Questions on making burl scales

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O'Neil

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Nov 14, 2019
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I've been buying the scales for some time now and I think its time I make them. I've watched some videos but there's always some info that slips through the cracks. And I couldn't find much on here so here goes:
It seems like you acquire some hardened wood and place it in the mold.
Mix up your alumilite epoxy, add dye or powder or both and pour it into the cast then pressure pot it
Are the molds used 1/2 plexiglass? That's what it looks like.
Could an insta pot be used? I'm not sure of the pressure they are using but the insta puts out 15 lbs.
 
I never did it, but you will want to stabilize the burl before. There are vids on the pressure pots on YT, don't trust the insta pot. I think you will at least want a paint pressure pot. I think there are some rated up to 90-100 psi. Check the vids for valves and fitting you will need.
 
You will be far better/cheaper to send the wood to K&G or some other stabilizer to be stabilized. Then you can fill the voids as you wish with alumilite resin.
I think Masecraft will do the whole job for you.
 
I'm sure I can purchased stabilized wood. I was more interested in the process. I'm just gonna buy a pressure pot.
The mold has me a touch baffled though
 
O'Neil said:
I'm sure I can purchased stabilized wood. I was more interested in the process. I'm just gonna buy a pressure pot.
The mold has me a touch baffled though
Click to expand...

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O'Neil said:
I'm sure I can purchased stabilized wood. I was more interested in the process. I'm just gonna buy a pressure pot.
The mold has me a touch baffled though
Click to expand...
I've never done this myself, but I am fairly certain that you need a vacuum to stabilize wood so that the stabilizing resin gets drawn into the wood if you are doing this on a DIY level. The pressure pot is probably good for casting to make the air bubbles small enough where you cannot see them.
 
To get good stabilization, it required first a vacuum to remove air from the wood, and then high pressure to force the resin as deeply as possible.
 
If I got it right he plans to buy stabilized wood and cast it in resin for a hybrid handle. For casting no vacuum is needed, pressure only. Some will put resin under vacuum first (as to get air bubbles out) before they cast it in the mold but from what I understood it is not needed.

You can also do your own molds if you don't find the sizes you are looking for.
 
OK, I thought he was stabilizing the wood himself, too.
If just casting the voids in colored resin, any sort of mold will work. It can be glued up from balsa wood for all it matters. Just cut/grind the mold away when the resin is cured.
The knife handle silicone molds from Woodcraft ( and most resin suppliers) are reusable.
 
Or make it with balsa wood and screws and put some plastic foil lining or baking sheet lining and unscrew the mold to make it reusable. Plexiglass with tapped threading and a thin spread wax should also work.

If you just want to try it out, you can even do it with no pressure pot and gently heat the epoxy with a heat gun or a hair dryer to get the air bubbles to the surface. If you mix and pour the epoxy gently you will have less bubbles to start with.
 
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