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molding right and wrongs

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
molding right and wrongs
Posted by camo junkie on Friday, April 24, 2009 3:33 PM

hey guys...i've been making molds for a long time now and have never had this type of issue. was wondering if anyone else has or at least has an answer.

im making a 2 part mold of 2 humvee tires. im using a form of alumilite to make the casting. it has the same 2 1/2 minute set time as alumilite. i have a 3/16 sq pour sprue and a nice size air vent. i've made 12 attempts and each one fails me in that the mold wont fill all the way b4 it pours out of the top of the sprue then wont "fill" all the way. i get 1/2 moon tires. Laugh [(-D] i'm not upset but getting really frustrated with this. the mold itself came out great and short of not having enough casting resin for my first try...the first try really came out great (except the 1/2 moon thing). HELP PLEASE ANYONE?????!!! thanks guys! Confused [%-)]

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Abbotsford, B.C. Canada
Posted by DrewH on Friday, April 24, 2009 4:33 PM
Molding tires are tricky. The pour stub needs to be a channel to the bottom of the tire and will with resin from the bottom up forcing air out the top vent. Even then there's no guarantee of sucess, but you have a better chance at it.
Take this plastic and model it!
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Friday, April 24, 2009 4:51 PM
that's exactly what i have drewh...from the bottom and the air vent on top all in line. the resin is hardening b4 i can get it all poured as well. my best results were from just pouring it into one half of the mold then the other half then putting them together and pouring what didnt spill everywhere. Laugh [(-D] thought maybe i needed a bigger inlet...let more resin in b4 it hardens....oh well...hopefully someone with some answers will share some with me!!
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Friday, April 24, 2009 8:10 PM
ok, well i guess i answered my own question. my problems stemmed from the humidity. took the stuff in the basement where its cooler and first try...good casting!!!
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Saturday, April 25, 2009 1:27 AM
Dunno if it'll matter to you now, but I always brush each mold-half with resin before the pour...

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Saturday, April 25, 2009 8:12 AM
oh, it matters hans. i was doing that and still getting bad results. i figured what it was though. the high humidity and heat was causing the resin to cast in like a minute and a half. never got to fully pour it b4 it would set. so i heard from somewhere b4 that you can retard the process by putting in a fridge or something. so i took the stuff down to my basement (where it was much colder) and then poured my resin...no issues and made 4 sets of tires on two tries instead of twelve (that still didnt work) up in my heated hobby room!!! in my basement it wouldnt set for at least 5 minutes...big big difference!!! thanks though for the post...im just glad i was able to figure it out!! Propeller [8-]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
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