New Casting products Review

[vabchrog]

Hi everyone,

I am back into modeling and casting and have been using some new products.

First off I now use Smooth-on's Mold Star 20T for my molds instead of the OOMA 25. Two things I love about it. I even talked the smooth-on distributor her in Norfolk to carry it to save me the shipping costs :)

http://www.smooth-on.com/Silicone-Rubbe ... index.html

1. 30 Min de-mold Time. That's not a misprint it is ready to de-mold in 30 Min
2. Its clear so trimming the mold when I de-mold means less mistakes. And I can slit an exhaust and make a simpler mold.

I got a new pressure pot off of ebay it is much smaller, lighter and easier to use than the old Paint Pot pressure pot I had from before. It's a cooking pressure pot that been modified with a pressure regulator with gauge and quick disconnect and an over-pressure plug. I have it set to 30 PSI and the compressor set to 35. It holds the pressure as long as I need. I have been casting bodies and small parts in it. I even quit de-gassing the silicone and just pour and place in the pot for 30 mins.

This is the one I got

http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-Quart-Regulat ... 3a6ad82bf3

The only problem I had was the first time I used it I didn't read the instructions and blew out the over-pressure plug. Once I read the instructions and got it set right its worked perfect.

[mattb]

Guys, I have been using the 40% off coupon that is in the hobby lobby online weekly sales brochure. I can buy Alumilite plastic or silicone for $18.99 with the coupon. There is no shipping and it is about half the price of mail order from anybody. The rubber is a 10 to 1 mix. I always liked the simple 1 to 1 mix, but I got a jewelry scale off Ebay, $8.99 free shipping. It weighs in grams and makes the 10 to 1 mix easy to get right every time.

[dreinecke]

I like the demold time, but the 6 minute pot-life doesn't allow much time if you do want to de-gas it.

The price is about $50 higher on a gallon over what I pay - however mine isn't see-through either.

Thanks for the info.

[mattb]

I'm going to hijack this thread for a minute. The silicone I get at HL is pretty low on the shore numbers, it may be just slightly higher then Oomoo. I have used Smooth On exclusively the last 20 years. I really don't like Oomoo, but it is what they put in the sampler packs now. I'm wondering if any of you guys are using urethane now for molds in place of silicone. I have never used urethane rubber.

I used to buy the samplers for $24.99. shipping was about $6, so I got a good deal for about $30. The same order costs around $65-$70 now so the HL deal is too good to pass up. Smoothon did have a limit of one sampler about every 6 months back then. I had all my friends order one and I always had a lot of cheap supplies.

Also a question about de-gassing. With the products I use I have never had a problem with air. Obviously with the plastic there are times when pressure or vacuum would make for better work, but the rubber has never been a problem.

Lastly, all you guys do great work and I am constantly impressed with the stuff you all come up with. My stuff takes lots of finishing and see stuff on here that is nearly paint ready. It is rewarding to make your own bodies and parts.

[vabchrog]

Smooth-ons shipping went up. I have a distributor here in Norfolk so they pick up the shipping and as long as I am using one a month they will keep it stocked. I recently purchased my smooth-on resin off Amazon for a decent price with shipping. I have even noticed some products listed as prime so the shipping is free. If yo ever pressure cast a resin body and the silicone wasn't degassed it will come out looking like a porcupine or pimple faced teenager.

David it takes me 1:50 to de-gass then I pour over the master, then I put the whole thing in a square meat tenderizer vacuum container I bought and degass again for the outside mold. I only de-gass once fro the inside mold. However I now just go into the pressure pot and skip the degassing. Its been awhile since I bought it by the gallon.

As for the shelf life I haven't had any over a month.

Its great for modeling as I can piece together a master clay it up make a mold and new slosh cast and work out any imperfections, prime, paint then recast. It makes getting to a finished master much quicker. As I get older I am all for quicker :)

[RV Racing]

Some great information here from master casters. Thanks for sharing with us.

Rick V.