spray.
There is still also the problem of the bubbles. Remembering back to the bubble fixing video, it was mentioned that some folks will put their resin under a lamp to get the bubbles to rise to the surface. The video recommends not doing this because dust from the lamp could fall into the resin. However, I have a lamp and don't yet have a heat gun, so I am going to put resin test #5 under my desk lamp to cure. Later tonight, I will have to search the Internet for heat guns and a different mold release spray.
For now, I am off to do resin test #5.
The pictures on the page appear smaller than they are. To see them larger, simply double click on the picture. Also, I always welcome your constructive criticism. Click on the Comment link below next to the icon of a pencil; it may say "No" or have a number in front of it.
First, I used one mold with mold release spray and one without. The one with mold release spray did not simply release, as one would expect. Instead, I had to push them out from the bottom. This was the same technique I used on the mold without release spray. The conclusion, then, is that the mold release spray I am using (Castin' Craft® Mold Release/Conditioner) is ineffective.
Second, there are just as many bubbles in the jewels from the sprayed mold as from the unsprayed mold, as you can see from the pictures below.
Third, the jewels are still malleable. There should be no bending once the resin has cured. It should be a hard plastic.
Clearly, there is still something I am not doing correctly. As I recall from resin test #4, the weight of the hardener was greater than the weight of the resin. Also, I forgot to use a clean stick in the second mix. These could account for the non-hardening, which, in turn, could account for the failure of the jewels to simply pop out using the mold release spray.
There is still also the problem of the bubbles. Remembering back to the bubble fixing video, it was mentioned that some folks will put their resin under a lamp to get the bubbles to rise to the surface. The video recommends not doing this because dust from the lamp could fall into the resin. However, I have a lamp and don't yet have a heat gun, so I am going to put resin test #5 under my desk lamp to cure. Later tonight, I will have to search the Internet for heat guns and a different mold release spray.
For now, I am off to do resin test #5.
The pictures on the page appear smaller than they are. To see them larger, simply double click on the picture. Also, I always welcome your constructive criticism. Click on the Comment link below next to the icon of a pencil; it may say "No" or have a number in front of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment