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Post by michael88 on Jun 17, 2015 11:13:14 GMT -5
So my last two pours have a cloudy almost white color on top. After cutting off 1/2 inch the color is more consistent but even on the outsides of the blanks are cloudy. It's as if the color I want is encased in a cloud. I'm not exactly sure what is going on. I measured correctly, and in the most recent I only added a dab of pearl. Please let me know what's going on.
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Post by carol - Alumilite Corp on Jun 19, 2015 10:25:54 GMT -5
Good Morning Michael,
Typically the white cloudy, wispy white as some call it is caused by too much A side. It is typically resolved by the following two bits of information, Michael. This is a weight measurement resin, not volume. Secondly, make sure you scales are accurate as sometimes it doesn't take much to alter a ratio (depending on amount you are using) to get this result. If scales are functioning properly, 1:1 by weight, then we can look at the mixing. When you are mixing making sure it is completely blended, scraping sides and bottom of mixing vessel well. When you scrap off the mixing stick on the side of the cup, make sure you mix it one more time to put back in the material you scrapped on the side of the cup for a complete blend/mix. Once all that is tried, if you still have an issue, please let us know, you may call if you prefer.
Have a great weekend!
Regards,
Carol
800-447-9344
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Post by Duckman on Aug 27, 2015 6:53:44 GMT -5
I ha e bought a bunch from you never had a issue but the last 16 lb. every pour comes out with a cloudy tint to it I have check my scale bought new scales mixed very well and is clear when mixed but when it dries comes out cloudy
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Post by mike on Aug 31, 2015 22:05:34 GMT -5
Sorry for the slow response. Which clear product ... we have a few different ones? How much are you pouring? Are you encapsulating something? Pressure casting? Vacuuming? What are you pouring?
Whatever info you can provide should help us get to the bottom of this.
thx, Mike
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Post by lauramelnik on Oct 1, 2015 16:21:06 GMT -5
Any more information about the clouds floating in the Alumilite clear? I am also getting these clouds, I'm using Alumilite Clear, a scale that is in grams, and the square bottom mixing sticks. Any help would be appreciated. Also, I live in Florida about 2 miles from the beach and a mile from the lagoon, humidity is a bit high here. The pressure pot I'm using works well, but lately I'm getting these whisps in anything I case.
Thanks Laura
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Post by mike on Oct 1, 2015 20:31:50 GMT -5
First thing I would try is shorting the A side just a gram or two to see if that helps.
Moisture can create problems especially in older material or material that has been opened and shut a bunch of times.
Second thing I would try ... warming the material (in the bottles with caps on tight) to 130-140F, then shake it well ... can sometimes recondition and help the material get back to its original more consistent viscosity and user friendliness if its been sitting for awhile. Just helps keep everything homogenous.
Mike
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marko
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by marko on Oct 3, 2015 11:25:52 GMT -5
I'm having the same problems with cloudiness and "wispyness". I'm using Alumilite Clear slow set and I like the extended open time. However, the last three or four pours I have had huge issues with cloudiness. I never had issues with the standard Alumilite Clear. Is the slow set more temperamental than the regular AL Clear? I use a small scale, always taking care to calibrate it and mix using 1 to 1 ratios of weight. I use small silicone molds to cast with and all my molds go into a pressure pot to ensure bubble free blanks. Why does this problem persist? The clarity of my blanks is critical to my business and I need to get back to the consistency I had with the standard AL Clear.
Are there any issues with the type of plastic cups I use to mix it up in? I use a #1, 12oz plastic cup. I know with Poly-Resin you have to be careful but I didn't think it was an issue with Alumilite.
If I short the "A" side, by how much do I short it by? Is there a specific weight to short it by, i.e., .01 oz or 1 gram, etc?
Any help would be highly appreciated!
Mark
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Post by mike on Oct 5, 2015 10:09:47 GMT -5
I would recommend shorting the A side approximately 2-3%. No more than 5%.
Mike
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Post by mike on Oct 5, 2015 10:11:17 GMT -5
Quick question ... you said your last 3 or 4 pours. Were these the first pours out of the material or did you have some good pours and now recently in the last 3 or 4 you noticed the cloudiness?
