Sealer Question

[G Rider]

I have started to make two piece POP molds. I seal them with three coats of elmers glue all and when I pour the plastic

the sealer wants to blister and peel off. I tried to to use MOD PODGE and it does the same thing. Any suggestions? Can I use another

type sealer?

[Richard Prager]

Are you mixing it 50/50 with water? Make sure your mold is bone dry before you seal. i would flood the cavities and let it sit in there for close to a minute. Pour out the excess and repeat 2 more times. Make sure everything is dry again be pouring. It has been my experience that is the Elmers came up when pouring, then I applied it before the mold was completely dry.

You can also try sealing with E-tex (Michael's)or maybe 30 minute Devcon 2 Ton (D2T Ace Hardware) thinned with denatured alcohol

[mark poulson]

I use two coats of D2t, mixed well and then thinned with denatured alcohol, thinned to about a 2/1 ratio.

I don't want the epoxy to fil the details, so I make sure it's thin.

I brush on a coat, and fill and drain the cavities, and let it set. When it's thinned, it takes about an hour to set.

Then I do another coat. That's usually enough.

I still use spray PAM as a release agent for each pour.

[TheRegulator]

yep...sounds like your not mixing it with water, or maybe not enough water. As 152nd stated make sure your mixing it 50/50

[longhorn]

Sounds to me like the molds are not fully cured....just my two cents

Edited May 6, 2011 by longhorn

[Smallie]

I use two coats of D2t, mixed well and then thinned with denatured alcohol, thinned to about a 2/1 ratio.

I don't want the epoxy to fil the details, so I make sure it's thin.

I brush on a coat, and fill and drain the cavities, and let it set. When it's thinned, it takes about an hour to set.

Then I do another coat. That's usually enough.

I still use spray PAM as a release agent for each pour.

Mark - I interpret this to mean you thin the D2T by 50% - 2 tablespoons D2T and 1 tablespoon alcohol - is that correct? Is the stickiness gone after one hour?

[mark poulson]

Mark - I interpret this to mean you thin the D2T by 50% - 2 tablespoons D2T and 1 tablespoon alcohol - is that correct? Is the stickiness gone after one hour?

Yes, that's the ratio I use+-. I am not too exact. I just mix the two parts really well, and then add the alcohol and mix until there are no more "snotty" unmixed epoxy bits.

Mixing the two part epoxy thoroughly before adding the alcohol is really important. If you add alcohol too soon, the alcohol bonds to the separate parts, and the epoxy will never set right. I mix the epoxy, and then let it sit for five minutes before I add the alcohol.

It can take an hour to lose the stickiness.

The thicker the epoxy mix (less alcohol) the faster it sets, but the more detail you lose.

For me, keeping the detail is more important than quick setting, so I do two or three coats of the runny mix, applied one right over the other while the previous coat is still tacky, and then let it sit overnight if needed.

The good news is the epoxy sealer lasts forever.

Edited May 10, 2011 by mark poulson