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don_jarr · 05-09-2007

Hi m8

It’s basically a gyroscope type thing like the pilots train in, adapted with a mould holder in the middle. You can make one out of one of those old globes that’s supported on a gyroscope type base.

The mould is in two halves, with the join preferable on an edge so it won't notice, and most important of all no resin pouring in spout. The resin (under half the moulds capacity,) is poured into one half of the mould, and then the mould closed and inserted into the mould holder, and then spun in all directions. It’s a bit like centrifugally casting, but being spun on both axis not just one, you don’t get the hollows at each end centrifugally casting tends to get. Fast set resin is preferable or you are turning forever. For small moulds you can turn by hand, but as its slower, air bubbles don’t tend to be forced into the middle the same, so the finish is not as good.

I don’t know if that’s the right name I called it by, but this elderly gentlemen who used to live across from my grandad and made boats years ago, had one in his workshop for making stuff and called it that. He used to use lead though back then, and everything was much hotter. He actually got me into making boats when he gave my grandad two boats to give me, both which I still have. I figured the same set up could be used for resin.

The best bit is well detailed hollow castings with crisp detail, and no holes.

05-09-2007	#5 (permalink)
don_jarr Scale Model Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Essex My Models: I never throw anything away. Visit don_jarr's Gallery Posts: 64 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 9	Hi m8 It’s basically a gyroscope type thing like the pilots train in, adapted with a mould holder in the middle. You can make one out of one of those old globes that’s supported on a gyroscope type base. The mould is in two halves, with the join preferable on an edge so it won't notice, and most important of all no resin pouring in spout. The resin (under half the moulds capacity,) is poured into one half of the mould, and then the mould closed and inserted into the mould holder, and then spun in all directions. It’s a bit like centrifugally casting, but being spun on both axis not just one, you don’t get the hollows at each end centrifugally casting tends to get. Fast set resin is preferable or you are turning forever. For small moulds you can turn by hand, but as its slower, air bubbles don’t tend to be forced into the middle the same, so the finish is not as good. I don’t know if that’s the right name I called it by, but this elderly gentlemen who used to live across from my grandad and made boats years ago, had one in his workshop for making stuff and called it that. He used to use lead though back then, and everything was much hotter. He actually got me into making boats when he gave my grandad two boats to give me, both which I still have. I figured the same set up could be used for resin. The best bit is well detailed hollow castings with crisp detail, and no holes. Last edited by don_jarr; 05-09-2007 at 08:09.