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Post by Scott Zrubek on Oct 24, 2020 21:21:01 GMT -5
I'm working an a multilayer "diorama". I did four pours of about 1/2" thick each time totals about 6 liters of Clear Cast.
The last layer has about 10%, all on one side, that is still tacky (holding fingerprints) after 4 days. All of it is along one edge of the form up next to wood. No dyes or alcohol ink were added in this last pour.
Any thoughts on whether the last bit will ever completely cure? Any way to speed up the cure?
This is in Houston in an un-air conditioned, often open-air, shop.
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Post by notoes on Oct 26, 2020 6:23:19 GMT -5
The Clears have a longer curing time for the most part so being still tacky after four days isn't too surprising. I think the usual full cure time is 7 days but you can speed up the cure to shorten that. If you are having temps in the lower 70s or under then it's also not surprising that it's taking quite a while to hit full cure. Heat is your friend when speeding up a cure especially with a Clear. You don't necessarily need a heater blasting on it (which would add to the heat level around it) but a dry heat of some sort will work.
If it's a diorama, I'm guessing it's pretty big and you might have some very large lights so you can see every detail of your work - those large work lights (like those used in construction where each light itself is like 8"x10") give off a lot of heat and would help the cure by having it shining on it. Or if you've got the heat on in one spot then you can move it close to that to provide the extra heat to speed the cure.
Just be sure that you don't stand right next to it while it's curing, the Clear is low odor but you still shouldn't breath it in more than you need to. It's not enough that you need a mask but just like you wouldn't paint walls in an un-ventilated room, you also would not stand right next to this while it's curing as the heat will speed the cure but it also raises the smell level.
I hope this helps, let us know if you have any other questions and I for one would love to see it.
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Post by madmoravian on Oct 28, 2020 18:54:25 GMT -5
It's about 2" thick and 20"x16" so not too terribly big. I'll give it some more time and add some lights shining on it. We're finally getting temps below 70 so if it's not cured now it's going to take even longer with the recent cold front.
Would a benzomatic torch warming it up be too much?
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Post by notoes on Nov 4, 2020 7:20:34 GMT -5
I'm not familiar with a benzomatic torch (I might have seen one and not known what it was called) but I don't think I'd use anything that has a "flame" to heat it as I'd be more afraid a flame would burn the resin and then you'd have a ruined piece. I'd use something that doesn't have a flame to be on the safe side.
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Post by LawnBoy on Nov 4, 2020 11:02:33 GMT -5
I use a torch to pop surface bubbles. It would not work to try to warm the whole piece.
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Post by madmoravian on Nov 8, 2020 8:55:45 GMT -5
I've acquired a heat lamp (used for keeping chicks warm, usually) and am slowly applying it to the portions of the project that are not completely cured. The first section to which it was applied appears to have yellowed somewhat and may have developed an interior crack. It is slightly more set. I'm going to continue to apply the heat from a little greater distance and see if a better cure ensues.
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Post by notoes on Nov 9, 2020 8:48:55 GMT -5
If it looks like it has yellowed, keep a sharp eye on that. Especially if it looks like it may have cracked too. A heat lamp like that should work too so you did good on finding one.
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Post by madmoravian on Nov 11, 2020 20:34:45 GMT -5
I've been applying the lamp a couple of hours every couple of days. I'm still concentrating on one specific area. It's still tacky, still catching bugs. I may give this project up as a lost cause. If it takes 20 hours of heat lamp to get a 4 sq in area to be close to getting cured, I'm not sure how much longer it will take to get the other 30 sq in done.
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Post by notoes on Nov 16, 2020 7:46:43 GMT -5
This is the regular Clear Cast and not the new Deep Pour right? I'm afraid that if it's the regular Clear then it might just have to take that long to cure with that large of a casting unfortunately. I'm sure the heat lamp is putting out between 70 to 80 degrees of heat if it's to keep chicks warm so it should work fine for curing even though it's taking longer to finish curing on something that large. I'm thinking the only thing we can do now is just wait.
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