Damming or Containing Epoxy?

[Aaron Harris]

So I have bought some clear epoxy and various dyes, mica powders, etc., and am turning various rough spindle shapes, limbs, etc. I have that are splitting to round blanks (even with AnchorSeal on the ends they will split, as you know). I really want to make some projects with complementary epoxy colors in the splits. My current favorite is copper with some copper mica/glitter mixed in for reddish woods. I have mixed and used epoxy for years more for bonding, so have no problems with mixing it correctly.

The problem comes with containment while it cures. For example, I have several blanks with longitudinal splits that I have filled recently in which I thought I had sealed up the end cracks with wax, tape (which hasn't worked, really) only to find that half my expensive epoxy found a minute crack and leaked out a tiny crack in the side. I'm sure there's a simple solution here that I just haven't thought of. I am also trying to do the same with cracked bowl rims; in other words, I need a reliable way to dam it up while it cures. Maybe some kind of wax or modeling clay? Do any of you guys do something like this?

Although I have one of the small cylinders for stabilizing small blanks for knife handles and razor scale blanks, I don't have a pressure pot. That seems like another expensive rabbit hole that I'm not yet ready to fall into. Thanks in advance for saving me some expensive epoxy!

 

[GRJensen]

I use hot melt glue to build dams or secure plastic sheets (e.g. the document protectors you get at stationery stores). Sometimes, a trip to the dollar store for a cheap plastic bowl yields a functional container.

You are right about resin casting being a rabbit hole ... and I thought turning wood was expensive!

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

Two things I have used are masking tape and a balloon or glove inflated inside. You may have the medium stuck to the epoxy when it cures but that is the only downside i have found.

 

[Glenn C Roberts]

Will Play-doh work? Works for me.

 

[John Dillon]

Not sure if it will work for your application, but I typically use the Gorilla brand, 5 minute, two-part epoxy on all of my woodturning needs. I will often use the Jacquard Pearl-Ex powders to color the epoxy. The 5 minute epoxy is not so runny. You can stick with it and push/ shape it for a few minutes as it sets up. Also is sold in handy cartidge package so no measuring and easy to cap and use over and over until you run out. I only use the regular longer set time epoxy when filling large voids in flat work like charcuterie boards, etc. The most reliable tape I find to seal cracks with the longer set epoxy is the Gorilla brand (yes, Gorilla again) clear packing tape. The wider(like 3") the better. Even with that you need a very smooth surface or the eooxy will leak through.

 

[Brian Gustin]

ever consider spraying on some of that Flex-Seal stuff? Or, perhaps plasti-dip... me, I'll typically use cut up plastic jugs and hot melt glue/silicon caulk ...as far as pressure pots go, you only really need them for certain resins.. Epoxy (such as deep pour epoxy for river tables, or something like liquid diamonds) typically won't need pressure pot.. The point of pressure pot is that it compresses out any air bubbles in the pour so they won't create voids in your casting... if you take care while mixing your epoxies (stirring slowly, pouring slowly like you'd pour a beer to minimize foam, etc) , you'll also minimize air bubbles (which can be brought out with a short blast from a heat gun or butane/propane torch) Also, note there is a difference between Epoxy and Resin casting... they are not the same thing (Though many people use the terms interchangeably) You can also make your own silicon molds (Smooth-On is one brand Ive used in the past - they have some silicon mixes that don't need to be degassed in a vacuum chamber) so if you have a common shape/size that you typically might cast, might be worth making a universal mold of that size...

 

[Larry Copas]

I used to glass bed rifle stocks 40 years ago and used silly putty to make dams around the action holes. That carried over into wood turning and it worked well. My friend that works in my shop had a large project and bought some new silly putty. It did not work well so I suspect there are different formulations. Still it would be work a try as the silly putty I used could be used over and over.

 

[Tom Albrecht]

Plumbers putty works for me as well as the other ideas like hot glue.