Sanding/smoothing Pro Create

[Shawn R. L.]

Been doing a lot of sculpting with Pro Create 2 part putty. Has it\'s pros and cons. When fully cured, even after some heat, it has a bit of flexibility. The \'rubberiness\' is a bit of an issue. What is the best way to sand/file/whatever to get smooth, scratchless finishes on them. . . . even glossy.

 

[freakinacage]

i\'d try went and dry sandpaper tbh. something fine

 

[mickc22]

I think you have to smooth it down before it cures, not sure if you can use wet & dry paper once it\'s gone off, but if you are gonna you probably want something in the region of 600-1000 grit

 

[Einion]

What kind of papers/films are you using Shawn? I think from previous discussions you\'re using good stuff but FWIW I\'ve found that the quality of the abrasives makes all the difference - one can sand GS quite well, so something a bit firmer than this should definitely be doable (assuming it\'s not just a bit prone to \'tearing\', like some plastics).

If I wanted to go all the way to a polished finish and I was being very fastidious I\'d generally go from maybe P300-400, then P600 and final sanding with 1200 (all used wet) with a finishing rub on denim to polish the surface.

Alternatively don\'t sand at all but use an abrasive rubber bit in the motor tool!

BTW, have you tried changing the resin/hardener ratio specifically to favour good sanding ability?

Einion

 

[Shawn R. L.]

I\'m going to need to keep the mix ration the same as what I\'m doing is going to be cast in pewter and needs to be flexable.

I\'ve been trying a new, unused piece of 3M wet/dry sand paper (I have from 220 to 2000 grit) but without water. I\'m thinking from your feed back that adding water might help. With softer putty\'s it seems that tools - sandpaper being one of them - the flexibility makes cutting a problem, along with loading.

As always, thanks for the input.:beer:

 

[Einion]

:beer:

Certainly can\'t hurt to try using water - apart from anything it always helps with the loading issue. The blurb for ProCreate goes on about how easily worked it is when hardened so I hope it\'s not an issue with the putty. I\'ve never used it but based on experience with other epoxy putties (and mixtures) I\'d think that it should work, not that that\'s any guarantee with a different product.

Bit confused by this bit though:

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
I\'m going to need to keep the mix ration the same as what I\'m doing is going to be cast in pewter and needs to be flexable.

Lots of the originals for Andrea are done in Milliput, so a rigid master shouldn\'t be a problem for casting in metal.

Einion

 

[Shawn R. L.]

The guys at Armorcast are casting a lot of my stuff in pewter and had said that due to being smashed in the vulcanizing process to 1000 psi a little flexibility is a good thing. . . But now that you mention it I think it was for tiny fragile parts.

 

[Einion]

How\'s the sanding going - any improvement working wet?

Einion

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Been juggling a GOB of art projects and haven\'t gotten back to sanding. Finished a LONG TERM painting just last night and so that will free things up a bunch.
I\'m doing a Christmas Ork and I\'ll be back to him soon.

 

[Shawn R. L.]

I\'ve found that using sandpaper, the wet/dry kind for now, is working great. Thanx for all the input.

 

[mickc22]

I was gonna ask how the sanding was going, answers that question then