Behold! Dice!

[anundine]

 

More-or-less figured out the bubble problem! And also how to get pretty good swirl going on. What I do is:

1. Place the silicone molds in a warm, sunny place to heat up. This whole endeavor works best on warm days. 

     1a: I am using Amazing Clear Cast from Alumilite. Other brands may or may not have different open times; Amazing Clear Cast remains workable for technically half an hour but realistically fifteen minutes. Keep track of that when purchasing/mixing.

2. Keep the B part of the epoxy in a warm water bath. This makes it much more fluid, which makes mixing easier, and helps keep bubbles down during that stage. I use a candle warmer to maintain temperature. Note: You don't want the resin to get hot, only warm. Body temperature or slightly above is ideal; steaming water should be avoided, and boiling is right out.

3. Mix up about one-third to one-half the amount of resin the whole set takes (~40 ml total, so 10-20 ml at a time). I like to do three stages, 15ml-10ml-15ml. 

4. Tap the cup of resin on the table vigorously.

5. Float the mixed cup of resin in a smaller warm water bath for approximately two to three minutes. Putting the little cup in the big bowl ends up with the cup tipping over and water getting in the resin, which is a bad time for everyone. The heat keeps the resin fluid, which encourages bubbles to get out. 

6. Tap the cup again. 

7. Bring in the molds. Carefully pour the resin into them. 

8. Use a toothpick to scooch the bubbles out of the nooks and crannies. 

9. Place the partially-filled molds back outside in the sun for about five minutes. 

10. At the five minute mark, mix your next batch of resin. I like to have the first and last part be clear and the middle colored, for that good swirl action, but you do you. 

11. Repeat steps 4-7.

12. Use a toothpick to swirl the second layer down into the first one. 

13. If the molds are not full, repeat above steps until they are. Make sure to have extra resin on top in the sprue hole, because when the air from the bubbles comes out something has to come in to fill the space, and if you don't have extra resin for that purpose then there will be a divot and you will have to fill it in and you will be sad. 

14. Let dice cure at least 24 hours before demolding.

After that, just trim, sand, and ink! 
 

Comments

[herothief]

these came out great!!! What color are you going to paint the numbers?