Do i need mekp? I notice there's some postings about getting a 2 oz bottle with some purchases.
Casting Vintage Stamps in Acrylic using Silmar 41
- Thread starter Schroedc
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- #22
MEKP is the catalyst. They give you enough with the can. Some folks order an extra ounce or two in case they run out but you don't absolutely have to.
I use the clear Alumilite. Most of my casting is what they call worthless wood. I will get some pictures. The Alumilite website has some good video on using Alumilite. I don't have any secrets but I learn something everyday. They have a new clear that has open time. I think it has an open time of 12 minutes instead of 7. It may work with the vibration instead of a pressure pot. I use a Harbor Freight paint pot and set it at 70 pounds.
Man you got some pretty cool uncirculated stamps there!
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- #25
That's just the tip of the iceberg. I've got about 40 different full sheets to work from. Military, wildlife, states, all kind of things.
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- #26
Folks, I'm going to pass along something that just came up with a couple blanks someone sent me to cast, when you paint your tubes white Here are a couple things to keep in mind-
1- Use good quality spray paint. I prefer Rustoleum, what can happen with some paints is something called a recoat lift. When the resin hits the paint it softens it up a lot and causes it to lift off the tube and get wrinkly.
2- Make sure you build several (I do at least 3) coats so you have a good thick base, then knock back any gloss before gluing on the stamps or whatever you are going to cast. LET DRY A WEEK. I know it says 24 hours before use on the can but solvents can be outgassing for a week or more, I like to let them sit a week before knocking back the gloss and gluing to them
3- When prepping the tubes, Make sure they are degreased (I use acetone. lacquer thinner works, even alcohol) and sand them to remove any shine and oxidization and then clean them again with solvent and let dry before painting.
If possible, I find ordering the pre painted tubes from places like PSI and Woodturningz is a good way to minimize this hazard. They are most likely either powder coated or painted with a heat cured, catalyzed automotive style paint that is much more resistant to these kinds of things (I've run close to 100 of them and had absolutely no issues with the paint lifting)
Here is a picture of what can happen-
1- Use good quality spray paint. I prefer Rustoleum, what can happen with some paints is something called a recoat lift. When the resin hits the paint it softens it up a lot and causes it to lift off the tube and get wrinkly.
2- Make sure you build several (I do at least 3) coats so you have a good thick base, then knock back any gloss before gluing on the stamps or whatever you are going to cast. LET DRY A WEEK. I know it says 24 hours before use on the can but solvents can be outgassing for a week or more, I like to let them sit a week before knocking back the gloss and gluing to them
3- When prepping the tubes, Make sure they are degreased (I use acetone. lacquer thinner works, even alcohol) and sand them to remove any shine and oxidization and then clean them again with solvent and let dry before painting.
If possible, I find ordering the pre painted tubes from places like PSI and Woodturningz is a good way to minimize this hazard. They are most likely either powder coated or painted with a heat cured, catalyzed automotive style paint that is much more resistant to these kinds of things (I've run close to 100 of them and had absolutely no issues with the paint lifting)
Here is a picture of what can happen-
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- #28
It's probably the preferred method but unless a guy was going to do a ton of them it could get cost prohibitive unless you already have all the equipment.
I powdercoat 1000s of jigs a year with very very minimal equipment.
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- #30
Willing to do a tutorial and share some sources? I can see lots of applications in casting and other things we do......
Not a problem at all. I've got a couple different ways I do it that most people will already have the basic stuff needed.
Any idea what happened to this batch? Somebody else paint them? You run out of Rustoleum?
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- #33
These were painted by someone else and came to me ready to cast, I did some test runs with the stickers/decals on them on other substrates to make sure those were fine, then went to cast them and had the issue. I'll get some more of the stickers plus the extras that were sent and do up some new ones with the powder coated tubes for the customer.
I bet that moron just used whatever was in his paint bin and the cheapest crap available, because he used it to paint dinosaur footprints in the backyard grass for his grandson, so cheaper the better...
And it was probably this stuff from Walmart's bottom shelf...
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- #35
I bet that moron just used whatever was in his paint bin and the cheapest crap available, because he used it to paint dinosaur footprints in the backyard grass for his grandson, so cheaper the better...
And it was probably this stuff from Walmart's bottom shelf...
View attachment 115319
Probably, I'm not going to tell anyone who it was though.
Right on.
I'll look around and see if I can find out the dorks id.
I'll look around and see if I can find out the dorks id.
Who ever did that should be tar and feathered...
Now that was funny! 
I bet that moron just used whatever was in his paint bin and the cheapest crap available, because he used it to paint dinosaur footprints in the backyard grass for his grandson, so cheaper the better...
And it was probably this stuff from Walmart's bottom shelf...
View attachment 115319
My Spanish is a little rusty but I think #4 says "the crap fails fast" but what ever MULEheaded dork used this stuff should probably send some of the stash on his 2 shelves to me. If I were talking to @Schroedc I would say send some to him but I'm not so I won't, just send to me...
