Building a mold for casting resin
 

I'd like to try to create a top for a coffe table using resin but will need
to custom build the mold. The item would be one piece that's 48" long, 17"
wide and 5/16 " thick on top, with a lower portion that would fit down into
the table and would be 46" long, 15" wide and 5/8 " thick. I'd also like to
embed items in the tabletop, which is what made me think of using resin for
the project. I'd also like to put six small holes around the top for screws
to affix the top to the table. For a project of this size, what would be
the best material for creating the mold?

Matt Lupo
matt at lupo dot com

--
G. M. Lupo a.k.a. matt at lupo dot com

Up on the hill, they think I'm okay
Or so they say...

You'd have to make a positive first out of sealed wood or such. Then I would
make a mold by building up a thin coat of a rubber molding material around
the top and sides of the positve. I would then make a mother mold of plaster
around that to support the rubber mold once the positive is removed. You can
then pour your resin into the rubber mold.

--
Dawn Stubitsch
http://www.thumbprintkids.com
http://www.thumbprintkids.com/pages/caketoppers.html
"G. M. Lupo" wrote in message
...
I'd like to try to create a top for a coffe table using resin but will
need
to custom build the mold. The item would be one piece that's 48" long,
17"
wide and 5/16 " thick on top, with a lower portion that would fit down
into
the table and would be 46" long, 15" wide and 5/8 " thick. I'd also like
to
embed items in the tabletop, which is what made me think of using resin
for
the project. I'd also like to put six small holes around the top for
screws
to affix the top to the table. For a project of this size, what would be
the best material for creating the mold?

Matt Lupo
matt at lupo dot com

--
G. M. Lupo a.k.a. matt at lupo dot com

Up on the hill, they think I'm okay
Or so they say...

Yo don't say what finish you want the top to have. If smooth, then glass
with a release agent is a good surface to get a flat, smooth surface..
Overfill the mold described below and carefully lower the glass onto the
pool of resin tilted to one side to keep air bubbles from forming.


"Dawn Stubitsch" wrote in message
. com...
You'd have to make a positive first out of sealed wood or such. Then I
would
make a mold by building up a thin coat of a rubber molding material
around
the top and sides of the positve. I would then make a mother mold of
plaster
around that to support the rubber mold once the positive is removed. You
can
then pour your resin into the rubber mold.

--
Dawn Stubitsch
http://www.thumbprintkids.com
http://www.thumbprintkids.com/pages/caketoppers.html
"G. M. Lupo" wrote in message
...
I'd like to try to create a top for a coffe table using resin but will
need
to custom build the mold. The item would be one piece that's 48" long,
17"
wide and 5/16 " thick on top, with a lower portion that would fit down
into
the table and would be 46" long, 15" wide and 5/8 " thick. I'd also
like
to
embed items in the tabletop, which is what made me think of using resin
for
the project. I'd also like to put six small holes around the top for
screws
to affix the top to the table. For a project of this size, what would
be
the best material for creating the mold?

Matt Lupo
matt at lupo dot com

--
G. M. Lupo a.k.a. matt at lupo dot com

Up on the hill, they think I'm okay
Or so they say...

You can also sand the resin top smooth once it is pulled from the mold.

--
Dawn Stubitsch
http://www.thumbprintkids.com
http://www.thumbprintkids.com/pages/caketoppers.html
"Seattle Communist Extravaganza!!!!!!!!!" wrote in message
news:ANBNa.42945$Xm3.8871@sccrnsc02...
Yo don't say what finish you want the top to have. If smooth, then glass
with a release agent is a good surface to get a flat, smooth surface..
Overfill the mold described below and carefully lower the glass onto the
pool of resin tilted to one side to keep air bubbles from forming.


"Dawn Stubitsch" wrote in message
. com...
You'd have to make a positive first out of sealed wood or such. Then I
would
make a mold by building up a thin coat of a rubber molding material
around
the top and sides of the positve. I would then make a mother mold of
plaster
around that to support the rubber mold once the positive is removed. You
can
then pour your resin into the rubber mold.

--
Dawn Stubitsch
http://www.thumbprintkids.com
http://www.thumbprintkids.com/pages/caketoppers.html
"G. M. Lupo" wrote in message
...
I'd like to try to create a top for a coffe table using resin but will
need
to custom build the mold. The item would be one piece that's 48"
long,
17"
wide and 5/16 " thick on top, with a lower portion that would fit down
into
the table and would be 46" long, 15" wide and 5/8 " thick. I'd also
like
to
embed items in the tabletop, which is what made me think of using
resin
for
the project. I'd also like to put six small holes around the top for
screws
to affix the top to the table. For a project of this size, what would
be
the best material for creating the mold?

Matt Lupo
matt at lupo dot com

--
G. M. Lupo a.k.a. matt at lupo dot com

Up on the hill, they think I'm okay
Or so they say...

Building a mold for casting resin
 

I have cast a lot of clear resin and its notoriously difficult in
large casts. perspex would be ok for the mould if the shape is simple
you will get a better finish against a hard surface. Recently I have
been using a clear resin that starts off blue and goes clear when
cast. (from www.specialplasters.co.uk ) It is less tacky aginst rubber
moulds than the previous ones. The problem being that clear resins are
very air inhibited because the wax that would be added to reduce this
effect makes the resin opaque so cant be added. when you embed you
have to let the first layer almost set so the objects dont sink but
the fist layer going of before the next causes bending of the cast.
weighting it down while still green will usually flattern it. If you
wait too long before adding the next layer you will see a defraction
line when looking at an angle.




On Sat, 5 Jul 2003 01:47:56 -0400, "G. M. Lupo"
wrote:

I'd like to try to create a top for a coffe table using resin but will need
to custom build the mold. The item would be one piece that's 48" long, 17"
wide and 5/16 " thick on top, with a lower portion that would fit down into
the table and would be 46" long, 15" wide and 5/8 " thick. I'd also like to
embed items in the tabletop, which is what made me think of using resin for
the project. I'd also like to put six small holes around the top for screws
to affix the top to the table. For a project of this size, what would be
the best material for creating the mold?

Matt Lupo
matt at lupo dot com