Anyone use Easy Cast Clear Casting Opoxy?

No_6 · Post by **No_6** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:39 am

I was thinking about giving this stuff a shot, as a relatively inexpensive, supposedly low odor, low-volume casting/filling (windows) medium. So if anyone has had experience with this stuff, I'd be highly appreciative.

I was also thinking of using their Envirotex lite, which is supposed to be 'runnier' than Devcon 5 minute, a little softer when fully cured, but water clear and more resistant to UV yellowing.

I've been using Devcon 5 minute because it sands pretty well and dries close to water clear (and takes pigmentation well)... but I've yet to be able to get the bubbles out of the stuff, which is a problem when filling windows. Sanding obfuscates the bubbles well, but I'd rather not have them to begin with.

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:37 am

My experience with the Easy Cast Clear Epoxy is that it never fully hardens and remains tacky and/or rubbery. Even heating the castings does not harden them.

Stu Pidasso · Post by **Stu Pidasso** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:28 am

I agree, absolute rubbish.

No_6 · Post by **No_6** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:28 pm

Ah, thanks. So stop being a cheap-@ss and buy the Smooth-on Crystal Clear 202, then?

JadedMonk · Post by **JadedMonk** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:35 pm

Agreed. Whatever savings you might find in the initial purchase price will, inevitably, be lost in time, clean up, more materials, damaged parts, and sanity.

JM

raser13 · Post by **raser13** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:42 pm

i've also used the easy cast clear stuff, and as stated above it never hardens it just sets up like a clear rubber. what's the smooth on like? i still want to venture into the clear casting realm but all the stuff on the shelves at hobby lobby and such do just like the easy cast. oh, and where do you get the right stuff? does it harden like clear plastic?

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:34 pm

You get the Crystal Clear resin from any Smooth-On distributor. It feels almost exactly like the very best clear styrene parts from a kit when it's fully cured. It's sort of nasty stuff, so you have to take the precautions listed in the instructions to avoid sensitization. Alumilite also sells a clear resin that I've heard works very well but I've never used it myself.

macfrank · Post by **macfrank** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:57 pm

Joseph Osborn wrote:Alumilite also sells a clear resin that I've heard works very well but I've never used it myself.

The Alumilite clear resin produces non-sticky, water clear parts, but it has two serious issues:

1 - it sets in about a minute, so you have to degas & pour it in that time.
2 - You need to heat the mold, which will speed up the cure time, making it harder to degas in time.

Shizman · Post by **Shizman** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:55 am

Joseph Osborn wrote:You get the Crystal Clear resin from any Smooth-On distributor. It feels almost exactly like the very best clear styrene parts from a kit when it's fully cured. It's sort of nasty stuff, so you have to take the precautions listed in the instructions to avoid sensitization. Alumilite also sells a clear resin that I've heard works very well but I've never used it myself.

What's sensitization?

seam-filler · Post by **seam-filler** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:27 am

Sensitization is the development, over time, of an allergic reaction to a chemical. The chemical may cause a mild response on the first few exposures but, as the allergy develops, the response becomes worse with subsequent exposures

treker2557 · Post by **treker2557** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:57 am

Proper ventilation and protection is a must with any resin products but especially those with strong orders or any harmful chemicals that use.