Dodgy

Good luck Bakko, I'm barracking for you mate. You'll make it happen.

 

Good luck Bakko, I'm barracking for you mate. You'll make it happen.

Gamera

No idea what to do, just watching and trying to learn something. 

Good luck Bakster, I can at least cheer you on. 

 

No worries, Cliff.  I appreciate the cheering! I will keep banging at it. 

No idea what to do, just watching and trying to learn something. 

Good luck Bakster, I can at least cheer you on. 

Hey thanks for chiming in, Mark. I did more research and I found a reference from Smooth On for a product called, Ease Release 205.  But, I am in no mood to spend/order another product costing 20 some Dollars. The link I pasted earlier mentions a mixture of vaseline and mineral spirits. I already have both, so, I think I will try that. I don't think I will test fate with IPA and dishsoap. 

CapnMac82

Ugh, you used the "w**k" word.  Gak!  I found out Friday we're inking another contract with our worst customer.  They expect miracles, refuse to listen when prices are quoted in dollars and they budgeted for only cents.  Then, when, predictably, things cost dollars, they want changes, for free, to get things back to cents, except, it always costs dollars not donuts by that point.  And, we never, ever, bill for the fact that we wind up doing 3x the work for these clowns.

You have my pity. That sucks.

I know exactly what you mean because we just did something similar. Though, in my case, the customer is at least profitable for us. The downside is they don't live in reality, they expect miracles to happen on a daily basis, and they are a massive time suck. We almost lost the account but with some creative negotiation we managed to keep them. It is a bitter sweet outcome. I guess that I should not look a gift horse in the mouth. They generate some Dollars for me and they are on a pace to double their business this year. Still, they are taking years off my life and I don't know if the money is worth it.

Bakster

Any advice from you guys would be appreciated.

Back int he Dark Ages (e.g. 80s) talcum powder (tile & grout supplier was cheaper than "babby" labeled) was the go-to for RTV mould release once the moulds were cast. 

Mineral oil was the go-to for releasing the master out of the individual casts.

Now, that was tens of thousands of donkey's years ago, too.

Technology has changed; we're even told it's improved, too.

Had this forum, and YT been around (at present technological maturity) inthe 80s, I'd have been sore impoverished keeping up with the times.  How I would have built boats too boggles my mind

Mind, I would have still been stuck places where it was easier to rent a shed and build a boat during the week.  And my local railway club scenery would have been on video--probably bad video

Ugh, you used the "w**k" word.  Gak!  I found out Friday we're inking another contract with our worst customer.  They expect miracles, refuse to listen when prices are quoted in dollars and they budgeted for only cents.  Then, when, predictably, things cost dollars, they want changes, for free, to get things back to cents, except, it always costs dollars not donuts by that point.  And, we never, ever, bill for the fact that we wind up doing 3x the work for these clowns.

Sigh.  How much for an AnyCuic printer again?

Just found this. 

https://www.smooth-on.com/support/faq/94/

The video said 4 parts IPA, this says 2 parts. Already not instilling much confidence.

The good, the bad, and the ugly. Today, was the UGLY. I tried separating the mold and behold, it was stuck together... BADLY. I had to cut along the join to open it and the end result, the mold is trashed. It is a complete do-over. I DID use a mold release agent prior to pouring the second half but I suspect it's the wrong stuff. It is probably used more for releasing a resin cast than for separating a mold. So there you go, Dodgy. A learning moment for you at my expense!

I have started over. I made some changes that I would have preferred done previously, so I guess that can be the silver lining. I have to find something to hang my hat on.

The first half of the mold is poured, and curing.

Do I use baby powder? Ot is baby powder used after, when the molds are separated and when casting resin?  I don't want to mess this one up too. One video I watched recommended a mixture of 4 parts IPA to one part dish soap. I will search the net more too. Any advice from you guys would be appreciated.

Demoted to 1 star. Thought police I am sure.

2:07 mark.

The reason... THE GOLD.

