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UV resin

H

Harry

Full Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Posts
183
Location
Dunfermline
First Name
Harry
I recently thought I would invest in a bit of new "technology" to help me make blanks with inclusions, particularly watch parts pens. I'm referring to UV cured resin, which seemed ideal for fixing the parts to the tube. All went well placing the parts, but after casting, the outline of the resin could be clearly seen, making the casting a failure. It's probably got a different refractive index to the casting resin.

The UV resin I used was Solarez Thin Hard for fly tying, and my casting resin was, as always, PR. I thought I would let you guys know about this in case anyone else thought of trying it, if you haven't already. The UV resin is amazing stuff and sets solid in seconds using a UV torch and I'm sure there are other uses for it as I have invested in the torch, special battery for torch and charger for battery!

It might work with other casting resins and I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has tried it. Ah well, back to nail varnish!
 
C

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
441
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
Have you considered layering the Solarez and hardening it as you go to build it up to turning thickness? Then there wouldn't be a refractive difference.

Have you tried CA to stick the watch parts with when resin casting? Marla puts a drop on some parchment paper and just touches the pieces in the resin, holding them with fine tweezers, then touching them to the barrel. If you do it sparingly you can't see any resin/glue issues.

Pete
 
H

Harry

Full Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Posts
183
Location
Dunfermline
First Name
Harry
Curly said:
Have you considered layering the Solarez and hardening it as you go to build it up to turning thickness? Then there wouldn't be a refractive difference.

Have you tried CA to stick the watch parts with when resin casting? Marla puts a drop on some parchment paper and just touches the pieces in the resin, holding them with fine tweezers, then touching them to the barrel. If you do it sparingly you can't see any resin/glue issues.

Pete
Click to expand...

Using UV resin for the whole thing would be very expensive - that stuff is not cheap!

When I started making these pens, I used CA, but found it could be seen and sometimes would turn white, so I started using clear nail varnish, no problem.
 
B

BSB

Apprentice Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2015
Posts
25
Location
Sussex, UK
First Name
Spencer
I've stuck things to pen tubes using UV Resin then completed the pen blank with epoxy resin (ER) and not been able to see the UVR at all. I think the issue here is the use of PR over the UVR as they will have very different qualities with light.

Have a look on that website with all the videos of people falling over cats and people falling for water bottle squirting in the eye tricks and you'll find plenty of vids that show it being done.

I'm not sure on the forum rules and posting external links, so I'll PM a link to a channel that will demonstrate how it can work with UVR and ER.

Not sure that helps if all you have is PR, but worth stating I suppose.
 
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