Vac-Cast Epoxy resin ........ what have I bought !?

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Vac-Cast Epoxy resin ........ what have I bought !?

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TURK	TURK posted 9 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 101, Visits: 662	Hi folks, As per the thread title ........ I'm not sure if what I have bought from EC will be fine for what I am trying to accomplish. I purchased some 'Vac-Cast' Epoxy casting resin as I read it was ideal for a tooling plug as it was an aluminium filled epoxy casting resin resistant to heat. I've searched on the forum on how to use it ( and on YouTube ), but can't find anybody that has used it ! I did find however, many casting tutorials on the net but they were for liquid Latex and others. Am I to assume it's exactly the same procedure ? I have also read some of the tutorials on here, but the guide very quickly deviates to mould construction for the use of vacuum infusion for carbon fibre parts. I simply need to pour the mixture into a vacuum formed part. Leaving me with a 'male' plug so I can vacuum form many other parts just like my original. Any information greatly received as I'm really stuck as to which direction I need to go. Thanks guys. TURK Tags Epoxy resin plug tooling Vac-Cast
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TURK	TURK posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 101, Visits: 662	Hi Matt, Apologies if the last posts sounded a little sarcastic or even rude, wasn't my intention ........ just getting a little frustrated that's all. Many, many thanks for all the your answers, they've answered all my queries, and some. And I'm also an idiot ! ......... but you picked-up on that, as I did mean 'Vac-Cast Epoxy Resin' ! Actually, it's good news that the epoxy resin sticks to wood. I'll try and explain what I mean by that, and maybe it'll help other people out when constructing mould boxes. Originally my idea was to construct a mould box, like any mould box, giving me adequate space between my plug and the mould box sides, 18mm is what I had, as in the photo on the previous page. But then I had a better idea ........ what if I reduced the mold box size giving me a 9mm thickness to my resin mould, but leave the wooden sides on the mould. So I chose to make the mould box sides out of 9mm MDF, this stills give a mould with 18mm thick walls, strong enough to withstand most day to day handling and a vacuum forming machine. As the epoxy resin will stick to the wood I won't treat the sides with a release agent for better adhesion to the MDF. The base of the mould I chose to use 15mm melamine, and will be waxed and treated with mould release. As the base of the mould box definitely needs to release as it's in effect the top of my mould when I release it, and flip it over. The final 'tooling' mould I end up with should be a female mould. I'll just have to drill some holes in the bottom of it for vacuum release. Many thanks for clearing up the mixing ratios, I did do a little research on that but just needed confirmation. I'm pretty knew in this game and it's a steep learning curve, mistakes can be costly ! The reason why I need to know very accurately just how much resin and catalyst I'll be needing is, I live in France and don't think you can ship more Vac-Cast Resin to me as the catalyst is corrosive. With only one 5Kg bucket I may just have enough to complete my moulds. Anyway, thanks Matt. PS; thanks for the link ....... no doubt that will come in handy someday ; ) TURK
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