Dodgy

Bakko me old mate, (in Oz we tend to shorten everything and usually put an 'o' on peoples names. Why???? FIK)

Hey Dodgy me old mate, too funny. My sister called me Bakko. It was Bakko this,  and Bakko that. And what you doing Bakko. Why? FIK either. Lol. I guess I am a Bakko sort of guy.

Dodgy

so I'm going to watch and learn from your trials and trepidations. It's cheaper and less painful that way..........

My brother, that sounds like a good plan. Grab some popcorn, tip a frothy, and watch ...

Bakko me old mate, (in Oz we tend to shorten everything and usually put an 'o' on peoples names. Why???? FIK), I have never had a crack at casting, not sure if I want to, so I'm going to watch and learn from your trials and trepidations. It's cheaper and less painful that way..........

mustang1989

I have yet to go into the realm of casting but stuff like this makes me want to give it a whirl. Most impressive Steve.

 

Gamera

Awwwwwwwww, the PotA Icarus build thread was friggin' epic!!!

That makes me laugh, Cliff. Still laughing.

Gamera

Of course no reason you can't make a dozen or more wheels with different materials and techniques to see which one works out the bestest!!!

Now there is a man that appreciates experimentation! 

I can't wait to get at it.

I have yet to go into the realm of casting but stuff like this makes me want to give it a whirl. Most impressive Steve.

Awwwwwwwww, the PotA Icarus build thread was friggin' epic!!!

Looking forward to seeing how the casting resin works out. Of course no reason you can't make a dozen or more wheels with different materials and techniques to see which one works out the bestest!!!

CapnMac82

 

 

Mac Fixx

There's a lot to swallow in this thread and much to learn. Thanks to all for sharing.

 

 

And, whatever you do, don't scroll down to the Science Fiction sub-forum and look up the Icarus build.

Not unless you have a lot of time (it's near to 70 pages long, and mostly ape & monkey jokes).

There's an outstanding model build set in a nifty diorama, though.  If at the end of an Icelandic Edda

Oh, and whatever you do, don't look for our dear Baxter's Seaview build--it's stunning, too.

 

Hey Capn--  You are too kind, sir! Thank you!

CapnMac82

(it's near to 70 pages long, and mostly ape & monkey jokes)

Lol... so true. 

My job has me bound tightly but maybe this weekend I will get more done. 

I guess I can spill the beans about a change. I decided to pull the trigger and buy casting resin. Though the Puduo works, I have since found some bubbles rose to the surface causing dimples. (Thus is the need for a pressure pot). I could easily fill the defects with CA but call me crazy, I decided I went through all this work with the mold, why not try using the recommended pourable resin. I want to see how well their product works. And since casting is something I have wanted to dabble in at some point, now is a good time to experiment. 

I didn't originally plan to do this so I might face some issues in how well the resin flows into the mold. I have seen that some people use syringes to inject resin and that could be an option to try if all else fails.

It's a journey, and it can't be a journey if I don't take it.  

Mac Fixx

There's a lot to swallow in this thread and much to learn. Thanks to all for sharing.

And, whatever you do, don't scroll down to the Science Fiction sub-forum and look up the Icarus build.

Not unless you have a lot of time (it's near to 70 pages long, and mostly ape & monkey jokes).

There's an outstanding model build set in a nifty diorama, though.  If at the end of an Icelandic Edda

Oh, and whatever you do, don't look for our dear Baxter's Seaview build--it's stunning, too.

Mac Fixx

New to the forum.  Wow.  There's a lot to swallow in this thread and much to learn.  Thanks to all for sharing.

Mac

 

Hey Mac, welcome to the forum! I am glad to hear you found this thread and that you are enjoying it. Feel free to ask questions as they come up, or, just to chime in. There is a lot of chiming going on, and for the questions, there are wiser folk than me here if I can't answer it.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

New to the forum.  Wow.  There's a lot to swallow in this thread and much to learn.  Thanks to all for sharing.

