When you are involved with resin castings, whatever project it may be, you always want the results to be as perfect as it can be. This means that you try to make sure you end up with a bubble-free final product, leaving you with a crystal-clear casting. Whether you are an expert in this field or just a beginner, everyone is faced with the same problem. Placing your casting in a pressure pot is the only sure way to achieve a bubble-free casting every time.  

What is a Pressure Pot for Resin Casting?

Pressure Pots for casting resin are pressure chambers that provide the ultimate method of creating resin castings and molds that are bubble-free and air trap-free. These pressure pots are different sizes and can be used for resin castings. In this article, we will be considering only two sizes:

• The first or smaller size is a 2.1/4 gallon pot that is 8.3/4 inches in diameter and 11.5 inches deep. It is recommended that you set your pressure to 50 Psi for pressure castings.
• The next size is a 5-gallon pot that is 13-inches in diameter and 14.3/4 inches deep. It is recommended that you set your pressure to 60 Psi for pressure castings. This particular size of pressure pot should be adequate for all of your resin castings.

Why do you put Resin in a Pressure Pot?

When you mix your resin you unavoidably create a certain amount of air bubbles. To get rid of bubbles, it should be enough to knock the sides of your mold gently for small DIY resin castings. You can also use some form of vibration on the mold, which should get rid of most of the bubbles.

However, if you are doing more complex resin castings, the only way to solve this problem is by putting your casting mold into a resin pressure pot. By using this method, the pressure will crush the air bubbles to a microscopic size. You will not be able to see the tiny bubbles with the naked eye, leaving you with a beautiful crystal-clear resin casting. Make sure you leave your resin casting in the resin casting pressure pot for the full curing time.

However, it is not only bubbles that cause a problem with your resin castings. When you have a casting, which is more complex, there might be certain places that are thin or difficult, and the resin will not flow easily into these areas. This will result in air being trapped there. Using a resin casting pressure pot is the only sure way to force the trapped air out of those difficult areas and force the resin into them, leaving you with a crystal-clear casting.

 

Pros and Cons using a Pressure Pot for Resin

 

What you need for using the Pressure Pot

Before you can use your pressure pot you will have to have the following fittings and equipment:

• First of all, you will need to purchase a compressor with a motor that has a minimum of 3.5 H.P that can produce an air pressure of 90 Psi or less, as well as a ¼ inch connection air hose.
• Safety relief valve
• Pressure gauge that can take pressure more than 60 Psi
• ¼ inch inlet connection
• A gasket to seal the lid

How to use the Pressure Pot for Casting

When you work with resin products and molds, you always want the finished item to have a crystal clear and bubble-free appearance. This effect is only guaranteed if you make use of a pressure pot during the curing process. Let us now consider step by step how to use a pressure pot for castings.

 

Prepare your Casting or Mold

If you have a mold and want to cast your item, then you mix your resin and hardener as per instructions and pour into your mold. Making your own mold? Mix Part A and B of your mold making kit as per instructions and pour over your master or original item. Want to embed any particular item? Mix your resin and hardener and pour it over your item you want to embed.

 

Prepare your Pressure Pot

There are several things you need to consider for a problem-free experience:

• There are various sizes of pressure pots, so you need to make sure that the one you have is big enough to take all your molds or castings.
• Make sure you have the right size of compressor, this will give you the required PSI that is needed for your casting. A compressor that is capable of 80 to 110 Psi is all you will need.
• Ensure that you have the right size connecting hose for your pressure pot.
• Check to see if you have the correct fitting on your pressure pot for the connecting hose, usually a ¼ inch.
• Make sure you have the right pressure gauge fitted to your pressure pot, which means it must be able to take up to 80 or 110 Psi.
• Take your casting or mold and put them into the pressure pot and close the lid and seal it by tightening the securing bolts. Make sure that your securing bolts are properly tightened before you switch on your compressor.
• Ensure that your pressure/safety valve is set to the correct Psi.
• Switch on your compressor until the required Psi is reached. You can then switch it off and it should be able to hold that pressure if there are no leaks. If you do find a leak, just turn your compressor on again until the required Psi is reached.
• Remember, your casting or mold needs to stay in the pressure pot for the entire time it takes to cure. This is normally around 12 hours.
• Once done, you need to open the pressure release valve and let the pressure decrease inside the pressure pot.
• Remove your casting or mold from the pressure pot.

