Thread: Some experimenting

Quick backstory:
I love all things gaudy when it comes to cars and motorcycles, like heavy metal flake paints, lots of gold and brass, etc. Picture a lime green with gold flake Impala and gold Daytons.
So naturally I want to make a brush like that but my search for glitter acrylics or other materials came up short. Found one place but they said they weren't running any rods at the time.
So I bought some polyester resin for casting and did some mixing. Playing with the amount of hardener takes some time and also suspending the glitter. Too little hardener and it's tacky or scratches, and too much and it creates too much heat and cracks. Some of you may already know this process but new to me.
Below are some pictures from casting to turning.
The most difficult part is turning for me - as you can see the shape is simple cause it's very brittle and my tools would catch easily. I need major practice there. Comments welcome! I'm pretty pleased with this one but even more I'm excited at the possibilities with what you can do.

Well done.
Cannot advise as i have not done this, but congratulations for having a lash and especially for succeeding!

Thats Neat.I rarley turn phenolics but have found that spindle speed is critical.About 1700 seems to be the sweet spot.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Thats Neat.I rarley turn phenolics but have found that spindle speed is critical.About 1700 seems to be the sweet spot.

It's interesting you say that cause in my research today I basically found out I need to be turning faster. I also ordered one of the carbide tools from the site you suggested Bill. Can't wait to get it...

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

It's interesting you say that cause in my research today I basically found out I need to be turning faster. I also ordered one of the carbide tools from the site you suggested Bill. Can't wait to get it...

So many diff types of phenolics,I have only turned delrin and plexi.

Funny you say 1700 rpm. That's my go to speed for turning.

You turn by hand? I would try "riding the bevel" with this material. It creates more of a shearing cut rather than a scraping cut. Less chance of a piece breaking off or chipping. It's a technique used to achieve very smooth cuts.

Riding the Bevel - NewWoodworker.com LLC

Originally Posted by Adam G.

Well done.
Cannot advise as i have not done this, but congratulations for having a lash and especially for succeeding!

Thanks! I almost forgot I posted this it was so quiet
I did a couple more castings and got one to come out much more transparent. When I clean it up I'll post a pic.

Here's the amber one I did last night. That's the clarity I was looking for. I'm going to practice patience and wait for my new tool to turn this one

Just a brain fart here but you could mix a bunch of the glitter into the epoxy for the knot and maybe hide the knot ? Or put a layer of glitter on the wall before you put the knot in.

Looking cool Shane :<0)

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Just a brain fart here but you could mix a bunch of the glitter into the epoxy for the knot and maybe hide the knot ? Or put a layer of glitter on the wall before you put the knot in.

Looking cool Shane :<0)

Thanks. Yeah I'm still wondering about ideas to hide the knot. Either a sleeve or like you said just put a lot of filler in the epoxy. They also have opaque dyes for the resin so I imagine I could use that in the epoxy.