Mac

Tanker-Builder

Well;

 If you fail then my way is wrong after all! Nah, looking good!

 

Thanks TB

Well;

 If you fail then my way is wrong after all! Nah, looking good!

Dodgy

Looking good so far Bakster.

 

All systems are go. 

Gamera

That mold looks perfect! Crossing my fingers everything goes well.

 

Thanks, Gam. 

That mold looks perfect! Crossing my fingers everything goes well.

Looking good so far Bakster.

Ok, back at it:

If I do this again, I will try placing a sheet of wax paper underneath the mold before hot gluing. It was somewhat of a pain to detach the mold from the plate. I thought it might pop off with some coaxing, but I underestimated the strength of the gooy glue. I had to pry it up, bit by bit. Not a terrible problem but my arms got a workout. Live and learn.

On the bright side-- I found that removing the clay base was a breeze. It basically popped out. I thought for sure I'd have to gouge it out chunk by chunk. Not so. Also-- the silicone cured beautifully. No issues.

I pulled the clay from the spokes and cleaned up some rubber flash. 

Next up I need to make a vent and then it's ready to pour the second half. Maybe I can get to that tomorrow.

Notice the circular piece at the top. I pulled that from the mixing cup. No bubbles. So with luck-- it might be a nice mold.

This rubber is pretty cool. You can't see it in the image but the piece I pulled from the cup has a thin sheet still attached that was pulled from the wall of the cup. I gave it a good go to rip it and it wouldn't. This is strong stuff. It might be good for dipping tools even. Maybe.

goldhammer88

Don't feel alone.  I work part time now for a body shop. Sheet metal and other parts are getting hard to come by, either by transportation issued or the regional warehouse not having them.  Not an area problem, is nationwide.  

Our windshield and glass contractor is having problems getting glass now as well.  He's being told that some windshields are better than a month out, and some there's no date when they'll be available.

And the insurance companies are screaming because of increased costs and time on rental cars, And not many of those in circulation because of the auto production problems.

 

Yup. It is impacting every facet of the supply chain. We are seeing shortages across the spectrum. I may not mind it so much if our customers would step into reality. Some of them are oblivious and instead of trying to work within the constraints of the crisis, no, let's increase production during it and you need to make it happen. Ridiculous.

Anyhow, it is what it is. 

Don't feel alone.  I work part time now for a body shop. Sheet metal and other parts are getting hard to come by, either by transportation issued or the regional warehouse not having them.  Not an area problem, is nationwide.  

Our windshield and glass contractor is having problems getting glass now as well.  He's being told that some windshields are better than a month out, and some there's no date when they'll be available.

And the insurance companies are screaming because of increased costs and time on rental cars, And not many of those in circulation because of the auto production problems.

Say Capn, just as a follow-up. I was just advised that as of last week there are 44 container ships sitting off the coast waiting to be offloaded. 44!

I mentioned there are containers in Illinois that can't be offloaded. Apparently, it is some sort of frame they need to unload the rail cars. There is a shortage because they are not being returned. They have recently instituted daily fines in an effort to expedite the return of these frames. But here is the thing that I just learned. There are 20 MILES of railcars sitting on track waiting to be offloaded. 20 MILES! Like I said, rail has stopped sending cargo trains to Illinois for several weeks now. The containers are being held on the west coast as a result.

So here is how my Monday opened. Remember that resin issue I mentioned. I have a customer that uses crimp terminals by the 10s of thousands, some parts into the 100s of thousands. Getting product has been hand to mouth. Well--  with a lot of pressure on my part I was able to get some product freed up and shipped last week. Well guess what? Something happened at FED X. The shipment has been stuck in TN for several days. We called FED X today and well, "we don't know what the issue is. We will start an investigation."

Translation? You are SOL. My customer goes line down on Wednesday. Now I need to try and broker some if I can find any. These are the daily battles and the insanity of it all. It is absolute chaos. It is so broken. 

THE END