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[Dolivar]

So.. helmet casting folks, question.  How the heck do you control the thickness of your slushcasting?   I tried with Smoothon’s smoothcast 300, and I found that the time it takes to set up is VERY inconsistent.  I had one batch start to harden within 3 minutes (batch is about 9 oz total, 4.5 of A and B each).  And another batch didn’t seem to want to set up at all over the mandible cut-ins. 

 

That quick-setting one laid in on the back, but as I tried to slush it around, it pooled to one side and left a big wave of plastic.  It also didn’t lay in well to the back detail part.  I can pretty much work around that, and the only place I’m really worried about is the face, where I have to cut open the visor.   The depth of plastic in the other locations can be variable, but I’d rather not have this thin then thick then thin look to the mask in front of the visor.  .   My helm is a bit bigger than the Fett bobblehelms, and I found that the typical lay in of 6-7 oz was very small comparatively.   In my first attempt, I did 5 batches, because the face piece didn’t quite set well.

 

Any suggestions?

Thanks..
~Dol.

[Xyyyr Black]

We cant control it to be fair.

But, do you keep on sludging it around for the full 3 minutes? If you do, it gets rid of alll the airbubles and stuff.. thin parts are very uncontrolable sadly, its hard to do. It just needs training and patience.

[Dolivar]

We cant control it to be fair.

But, do you keep on sludging it around for the full 3 minutes? If you do, it gets rid of alll the airbubles and stuff.. thin parts are very uncontrolable sadly, its hard to do. It just needs training and patience.

Thanks..  that makes me feel much better.   Yeah, I slashed it until it stopped slushing and then some.   The first application took 17 minutes,  not that I was looking at the clock or anything...   I've done casting before,  just never anything this big.  Mostly just hollow parts the size of a baseball.   

..heh..  all this for one helm.   

Thanks!!
~Dol. 

[Kitala-Enby]

Varyig curing time can be caued by tempreture. I've seen resin set in seconds because it was stored in a very hot room, it slowed a bit later.

[Dolivar]

Thanks Kitala..

The only thing I could figure is the fast-setting one stayed in the mixing tub a bit longer, and I noticed it got much warmer than the first batch.  I'm guessing there's a sweet-spot to the timing on when to pour out of the tub into the mold.. to maximize flow but minimize the slush-action. 

Like yawl have said.. practice.  It's nice to know that it's not just me tho, and that it's a challenge for everyone.

Thanks!
~Dol.