The Imperial Shipyards

Imperial Creative Engineering => The New Sandcrawler Workshop => Topic started by: Rodger on August 28, 2010, 05:33:53 PM

Title: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Rodger on August 28, 2010, 05:33:53 PM
  Making my first attempt at Casting. Got a Alumilite Kit.

Death Star Briefing Room "Stand up" Chairs will be the Guinnie Pig.  :D

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/033.JPG)

I hope the making of the Perfect Chairs  for the molds will be the hardest part.  :-\
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Phatty on August 28, 2010, 08:23:13 PM
I really need to get into casting soon.  I can't wait to see what you come up with with these.
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Luke Sprywalker on August 29, 2010, 02:10:28 PM
I will be watching you with great anticipation!
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Clonehead on August 29, 2010, 05:04:25 PM
Looks like it could work out alright for a successful mold. Working out those bubbles in the casting process will be the tricky part but after a few casting sessions, you usually develop a technique that will work with each particular mold. That's the way that it works for me anyways.

cant wait to see your casts.
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Rodger on September 01, 2010, 05:17:16 PM
Ya' Bubbles are on my list of concerns.

I'm still working on my perfect chairs (painfuly slow) and reading (All)the directions. Which being Male is even more Painful.  :D

There is only enough silicone to do two Chairs so i'm thinking on doing one at a time instead of both at once.

Hope to make the Mold Saturday.
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Rodger on September 06, 2010, 05:20:01 PM
Mold Complete.  ;D

Made new design Chair with a wider back.

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/002.JPG)

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/005.JPG) 

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/007.JPG)   

Hopefully will try the first cast tomorrow.

The Instructions suggest Baby Powder to help disperse bubbles.  :-\
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Clonehead on September 06, 2010, 05:44:32 PM
Baby powder, hmmmm. In the mold or in the resin mix?
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Rodger on September 08, 2010, 04:17:13 PM
Baby powder, hmmmm. In the mold or in the resin mix?
In the Mold.

Here's the first results..Mixed.

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/cast1.JPG)

The first one came out quite well. The Overhang as I suspected will be a problem. After the second one the mold started to peal. It wasn't till the fourth one I had any bubbles

These were done straight with no baby powder.

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/cast2.JPG)

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/cast3.JPG)

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/cast4.JPG)

I tried very carefuly to push this part out to not break this but it caught.

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/cast5.JPG)
The material machines real well I plan on casting untill this mold is Toast the make a simple blank mold and machine the rest.

Why is my post jumping around ? I've had this problem before when trying to write here ??
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Luke Sprywalker on September 08, 2010, 06:20:26 PM
Looking good man! I see what you mean it will be easy enough to keep casting and drill out the hole and make a cut to it for the top part of the chair. The cut you made to get rid of the bubbles looks perfect.
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: beige-4 on September 19, 2010, 04:18:41 AM
hey , you can always say the moffs eat bubblegum , ;)
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: DocOutlands on September 19, 2010, 08:15:50 AM
Based on the color of the mold, I'd guess you are using Quick-Set?  In my (limited) experience, Quick-Set may not be the best choice for what you are trying to accomplish.  Clint suggested High-Strength III to me back when I got started - available at Hobby Lobby right next to the Quick-Set - and it has served me quite well when dealing with detail-laden masters, as its elasticity allows you to turn a mold virtually inside-out without damage.  I think, given the hollow/cut-out in the chair back, you might find HSIII performs more to your liking.  I'm looking at going "industrial-strength" with my stuff, so I am starting to look at Smooth-On's line of RTVs, as I already use and like their resins.

Casting - it's not just a hobby...every pour's an adventure!
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Rodger on November 27, 2010, 07:57:53 PM
The Casts structurally have turned out very good the only problem is after some time the backs ooze sticky spots ?

Does anyone know what can cause that ?  :P

(http://www.thenewsandcrawlerworkshop.com/Portals/0/forum%20pics/009.JPG)
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: beige-4 on November 28, 2010, 04:02:26 AM
now, heres when the doc and clone head come to the rescue  ;D
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: DocOutlands on November 28, 2010, 09:07:33 AM
Wow, that's a new one on me!  What resin are you using, Rodger?  Very nice-looking finish on the surfaces, btw.
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Clonehead on November 28, 2010, 09:11:41 AM
I find that getting the proper mixture of resin to catalyst is more important than first expected and sometimes experience this myself. I believe that it is all about the mix, Rodger. one drop either way could show different results.
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: DocOutlands on November 28, 2010, 05:12:42 PM
hehe - I just have problems with air-bubbles on a regular basis...
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: Rodger on November 29, 2010, 07:00:37 PM
I've been using the only kit they have at Hobby Lobby here (pic).

The frustrating thing is the Idea was to cut down on labor to make these available for sale at reasonable price. But the time involved fixing them makes it just as time consuming is making them from wood.

The other bad news is after sanding and primering till they appear to stop leaking they can still bubble (not sticky though)after the paint is applied(pic).

The only clue I have is they only leak from the exposed side and not from any parts that contact the mold itself.

I'm thinking of making it into a two part mold by making a top that slaps on after the resin is poured.

At first I eyeballed the mix but I was using slightly more clear than the other so I got real tech on it. but it didn't make any difference on the leaking problem.   ???
Title: Re: Casting "Stand Up" Chairs
Post by: beige-4 on February 05, 2011, 11:42:52 AM
MOFFS EAT BUBBLEGUM !!make a backstory that tarkins and darth love bubbagum