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Hello! I am searching for new casting resin. I have oomoos smooth-cast 300 (which I dont like) and alumilites quick cast.

Current Cons of Smooth-Cast: No standardized containers that the material comes in, causing much anxious spills chills and bills. The finished product is extremely hard to paint. It has a quick work time (a minute or so).

Cons of quick-cast: It has a super fast work time, like 30 seconds, 5 minutes and its ready to demold.

What I am looking for: A casting resin thats preferably cheap, comes in a standarized container like alumilites quick-cast, has a long working time (Maybe 5 minutes. Is that possible? Demold times of 30 minutes or more is fine with me) And is easy to paint, I.E. the paint sticks. Also, if it were measured by volume instead of weight, that would be alright too.

So, anyone got some alternative stuff they use and can point out to me?

Have you ever had a look at the Fast Cast Urethanes? (F16 or F19) would more than likely be your best bet. Not sure what sort of suppliers are available in the USA but I am sure someone imports the stuff. It generally has a good pot life (5 - 6 mins) great pourable viscosity, however it needs a good mix (use a cordless drill with a beater on the end is quick) and must be degassed to remove air.

This is a link to the parent companies F19 page, have a search from there. http://www.amtcomposites.co.za/products/casting-resins-foams/urethane-plastics/f19

Awesome that sounds great! Ill have to give the website a look see in a couple hours after work. The drill thing I dunno about, I get messy enough using a stir stick, but my garage is already marked by the Daemons of Miscasts and cured spilled resin. Yeah, Higher pouring viscosity is what im really looking for, as I have a lot of molds that sit neglected. Thanks!

Maybe not quite the advice you're looking for, but you could strike one of the cons from the Smooth Cast list by switching to a formula with a longer work time. They have a whole range of different resins other than the standard 320 that you're probably using. 321 has, I believe, a 10 minute pot life.

Also, if you haven't yet, I recommend checking out this here thread on casting: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/307451.page .

I use the smoothcast 300 right now. They make a couple versions with longer pot life than the 300. 305 and 310(I think). I always pour the smoothcast components into better squeeze bottles. Walmart sells .99 cent relatively fine tipped 'condiment' bottles that work fine. I've upgraded to lab quality plastics.

As to paintability, make sure you wash it with warm soapy water and let it dry completely before trying to paint it. I don't have any problems with paint sticking unless I don't clean it.

I do remember seeing some alternatives in a thread not long ago, but I can't remember what it was called.

check out douglas and sturgis. They have a really awesome 50/50 mix resin that I use for miniatures. The off white seems to be the easiest to work with and paint.

emmagine wrote:
check out douglas and sturgis. They have a really awesome 50/50 mix resin that I use for miniatures. The off white seems to be the easiest to work with and paint.

That's the one I was talking about. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan to. It seems like you can get twice as much for about $5 more than the Smoothcast and I think the pot life is more like the smoothcast 305 (about 7 minutes) rather than the 300 (2-3 minutes), but I'm not sure what their shipping charges run. I've been looking at this product.

I use this for casting

http://www.micromark.com/cr-600-casting-resin-32-fl-oz,7879.html

has anywhere from a 15-30 minute demold time depending on size of project. But i've not had any trouble with mold time.

I use it for parts for models and i do prime it but paint has always stuck to it.

The CR stuff seems ok, but the douglas and sturgis stuff says it has a 7 minute cure time, not a pot life. Shipping for each is 8-13 dollars. Douglas and Sturgis seems a better deal because they are bigger, but still has the too quick cure time.

Basimpo wrote:
The CR stuff seems ok, but the douglas and sturgis stuff says it has a 7 minute cure time, not a pot life. Shipping for each is 8-13 dollars. Douglas and Sturgis seems a better deal because they are bigger, but still has the too quick cure time.

Yeah you're right, I missed that in the 'data' sheet. Too bad, I like the price.