Vodkaman Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I have been working with polyester resin with microspheres for my lure bodies. My problem is that I am not achieving the density that I want. The best that I can get is 0.75 (water = 1.00), but this mix is like mustard and has to be injected, giving air bubble problems. I am asking for one or two of you guys that are using this technique, to take a couple of measurements for me. Take a plain body cast (no lips, hangers, paint etc), any size. using cotton thread, tie on lead (must be lead) until the body just suspends. Weigh the body Weigh the lead PM or post the results with a description of how you measure out the resin and microspheres. From this information I can calculate the density that you are achieving and compare it to mine. I suspect that I have managed to procure a very large bag of the wrong stuff! Many thanks in anticipation of your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captsully18 Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Vodkaman, is this material you are speaking of anything like Alumilite? And are you refering to something akin to microballoons? If so, I will take measurements you ask for tonight as I am going to cast some more baits. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted April 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Micro balloons are the same thing, the alumilite is different. But please go ahead and do the test, the information would be useful. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redg8r Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I think I know what you're trying to do but let me jump in with a couple considerations, not criticism, just observations from previous experience & experience shared here before. Polyester resin is a brittle material, make sure you test it for impact resistance before getting too far in the project. Polyester resin mixed heavily with fillers like calcium carbonate derives what most of us know as bondo or body filler. My last tinkering with this stuff was to add alumina powder to offset heat absorbsion in a poly soft plastic mold (didnt help) Also, I've heard actual water density is based on temperature, or temperature affects specific gravity. I cant remember which way, but I think that colder water increases it's gravity........ in other words, a perfectly balanced, neutrally bouyant lure might actually float or sink depending on the waters current temperature. Other than that, your experiment is on target. I'm preparing to try the graduated beaker & scale method to try & understand (mathmatically) what you're doing now. I think Lapala & Skeeter might have some experience with this also. Just some helpful info, I hope. good luck, take notes (I know you will) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coley Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I use Aluminite RC3 Urethane resin with Micro balloons. I measure the resin 1 to 1 with a scale, I add the micro balloons by volume to about 80% of each container before mixing containers together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tally Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Coley.... you are bringing back memories. The amount of micro balloons is roughly trial and error but Coley just got you close. To thick and it won't poor...to thin and the bait sinks. I have some of Coleys baits and the pours are fantastic. Tally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Tally, sorry I didn't get to the meet, would have been fun. From what you are saying, that the microspheres are only going to grab a little buoyancy, I can assume that the spheres that I bought are correct. Jerry, yes the resultant material is brittle and it's resistance to a good rockin' would need to be evaluated. It maybe that the cushioning effect of the epoxy top coat plus the reduced speed of the cast due to the trailing line, would be sufficient to maintain the structural integrity of the lure. If someone could do the measurements whether with polyester resin or any other type of resin/plastic material, I would appreciate the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captsully18 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 OK, here goes. I hope this is somewhat close to what you are looking for. Last night I poured some lure bodies and tried to get measurements you asked for. Hope this helps. Alumilite body @ 16.1 grams needed 8.4 grams of lead to suspend. It suspended approx. 3 inches from the bottom of a 24 inch bucked filled with cold water. WOW, that is the most scientific I have been since I was in high school (early '60s). What an experience. Should this not be what you are looking for, I apologize. Please give me an E for effort. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captsully18 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Vodkaman, sorry, I failed to note that mixture of Alumilite was 1 part A, 1 part B, and 2 parts microballoons. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Perfect David, I'll get the info back to my laptop later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coley Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Are you sure you are using the correct resin. Around these parts (TN) polyester resin is used for laying up fiberglass cloth. It is very heavy. Alumilite RC3 is not as heavy as polyester resin, in fact it is a urethane resin. Hope this helps you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted May 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 (edited) Capt David, precisely what I wanted, thankyou. You are mixing by volume I presume. These figures give a body density of 0.678gm/cm3 and a body volume of 23.8gm. The ratio of microshperes that you are using is 50/50 (1 part A+B plus 1 part spheres), this is considerably less than I am adding to achieve density of 0.75gm/cm3. I will try the RC3, as It will be possible to get down to 0.5 which will be representative of bass wood. I may have to invest in a vacuum chamber, as the higher proportions of the spheres does thicken the mix somewhat (like english mustard!). But by injecting with a cake syringe, I can get the mix in the mold. Five minutes in the vacuum chamber should get the air bubbles out, with still enough time to pour five molds. But to get down to the densities that I want (0.25gm/cm3), I will have to change to foam. RC3 has a pot life of 3min, so that will limit my operation. Also, the density of RC3 is 1.05gm/cm3, compared to polyester resin at 1.2gm/cm3, this is a fairly significant difference. Edited May 2, 2008 by Vodkaman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captsully18 Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 So glad I could help. Good luck on your project. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
