I have been using TAP Quik-Cast type resin and I have been have hit or miss results. I think the problem is that the resin dosent cure correctly. Some times when I demold it it has dark spots,usually on the bottom of the mold. I even had a problem with one that never cured and it was all sludgy.

My question is:
What is the best temp for the resin to cure?

I've gotten dark spots using this resin, where there's an odd translucency and orangeyness to the spots, and I have always attributed it to not being quite properly mixed. I have since refined my mixing technique and eliminated that problem.

Have you ever had any problems with the temp fluxing to much?
i read that temps above 70 are best for curing, so i put the resin in front of my heater to warm it up. then i took it to the garage to mix it wich is a lot cooler. i noticed that when i mixed like this the resin turns cloudy like within a two min. i think next time im going to try to keep the resin cool before mixing. then when its mixed take the mold and warm that up.

I think i doing a good job mixing. When I mix I pour a & b into one cup then mix, then I pour it into the a cup and mix then into the b cup then mix. is this too much or not enough?

I'm casting in a climate controlled, hermetically sealed college apartment building. It's about 70 no matter what the temp outside

That might be my problem im not casting in a college apartment building. I need to get one

I need a place where I can fit a pressure set up. Let's swap

So you use a vacum? Did you make it or did you buy it? I want to make one. no bubbles right?

No, I don't have one yet because I have nowhere to put it. It's on my 'to do' list, tho.

quikcast from TAP sucks. try smooth-on products. much better, less brittle too.

Yeah I just bought some smooth on. im gonna check it.

Smooth On or sure. Most resins will have temp. guidelines in the documentation.
You can call or email Smooth On and ask them what products to use if you have questions.
Also don't forget to read the tutorial in the forum.

Yeah I havent tried smooth on. I did buy it tho, Im just waiting to use up all the quick cast. Question? What tutorial? Here on SB or on the smooth on web site?

My bigest problem now is bubbles. I hate them

paul kaiju send me this link http://www.danperezstudios.com/workshop.htm
good teacher!

GREAT LINK!!
Thank you

MonstreHero's tutorial: http://skullbrain.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=29626

Look at me digging up an old thread.

So I've been casting again and I've ran into a problem I've never had before. I'm using Smooth Cast 326 and all of my casts have been turning out just fine. I use smooth on's color additive with no real problems until last night. I mixed a little white poured then added a little purple and finished pouring, pressure cast at 60psi. When I de-molded last night after about 90 minutes the cast was rubbery. I thought well it just hasn't cured completely yet so I left it out all night. This morning it was still soft, like softer than soft vinyl, he stands up but I can literally bend the legs sideways without tearing or breaking. The temp in my house is between 70 and 75 so that shouldn't be the problem. I thought it might have something to do with adding the color additive but before when I've added too much it just stays tacky forever and goes into the "casts I can't use" bucket.

Any ideas what the problem is?

Your resin may just be old.
I get this effect sometimes but not often.
Maybe you agitated it after the chemical reaction started and screwed it up. It seems like when I add last minute effects it tends to happen.

I don't think its from being old, I've cast quite a few others and they all seem fine. Who knows just thought I'd ask to see if anyone else had the same issue.

some times the mixture isnt right... You might have not mixed it completely or to much part a not enough part b.

Yeah that's probably it. I wish I knew what I had done because I like the outcome in a way. I mean he still stands fine but has this great soft texture.

Hello, I am toying with the idea of creating a mold so that I can duplicate an army of hard to find "figures"--not for sale, but just for fun. I've never created a mold or casted anything, so I found this tutorial in the search function. Can someone please chime in as to:

1) do I risk damaging an existing figure (it's vintage, so I'm a little chicken about doing this) by creating a mold from it, and spraying silicon release on it.

2) will the molding compound damage paint on a vinyl toy?

3) I found this tutorial, and it makes the process look very staight forward. The material they are using doesn't seem as toxic, as the demo person doesn't mention the use of respirators

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs9SBpday84

help please?

Make a 2-part mold so you don't risk cutting into it getting out of silicone.
It shouldn't damage the paint. Just clean it carefully after.

Yeah Grace, the silicone mold material is way less hazardous than the resin that you'll put into it later! The release agent I don't know about for sure, but I don't think that I've heard of any that would damage the vintage stuff.

You know what? A spray-style release agent might have propellants that could conceivably damage the paint. You might look into using a brush-on version?

I am not an expert though, so don't take me too seriously. What'cha gonna bootleg??

Best non toxic release agents for the silicone that i have found are
Talc powder and vaseline.
These wont damage the item being molded...

The silicone wont stick to the figure either way.
I usr the realease agents mainly to keep thr silicone from sticking to its self.

If you do any two part molding be careful of the clay you use. We used blue clay and it dyed the vinyl of the toy we were duplicating.