Clear casting resin.

[Dennis Hill]

This is not really a surface finish but what the heck, I'm sort of using it as one anyway.

My query is in regard to the setting time or gel time for the resin.

I am using "Aristocrat casting resin" to fill some voids in a piece of end grain Camphour Laurel that I want to turn into a clock. I followed the instructions on the can (unusual for me. I must be getting old!)and added an extra drop of catalyst to allow for cold weather. Drying time was supposed to be about 20mins. 6 hours later things were starting to gell and I hope that things are solid this morning.

Have I got a bad/old batch of resin or did I do something Wrong? Is there another product to use in place of "Aristocrat"?
Thanks.

------------------

[Roger Peine]

You could give polyesther resin a go if your only filling cracks . Available at just about any hardware store.
coo-ee

[ubeaut]

G'day Dennis

It is probably rock hard by now but this might help a little for next time.

When you use clear casting resin you have to be very precise with the measurements 1 drop is probably not a precise enough measurement. You also have to be very thorough with the mixing (very). Also be extremely careful to keep it off your skin etc. It is a bit nasty.

Used right it can give some wonderful window effects in turned items etc. and for filling voids as you are doing it can be really special if you place objects into the resin. (gold leaf, stones, spiders, etc.)

Cheers - Neil

[Mac Simmons]

As these types of "fillers" are two components,they all consist of a resin, and a catalyst.
They all cure (crosslink) through a chemical reaction, the key it to throughly mix the two components together, so the reactions occurs at the same time through the mixture.
If it is mixed properly ( as was already mentioned) then the ambient temperture should make no diffence, because this "crosslinking" occurs through a chemical reaction, and will cure in the times indicated on the labels.

MacS

------------------

[ubeaut]

Just remembered. It hates water. So make sure the timber is dry and also anything you decide to imbed in it is also dry.

Cheers - Neil