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Casting Pictures

Frederick

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

I am slowly losing the will to live now.:sob: I am trying to make a pen blank using a picture wrapped about the brass tube and then cast in Aluminite clear (Slow). I have now used two sets of chemicals as the results I am achieving are none too good, in fact they are awful. I mix correctly with the chemical ratios within 0-1g. I ensure there are no white streaks and the sides of the mixing cup are clean and scraped.

I have used gloss photo paper with spray glue and that just shrinks the paper. I have used matt photo paper and that just disintergrates and causes white patches in the plastice. I have tried covering photos with thin CA which does improve things a little but, not good enough. I have used sticky back mailing labels but go see through.

I would like to know how others do this, what paper do I use; what glue/adhesive is best. Would polyester be a better choice. There are not many youtube videos around and I have watched them all but none really answer the questions.

If anyone has any ideas I would love to know.

Cheers
Frederick
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
I think some of the problem may be your choice of paper. I'm not a caster, but I understand there is paper and there is paper when it comes to casting. Someone may pop along in a while with a bit of paper knowledge. Your problem is probably not your choice of resin though I think.
 

Bammer

Fellow
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Posts
1,482
Location
Cambridge
First Name
Brad
Frederick ... it's down to the labels I think, but I don't know which ones. I rarely use pictures in my pens and If I ever need one it's easier for me to get someone else to do it.

Don't use polyester though, it heats up when curing and knackers the print. Epoxy is the one to use.

Sorry can't be of much more help
 

martin.pearson

Full Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2017
Posts
223
Location
Balingry Fife
First Name
Martin
I have read that some people colour the brass tubes, white ould be best if your using photo images

Havent done any pen blank casting myself yet but I can tell you as a signmaker that there are a lot of choices when it comes down to paper & you need to be using the right type of ink as well.
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Recently the successful pictures of competent labelled blanks prove that some members of this forum have the problems well in hand.

Peter.
 

Bucks

Fellow
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Posts
1,425
Location
North Yorkshire
First Name
Paul
I use these labels for all my label cast blanks Frederick, I’ve only used them with Epoxy resin so far, you don’t have to paint tubes or seal the paper, don’t know about using them with other resins though.
 
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