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Odd question of the day, what can I melt down to make a pourable light pipe?
Le Chuck:
I did four years over there. You just need to find one of the deutchers over at DPW and make friends. Those guys will know where to go.
Mysterioii:
LED rings.... dang it it sounds like you're doing the exact same thing I plan on doing but I haven't had time yet.... I actually bought my LED rings like 2 years ago, then my kid came along and the CP rebuild has been on hold ever since... :cheers:
If you go with casting resin I really do recommend epoxy casting resin, as opposed to polyester casting resin. They're not the same... I've been playing around with both recently and find that the polyester stuff tends to shrink more, which is not something you're going for.
I got mine at Amazon.
The stuff is "water clear" by itself but can be made translucent with additives. "Microballoons" work well, just the smallest amount is needed. You might be able to pull it off with talc (baking soda? corn starch? not sure).
Hot glue just doesn't seem very durable to me. I guess if there will also be plexi on top then it would be ok. If you're gonna have plexi over it then you could also consider wax or paraffin or something like that maybe.
RandyT:
--- Quote from: Mysterioii on September 11, 2012, 09:41:21 am ---If you go with casting resin I really do recommend epoxy casting resin, as opposed to polyester casting resin. They're not the same... I've been playing around with both recently and find that the polyester stuff tends to shrink more, which is not something you're going for.
The stuff is "water clear" by itself but can be made translucent with additives. "Microballoons" work well, just the smallest amount is needed. You might be able to pull it off with talc (baking soda? corn starch? not sure).
--- End quote ---
Look into adding very small amounts of white acrylic paint. It's the stuff you see in small bottles at craft stores. It's cheap, and is compatible with most casting materials
--- Quote ---Hot glue just doesn't seem very durable to me.
--- End quote ---
Seconded. It won't hold up, especially if there is any sort of human contact with it. The hard stuff requires very high temperatures to melt it, and the chances that it will be the color you want when done (and later exposed to dirt, oils, etc.) are pretty slim.
RandyT
HaRuMaN:
--- Quote from: pinballjim on September 11, 2012, 12:13:45 pm ---Now my dainty little glue gun is one of my prized and used possessions. Sits right next to the soldering iron.
--- End quote ---
+1. Cost a dollar and still running strong 10 years later...
ChadTower:
Hot glue also turns yellow after a while. Not sure how long but I've seen a lot of crafts made with hot glue where it has yellowed like an SNES.
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