The easy, effective and economical answer for eliminating air bubbles from resin castings is to use a pressure pot. The apparatus works in more ways than one to deliver a perfectly crystal clear cast!
Be it a beginner or a skilled professional, everyone faces one common problems when making resin castings, i.e., air bubbles. Indeed, resins tend to trap air which show up as unsightly bubbles on the surface of the cast. These can make the cast appear cloudy and mar the clarity of the casting. And nobody wants their resin cast to look unbecoming for sure!
Expert casting artists have tried varied tricks for removing the trapped air and making crystal clear castings. However, they could only meet with partial success at best. The perfect solution for removing air bubbles is pressure pot for resin casting.
Where are the bubbles coming from?
First let us figure out the baffling question of the presence of bubbles in resin castings. Well, air tends to get trapped in the resin when it is being mixed itself. And no matter how slowly and carefully the artist does the job, air will always enter the resin and play spoilsport with the casting.
How does a pressure pot work?
The pressure pot works to introduce pressure which will squeeze the air in the resin mix, thus crushing the bubbles to a miniscule size. Moreover, air also tends to get trapped in the small nicks and undercuts of the mold. The pressure inside the apparatus will remove this air so that the resin can flow freely into these narrow areas, thus leading to a perfect casting.
However, the mold with the casting material has to be kept inside the pressure pot for the full curing time so that the air does not get a chance to expand once again. As the resin sets to a hard finish, the bubbles will stay compressed later on.
Getting to know the pressure pot
A pressure pot is basically a steel tank that comes in varying capacities. It will have a safety relief valve and a pressure gauge. A gasket is required to seal the lid of the pressure pot. A compressor is essential to fill the pot with 40 to 50 PSI. It will be equipped with a motor that should have a minimum 3.5 HP that will be connected to the pressure pot with an air hose.
In sum, the pressure pot is essential when making big or complex-shaped resin castings. It is both cost-effective and reliable for producing bubble-free castings. Some artists try retrofitting paint pots or even pressure cookers for the job, but investing in a pressure pot will be a definite asset for an art studio!
EnvironMolds offers a top quality pressure pot for resin casting along with other equipment options like vibrating tables and vacuum chambers for making other types of molds and casts. It also features a range of materials, supplies and tools under one roof for mold making, casting and life casting ventures.