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Plastics

F

Frederick

Registered
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Posts
871
Location
Chatham
First Name
Frederick
Hi all,

Well, I have my pressure pot and a compressor (which is on its last legs though) and excited about starting to cast acrylics. I must have watched every youtube video on the subject of plastics but I am still not sure upon what brand to buy. I know the USA use Aluminite a lot but would like to know what most people use here in the UK. I think Polyester is not a good idea due to the smell and I really do not want to upset the neighbours. Anyway I don't think Polyester needs a pressure chamber.

Please could I ask what brands casters on here use and if possible, where the best place is to buy. I think I would need a clear and slow hardening material to start with.

Cheers
Frederick
 
S

Skydivermel

Full Member
Joined
May 1, 2017
Posts
76
Location
Essex
First Name
Melvyn
Frederick said:
Hi all,

Well, I have my pressure pot and a compressor (which is on its last legs though) and excited about starting to cast acrylics. I must have watched every youtube video on the subject of plastics but I am still not sure upon what brand to buy. I know the USA use Aluminite a lot but would like to know what most people use here in the UK. I think Polyester is not a good idea due to the smell and I really do not want to upset the neighbours. Anyway I don't think Polyester needs a pressure chamber.

Please could I ask what brands casters on here use and if possible, where the best place is to buy. I think I would need a clear and slow hardening material to start with.

Cheers
Frederick
Click to expand...

I Use Alumintie Amazing Clear. Pain in the ar$e to mix but turns lovely
 
Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
There are several excellent casters on the forum who may come in or feel this info of theirs is already in the library.

Peter.
 
Bucks

Bucks

Fellow
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Posts
1,425
Location
North Yorkshire
First Name
Paul
Yeh polyester shrinks a fair bit when it cures, but there is no noticeable shrinkage with the Epoxy or Polyurethane.

The Standard/Origional Alumilite that is raved about in the US is Alumilite Clear which is Polyurethane & can be demoulded in about an hour (I think that’s why it’s so popular with the commercial guys, as they can run numerous batches in the same day) there is now a Alumilite Amazing Clear which is totally different as that one is Epoxy & takes overnight to demould, Metalclay sell both types over here.
 
Bucks

Bucks

Fellow
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Posts
1,425
Location
North Yorkshire
First Name
Paul
For non Alumilite brands there’s Easy Composites & MB Fibreglass to name a couple that sell a range of resins.
 
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