After reading Joe Emigs excellent articles in Rodmaker on acrylic resin casting for
reel seats, I'd like to give it a go. Does anyone have a tint formula for producing
Ivory appearing acrylic? Thanks in advance, Erik

Erik, I usually take 1/2 the volume of the mold and mix up some white and take the other half and mix ivory. I use TAP pigments. Mix each in containers which will not break down from the resin. Let the colors sit for about 15 minutes, and then combine them in another container. By letting them set up first, the colors won't completely blend into one color when combined. The separate colors will create some streaking. You can mix them until you get the exact look you want.

Save yourself the trouble and also save some money and buy Alternative Ivory from Craft Supplies USA, www.woodturnerscatalog.com . You can get a piece 1" x 6" for $4.99. I've turned this stuff and it really does looks like ivory. Just don't follow their directions for turning speed, the rpm should be 1800-2600 rpm and use a really sharp skew. They also have a lot of other very nice materials that can be used for real seet inserts, like Tru Stone and a bunch of acrylics.

Boy, how true the statement is on turning speed here. I found the supplier's recommendation too slow to be productive.

Thanks to all for the great tips! And Joe, I'll follow your directions, as I am
looking to find the "right" hue for this seat. Thanks again, Erik

I'm not sure if you just want to try your hand at casting or if you are looking for an ivory appearing product. But I tried the casting with the process others spoke of, comes out nice...but if you need the product without the work try the address below. Atlas Fibre manufactures a rod called "ivorene" II and III, it looks and feels very similar to ivory. I don' t buy it in large pieces so I don't know if would have the resilience for reel seats. I do use it in pool cue joints, butt caps and ferrules so it is fairly strong.

Chad Moses

Atlas Billiards

www.cuestik.com

1.800.283.7845 ex.1414

If you do your own casting, be prepared for air bubbles. I know a lot of people who do a large amounts of PR casting and every one of them uses a pressure pot to eliminate the bubbles. To do it right, PR casting is not a cheap endeavor. Anyone who doesn't use a pressure pot and hasn't had bubbles has just been lucky.