I bought some new resin that is supposed to cure slower, at lower temperature, so less bubble formation. And we're supposed to be in the 80's all this week. The resin says it's best to cast when the resin temperature will be above 70F. So my next project is going to be this. This is a 6 inch long coconut beetle. We caught this checking under the street lights back when I was in high school. I injected it with formaldehyde and pineed it into position on that styrofoa,. It's been in a box ever since.
I figure three layers. The first will be a base, about 75% cured, and then stick the beetle in so it is secure and won't float. I'll paint the underside of the beetle heavily right before sticking it into the resin, and then pour it up to the jaw level. That will cover the underside and hopefully minimize bubbles. Then the last pour will cover the beetle sufficiently to give me room to sand and polish the final. The mold is hand made from 1/16" acrylic plastic. When we did this back when I was in high school we used old aluminium pans. This will be better because I can see through the sides and see what's going on under the beetle, etc. I'll wax the inside of the mold before starting the pour but I fully expect to have to trim it off with my bandsaw, we'll see how it goes.
If this one goes well, I have a matched pair of rhinoceros beetles and a pair of fire beetles to also cast.
I figure three layers. The first will be a base, about 75% cured, and then stick the beetle in so it is secure and won't float. I'll paint the underside of the beetle heavily right before sticking it into the resin, and then pour it up to the jaw level. That will cover the underside and hopefully minimize bubbles. Then the last pour will cover the beetle sufficiently to give me room to sand and polish the final. The mold is hand made from 1/16" acrylic plastic. When we did this back when I was in high school we used old aluminium pans. This will be better because I can see through the sides and see what's going on under the beetle, etc. I'll wax the inside of the mold before starting the pour but I fully expect to have to trim it off with my bandsaw, we'll see how it goes.
If this one goes well, I have a matched pair of rhinoceros beetles and a pair of fire beetles to also cast.
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