Pouring Question?

[unc_ross]

I have ordered some plastic, molds, color, glitter ect...... and it is all suppose to be here tomorrow and I have checked the tracking #'s and it should be here on time. I have a house that use to be two apartments so I thought I would use the stove and table in the down stairs kitchen to do my pouring. I have a couple of questions.

1) Is there any health hazards with breathing the plastic? Do I need a mask, or if its a pretty good sized area will I be fine. I have windows in the kitchen but with it being so cold outside and the heat going in the house I really don't want to open them unless it is completely necessary.

2) If I am using pouring pans from LC will normal shop work gloves be sufficient enough for keeping me from getting burnt?

I read the don't for newbies and making notes off all that. If there are any other safety concerns or health hazards other than the 2 questions i asked and stuff on the don't for newbies, that info would be beneficial also.

thanks for the help

Jeff

Also did any of you all see the custom brush hog 1 piece 2 cavity aluminum mold on ebay? It is at $66 right now! That seems extremely high for a used mold, doesn't it?

[Fish_N_Fool]

UNC ROSS it is not a good idea to pour indoors at all. And only with very very good ventilation. With good ventilation (a hood to catch the smoke and a big inclosed fan with hose to blow it outside) I don't use a mask but many do even with a good vent. Even with this setup I only pour in my shop, not the house!! Eventually you will spill hot plastic on something you shouldn't and that stuff does not come out of carpet trust me. As for heating plastics a old small microwave and a pyrex cup works better, is safer, and faster then a pan on a stove.

[Senkosam]

Agree with using a microwave over stove top, but I heat plastic in the basement workshop all the time with no problem unless I accidentally start to burn the plastic. You can choke on smoking plastic fumes and must vent and evacuate the area immediately. It pays to heat the plastic a little at a time and make sure it doesn't smoke. Once clear plastic turns amber, you've overcooked it and reused plastic takes half the time to get to a pouring temp of under 300. A candy thermometer is a good initial investment and gives you an idea of the lowest temperature range you can pour at (which is also better for color brightness and glitter stability). Heat stablizer can only do so much.

[unc_ross]

My first pouring experience did not turn out too well, I tried using the LC little pan and the stove top. I don't think I got the plastic hot enough. I had full sticks in the bottom and top, but not in the middle. I did however really like the color of the sticks. I also tried pouring in a fluke mold, but over poured the tails badly. I think that will just take practice. I am going to try to go by goodwill and some thrift shops during lunch tomorrow and try to find a really cheap used microwave, and try that method. It seems a lot easier but I had all the new stuff and wanted to try it out.

I used:

4 oz Ozark plastic

cap of softner

1 1/2 tsp of ozark salt

15 drops of lc green pumpkin

1 tsp .035 black flake

Any suggestions on the formula? Like I said I really like the color. The sticks were a little hard though, I think I am going to try a little more softener next time.

[SwampBaits]

With such little salt I wouldn't even recommend any softener.

[unc_ross]

Thanks for all the help! I went out and bought a $33 microwave from walmart and and successfully poured my first batch of sticks. I had a blast! compared to the miserable experience I had with the stove top method. I would say the microwave method is a 100% easier and quicker for me. Thanks again.

Jeff