Thx, Mike
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Post by Mark on Oct 21, 2015 9:55:51 GMT -5
The last 3 or 4 pours have been with the Slow Set Alumilite Clear. Prior to that, I was using the regular Alumilite Clear. It just seems like the Slow Set is a bit more temperamental?
I have been trying to short the "A" side by just a gram or two and that has cleared things up a bit, but the problem continues to persist.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Mark
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Post by carol - Alumilite Corp on Oct 23, 2015 9:02:15 GMT -5
Typically if you use too much A side, the cast piece will result in a cloudy, semi-transparent, or even opaque white colored casting. It seems like at this point you have followed all the instructions and tips offered. I would like to refer back to a statement you made in one of your post (for troubleshooting your issue) you had said you used a plastic mixing cup, is that a change since you said it worked before? It may be worth trying a paper cup, to see if that changes anything? Just in case the plastic cups are holding moisture for some reason. The moisture in Florida can be an issue sometimes, are you pouring in a climate controlled room? Maybe some moisture issue is creeping in as it is setting having the longer open time? Mark is your B side thickened at all? Just thoughts.. You seem to have the weight under control even altering the ratio to shorten the A side. Would like to look at the mixing Mark. Be sure to mix the Alumilite Clear very well since it is going to be degassed don't have to worry quite so much about being hesitant in mixing well. After the materials have been poured together, mix thoroughly (keeping the stir stick in contact with the bottom of the cup - reduces air from being introduced into your resin) for approximately 30-45 seconds. Make sure to scrape the sides and the bottom of the mixing cup and continue to mix until no swirls are seen. Also scrap your mixing stick a couple of times on side of mixing vessel and re mix what was on the stick back into the blend. Mark if this is already how you are mixing, then we will look at a couple of the other questions I asked.
We are ready to try and help figure this out with you. Have a great weekend!
Regards,
Carol
800-447-9344
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bill
New Member
Posts: 18
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Post by bill on Nov 8, 2015 0:10:32 GMT -5
I too was having cloudy castings when I first started using Alumilite Clear and I was degassing before and using a compression pot but still having problems. I found that I was measuring small amounts (5 grams of A and B) using a gram scale. I shifted to using a .00 gram scale and then weighing the measured cups of each A and B as I was pouring them into a mixing cup. This still caused problems because I was pouring from the cup and not getting the measured amount into the mixing cup. Now I measure by weight then weigh the measured cups of both A and B. This gave me a measurement to use after pouring both A and B into the measuring cup. If the cup with A in it measured 12 grams before pouring it’s contents into the mixing cup then I should expect to get about 4 grams of product into the mixing cup. But because the B-side of Alumilite Clear is thicker I was not getting a full 4 grams into the mixing cup when I just poured it in. However knowing that I had to scrape more from the measuring cup into the mixing cup and then checking to make sure I was getting the correct amount in by checking the weight of the empty cup. Now my small castings are coming out right, with the correct hardness and clear.
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Post by mike on Nov 9, 2015 8:10:07 GMT -5
You are exactly correct ... the smaller amount you mix ... the bigger the chance to be off a significant percentage. Good job dialing it in and thanks for sharing your experience.
Mike
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Post by sprinkles on Jan 26, 2016 4:46:29 GMT -5
I've purchased a batch of Alumilite clear (12 min set) and am having trouble with it randomly turning white or having whisps. I have a gram scale. Climate controlled room, degasser, pressure tank, moisture traps, sterile cups and a special spatula for scraping the bottom and sides of the cup, mix for 2 minutes. I even go as far as swapping out cups and scrape the spatula to mix again for an additional 2 minutes. I am encapsulating tiny figures and thought maybe it was something on the figure that is contaminating the resin but again I've had some success so I've ruled that out. I've also left out a gram on the side A and still randomly get whisps or cloudy cured resin. I'm curently going to do the recommendation of warming up the bottles to 130-140 and shake to recondition them if this doesn't work I don't know what else to do.
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Post by carol - Alumilite Corp on Jan 26, 2016 12:58:11 GMT -5
How old is your material, is the viscosity as it should be Sprinkles? Sounds like your are doing everything right, if warming up the bottles does not help please give us a call Sprinkles.
Carol
800-447-9344
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