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Awaiting the arrival of a couple of more items before I actually shoot my first mold.
Just about have enough information to be 'lethal'.
Temperature playing the roll it does why not have a toaster oven set up to heat mold and injector while the microwave brings the plastic to the ready?
A lot of guys do just that. :)
A grill like u cook pancakes on is better than a toaster oven. They are temp control you can lay your injectors on it to keep them warm also if u use glass measure cups to heat your plastic u can set them on it while u shoot. It will help it from cooling so fast. I don't heat molds as it takes too long too cool before taking your plastic out. Unless your mold has problems u should not have to heat them. U can find them for around 25 bucks or less. If u paint jigs a toaster oven works great for cooking your powder paint. My wife bought the one i use for 5 bucks at a thrift store! U might find a grille there also. Cub
I don't feel like I need to heat anything. I will shoot a couple molds full of junk plastic if the molds and injector are real cold but that's all. I live in Minnesota where right now we're headed for -15 degrees and I shoot in an un-heated garage. My plastic and components along with my molds and injectors are kept inside and brought out the work as needed and I have never pre-heated a mold or injector other than the couple warming shots with scrap. I don't have any issues with anything.
As CTom stated, just injecting the mold with heated scrap plastic a few times is usually enough to get everything warmed up and working.Quote:
Originally Posted by CTom
Large molds with thin areas on the appendages are the most temperamental for hand injecting. Everything needs to be dialed in perfectly, Heat, injection pressure, and the plastic viscosity. Small molds with a few cavities are usually easy to use, but large molds do require more experience.