Help needed in finding a UK pressure set up

[Fleafa]

[mangozac]

[Fleafa]

Sounds awesome

[Velvet Mark]

[Velvet Mark]

Now Im just looking for a vacuum pump to add to the circuit. Unsure whether to use the paint pot or buy a premade vacuum chamber.

Also any ideas how i can quieten the venting air from the presure pot?

Thanks all!

[RageofAchilles]

I know what you mean ! I have a cheapo 24ltr compressor and its loud, but I find the sound of the pressure pot venting air to be far worse and have to wear ear defenders to stop my ears popping lol

I suppose you could try holding a bath sponge over the valve while venting, or will it just blow a hole through it?....hmm lol

I bought my vac kit from ebay for about £190 all inclusive 7.5 ltr chamber and 1.5cfm vacuum pump. Yes I know it is a weedy pump but it reaches full vacuum in under a minute, it's just a bit of a noisy little bugger ( like a mini outboard motor lol). On it's own it made my castings worse , but combined with the pressure you get excellent results.

Any air bubble in your old moulds will implode in the pressure pot causing lots of tiny spheres on the surface of your castings, unless your lucky.

[mangozac]

[Velvet Mark]

Yeah Ive redone 6 moulds so far, no bobbles at all now:)

Just cast up and painted this little dude


Not one air bubble on the first cast! Didnt even have to break the mould in:) Really stoked, its going to make my life so much easier. When Id get an order and it was taking 2/3 casts to get a good copy it was such a pain. Or resorting to filling the holes with half cured resin and a sculpting tool it was no fun lol.

I was using a sock to muffle the venting. Ill check out the silencer though Zac, thanks for the link.

Rage, I think ill pick up the Vacuum pump next payday. Even if its just to degas the silicone before applying the pressure. As always any budget I think I should stick too goes out of the window when the inner enthusiastic muse takes over The older moulds ive used havent been to bad so far. The bobbles just flick off.

Started some 15mm GIrls Und Panzer crew sculpts for flames of war now I know I can fill the moulds properly too. Tried casting 6mm minis in the past at room pressure and it was hard work. Hopefully this should be easier with the right gear.



Thanks again!

Cheers
Mark

[RageofAchilles]

The Girls Und Panzer sculpts are a really nice idea, as an anime fan I appreciate them although I haven't watched the show ( yet).

It also puts me in mind of the amazing Valkyrie Chronicles on PS3 and the associated anime series.

You made your setup the same time as me , but are already racing forward making minis, it's great to see!

[Velvet Mark]

Thanks mate. yeah loving it! For the air compresor silencer ive seen from a UK seller which I think Ill try. Not seen Valkyrie Cronicles yet, Ill have to check it out! GuP is a bit like World of Tanks meets St Trinnians. Me and the eldest are well into it atm! The first episode can be found .

I managed to cast them up and paint them



Nearly there, just need a bit of a touch up. They are a bit awkward to get out of the mould though without snapping. Its shore A27, each side is about 20mm thick. I normally snap thin resin pieces deliberately to pin them if im going to game with them, but id like the option not to lol.

Any recommendations for some harder curing resin? Or am I best using a softer silicone?

Cheers
Mark

[RageofAchilles]

I bought this a 60D resin from the smooth-cast semi rigid series.
http://www.benam.co.uk/products/plastic ... emi-rigid/

Its very strong while slightly flexible and high impact resistant. doesn't snap in thin section, good stuff, but I wouldn't use any pigment with it as it can act up if the mix isn't just right. I bought it to make prop armour with.

Looks like you got good casting results on such small minis, nicely done!
Thanks for the link

[mangozac]

Mark, you don't actually want a harder curing resin: the harder it is the more brittle it tends to be for fine parts like these. I'd definitely look for some softer silicone first: something around Shore 20A.

Why is the mould 40mm thick? Surely for such small parts it could be a quarter of that? The majority of my moulds are only two Lego brick studs thick...

[Velvet Mark]

Yeah I've got into the habit of doing 100 g of silicone per side to keep the % catalyst calculation easier! That might be my issue with these. I've found if I take use tweezers and due care I can get them out ok

[mangozac]

I've done down to 40g of silicone per side and never had any issues measuring out the catalyst at a 1:10 ratio. Definitely try to get your weight down

[Fleafa]

In response to the original topic, I'm going to be ordering one of these to replace my leaking pot:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251761774724? ... EBIDX%3AIT

I'll post a review once I have used it for a while.