Post by: Crooked Stic on April 04, 2023, 12:56:26 PM
Post by: Kirkll on April 04, 2023, 04:46:29 PM
Anyone here have experience. I have some crazy grain maple that will first get stabilized and has some voids that will need epoxy. The pieces will be 3.375 x2x18. Not seeing any pressure pots that I could lay it in flat in the mold . Thinking of getting a big piece of black pipe and a couple of caps then threading in for a valve and air coupler.
If you do this Mike, you’ll need schedule 80 pipe to pull a vacuum without collapsing the pipe… schedule 40 won’t do it….
You know something…. I may have what you are looking for already built….. Let me take a look. I think I built one years ago when we all first started playing with this whole stabilization thing…. I gave up on it myself, but I still have a vacuum pot and other goodies I could pass along to you…. I’ll get back to you soon.
I tried building a vacuum box from 5/16” plexiglass and it imploded. :biglaugh:
Same with my first experiment with pipe…. I did have fun playing mad scientist trying to get something that would work. But…. I never really like the finished product after factoring in the expense and time.
I’ll see if I can get ya fixed up bro….
Kirk
Post by: Mad Max on April 04, 2023, 05:16:38 PM
Post by: Kirkll on April 04, 2023, 05:38:47 PM
The pipe is 20" long.
Is this something you would use? If so let me know and i can ship it to you.
In the mean time i'll keep looking for the lid. I know its hiding somewhere in my pig piled shop.
Kirk
Post by: wood carver 2 on April 04, 2023, 05:40:53 PM
Maybe I don't understand--- can't you make a mold and pour the epoxy in and let it cure after stabilizing??
Epoxy will have bubbles in it, so you can either pull them out with a vacuum, or more commonly, press them in a pressure vessel to make them virtually invisible.
Dave.
Post by: Mad Max on April 04, 2023, 05:43:39 PM
Maybe I don't understand--- can't you make a mold and pour the epoxy in and let it cure after stabilizing??
Epoxy will have bubbles in it, so you can either pull them out with a vacuum, or more commonly, press them in a pressure vessel to make them virtually invisible.
Dave.
But you can mix the epoxy and vacuum the bubbles out then pour?? :dunno:
Post by: wood carver 2 on April 04, 2023, 05:48:37 PM
I’m no expert on the subject as I’m still learning the ropes. What I have learned is that no matter how careful you are, bubbles will still be present.
Dave.
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 04, 2023, 05:55:05 PM
How is vacuum for getting the bubbles out of epoxy?
Also kinda thought about putting the wood in a mold and laying it flat and levelling it out with the cactus juice before the cure . Could line the mold with foil.
Post by: Kirkll on April 04, 2023, 08:29:10 PM
Look at this riser... This english walnut had checks and voids in it i couldn't see until i shaped the riser that i filled with warm tinted epoxy...
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 04, 2023, 08:42:23 PM
Post by: Jeff Freeman on April 05, 2023, 05:51:09 AM
Post by: Kirkll on April 05, 2023, 11:50:03 AM
Post by: Jeff Freeman on April 05, 2023, 12:03:03 PM
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 05, 2023, 01:32:17 PM
Also said you may be able to do the same with colored baby powder ??
Post by: Kirkll on April 05, 2023, 02:56:25 PM
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 05, 2023, 03:24:30 PM
When you apply pressure with the hose same thing then it's heated.
Post by: Mad Max on April 05, 2023, 03:49:47 PM
This Osage had some cracks about 1/8" wide or so, I put some masking tape on the sides to keep in the epoxy
I mixed up some 2 ton epoxy and Acetone and worked it into the cracks
(https://i.imgur.com/hG3LSMZ.jpg)
Knot hole on the other side.
(https://i.imgur.com/7MeNHBJ.jpg)
Kirk this is real Turquoise chips (sand) , I reduced it down to fine sand.
(https://i.imgur.com/tm0ra5I.jpg)
spot drilled and filled the hole with super glue for a locator for the arrow. :thumbsup:
I've used it for knot holes too
(https://i.imgur.com/YGBvR2t.jpg)
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 05, 2023, 06:00:55 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/z8k8AuI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vLSsVCa.jpg)
Post by: Jeff Freeman on April 05, 2023, 06:21:38 PM
Post by: Kirkll on April 06, 2023, 12:38:57 AM
Kirk you need to read some on casting epoxy is what I am talking about. The epoxy is put under pressure room temp until cured when you pour it it gets bubbles. The mica or air pressure or vac is how you get them out
When you apply pressure with the hose same thing then it's heated.
Well your original post was about filling voids, not casting epoxy…
they actually make epoxy just for bubble free casting…
https://www.amazon.com/Smooth-Smooth-Cast-ColorMatch-Plastic-Compound/dp/B004BNC9R4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?hvadid=177581075942&hvdev=t&hvlocphy=9052493&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12054585885789762140&hvtargid=kwd-77556839363&hydadcr=4834_9597224&keywords=smooth+on+casting+resin&qid=1680755766&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A1B7M9EQGNCLQA&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExNFdaQ0c2RVhEMVRaJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTc0MDc3MkxCWDM0R09BME9FQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjY4NzQ1M1cwVlFWV042QUNFMSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 06, 2023, 08:49:09 AM
And I appreciate all the other ideas that were brought up in ways I can go to fill the voids. I will be doing some test pieces to see what works for me.
Post by: Kirkll on April 06, 2023, 11:57:18 AM
Stic Post a picture of the maple with voids please.
This Osage had some cracks about 1/8" wide or so, I put some masking tape on the sides to keep in the epoxy
I mixed up some 2 ton epoxy and Acetone and worked it into the cracks
(https://i.imgur.com/hG3LSMZ.jpg)
Knot hole on the other side.
(https://i.imgur.com/7MeNHBJ.jpg)
Kirk this is real Turquoise chips (sand) , I reduced it down to fine sand.
(https://i.imgur.com/tm0ra5I.jpg)
spot drilled and filled the hole with super glue for a locator for the arrow. :thumbsup:
I've used it for knot holes too
(https://i.imgur.com/YGBvR2t.jpg)
Cool :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I bought some granular “Mother of Pearl” that I used with thick super glue with mixed results… but…. I didn’t crush it in into powder… I wanted the bigger flakes to reflect the light….
If and when I try this again, I believe I’ll use epoxy for the big flakes, and try a test with crushing it to finer material. The finer material would follow the relief cuts edges with more definition, but not sure how it would effect the look…..I was trying to avoid inlaying solid mother of pearl, and still get that translucent look.
That is a huge undertaking doing that kind of precise inlay work.
Kirk
Post by: Mad Max on April 06, 2023, 07:22:47 PM
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 06, 2023, 10:02:53 PM
Post by: Kirkll on April 07, 2023, 10:21:21 AM