 

Finishing Touches

Your casting is now set, all you still need to do is to de-mold it, clean and polish it until you are satisfied with the finish. You should now have a crystal clear, bubble-free perfect casting.

 

Safety Notes

• Make sure that your pressure relief valve is set at the correct Psi.
• Ensure that all your gauges like the pressure relief valve, the pressure regulator all have higher Psi values than what you are going to use.
• Make sure that your pressure pot lid is securely fastened before pressurising it.
• Remove your pressure input pipe as soon as you have reached the Psi required.
• For the pressure pot to give you the bubble-free product you want, you need to leave your casting in the pressure pot until it is properly cured.

 

What is better for Resin Casting: Vacuum Chamber or Pressure Pot?

The basic rule to apply in this case is a Vacuum chamber is good to remove any air bubbles from flexible rubber products. Whereas, the Pressure pot is good to use for mold making or for resin castings that set into a solid-state.

The vacuum chamber can also be used for degassing resins that cure to a solid-state, but it is not advisable as it takes time to build up a vacuum and some resins are fast setting and will cure before it has a chance to remove the air bubbles.

Let us now consider these two methods separately:

 

Vacuum Degassing

This method is used to pull the air bubbles that are trapped out of the resin with vacuum suction. Vacuum Degassing is highly successful with materials that have a high viscosity as well as the tension on the surface of the material, such as silicone rubber. To do this properly you will normally require a vacuum of 26-inch Hg, but this will largely depend on the type of resin you are using. The main advantage of using this method is that your material can be put into its mold before it sets because all the air bubbles have already been removed.

 

Pressure Pot

Another method used to remove air bubbles is to put your resin under pressure. Take note that this method does not remove the air bubbles, but rather compressors them so that they are microscopic, and you are unable to see them with the naked eye.

The one disadvantage of this method is that you will have to leave your casting in the pressure pot until it has cured. The other disadvantage is that if the pressure is too great, it may cause deformities to your casting.

 

 

 

Should you make your own Pressure Pot?

This type of exercise is best left to the professionals that have more experience!

You might have an item you need to put into a pressure pot for casting resin, but it is too big to fit into any one of them on the market, so you decide to build your own pressure pot. This is to be taken seriously, as there is high pressure involved. Make a slight error and it could become quite dangerous.

There is a way you can take an old paint pot and convert it into a pressure pot if you have to. To follow is a short guide to take you through the whole process, making sure that everything is done correctly and to ensure your safety. Do not attempt this unless you have a full understanding of the process.

 

What Equipment you will need?

• A paint tank or pot
• A pressure regulator
• A pressure safety valve
• A pressure gauge
• ¼ inch NTP cap
• ¼ inch female to female NTP ball valve
• 3/8 inch to ¼ inch female NTP reducer
• Teflon thread sealing tape

 

Assembling your Pressure Pot

You will first have to remove everything on the paint pot except for the air diffuser, which you will find on the inside of the lid where the inlet hole is. Next, you can install your reducer and safety release valve for the outlet side, and then install the pressure regulator on the inlet side.

Now on the regulator, you need to cap off the right section and then you can install the pressure gauge where the compressor hooks up. Please ensure that you use the Teflon tape on every thread you have installed.

 

Now is the Time for Setting up

Before you even connect your compressor to your new pressure pot, you need to make sure of a few things first. Just before you put the lid on smear some petroleum jelly and lubricate the rubber seal fixed to the lid, then put the lid on and fasten it.

The next step would be to dial in your pressure regulator. To do this, you need to turn it to the left for the maximum pressure to go down and by turning it to the right the pressure goes up. To get the proper pressure, turn the regulator to the left for a few rotations, now turn it very slowly to the right until you get your maximum pressure setting, which is usually around 55 Psi.

Next, the final setting is to set your pressure regulator and safety release valve. You can now connect your compressor to your pressure pot and before you switch it on, it is advisable you adjust the compressors pressure regulator to a pressure that is slightly below the maximum pressure for your paint pot.

Finally, you can switch your compressor on and set your regulator to the pressure you want, which will activate your safety release valve. With all this done you are now set to enjoy the results of the new pressure pot you made.