Anyone doing any resin casting?

[RR_Mel]

Is there anyone out there that knows of a source to obtain low quantities of resin casting materials?  I’ve been making small parts for my locomotives and layout for several years.  My problem is short shelf life on both the resins and silicone molding materials.  I don’t need large quantities for making a only a few molds and castings in a years time.  Average shelf life is 10 months so ¾ of the material ends up in the trash can.

 

Eight ounces would go a long way for me, I normally only use 4 to 8 ounces per year.  When I use a standard 32 ounce kit 24 ounces ends up at the County Waste Facility.   At a little over $1 per ounce that’s also a bit too much to just toss in the trash.

 

I’d be happy to just find a source for the molding silicone, I’ve gone to using JB Weld Epoxy for casting small parts.  It’s easy to cast and works out sometimes better than resins, very little waste that way.  If you haven tried using JB-KwikWeld as a filler your missing something.  It works exactly like Bondo in tube form.

 

 

Mel

 

 

Modeling the SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

[modelmaker51]

Micromart has a new molding compound that is heated and poured, http://www.micromark.com/composimold-heat-and-pour-mold-rubber-10-oz,10894.html It comes in 10 oz containers for about 17 bucks and is re-usable.

[wabash2800]

I've used the resin and hardner from Micro Mark and from a company in Chicago or Grand Rapids. I don't remember the minimum quantity and the price for the latter but it was less expensive than the Micro Mark product. I seem to recall I had about $100 wrapped up in the product from Micro Mark. The new product reffered to by Modelmake... sounds interesting but you still have to use resin to make the actual part.

[modelmaker51]

You can use just about any type of resin product which includes most epoxies (just another resin) of which JB is amoungst the best (whether it's the 5 minute or 24 hour type) because it can be filed, sanded and drilled just like styrene.

[RR_Mel]

modelmaker51

You can use just about any type of resin product which includes most epoxies (just another resin) of which JB is amoungst the best (whether it's the 5 minute or 24 hour type) because it can be filed, sanded and drilled just like styrene.

 

 

There are several negative reviews on YouTube about excessive bubbles in Compoismold as well as heat from the resin curing effecting the contour of the mold.

 

Bubbles occurring in my Silicone molds have been my worst problems.  It was a major learning curve to get past the bubble problem using Silicone rubber for molds.

 

Have you used JB Weld in a Compoismold?  I’ve been using JB Weld in my Silicone molds for years and never felt any heat build up.  I don’t recall ever having a bubble problem with JB Weld but it can be a problem using resins.

 

I have a very good inventory of molds so a disposable mold is also a slight negative for Compoismold.  I rarely reuse my molds but it has been handy over the years when I ran out of some parts to make more of them.

 

 

Mel

 

 

Modeling the SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California