"Instructions for 'Plastic' Handholds"
Lesson 5. Pouring the Plastic
you need: DIXIE CUPS, LOCATION WITH AIR CURRENT, RESIN, YOUR MOLD, SIICONE SPRAY, WASHER, SAND
Let me explain the measuring first to make this easy. As long as you have enough resin and sand mixed together to get a goop not runny, but not clumpy, you're good to go. The trouble is knowing how much hardener to add to the resin goop mix. You may find this easy, but I've started using 5oz (fluid ounces). Dixie Cups to help me keep track. This measuring cup must be disposable, so get familiar with how much 1oz, 2oz, 3oz... is in a Dixie Cup. You will soon be able to eyeball how much resin you use and save yourself from miscalculating and producing bad holds. Here's all the proportions I've found useful for eye-balling some magic goop:
3 oz. sand for each 2oz. of resin.Or another way to look at it is to fill the 5 oz. Dixie cup about 2/3 full with sand then add resin up to about a centimeter under the lip (about 2oz. resin).
12 drops of hardener for each 1oz. of resin (yes, for 25oz. of resin, you must count 350 drops)
- Step 1.Fill the mold with sand, then pour this sand into a Dixie Cup (or cups if necessary).
- Step 2. Shake out the sand and spray the inside of your mold with some silicone spray.
- Step 3. Prop up your mold in some sand (I keep my sand in a 5 gallon Rubbermaid tub). Make sure the lip of your mold is level so it won't spill the goop.
- Step 4.Put a washer on the spike the bolt made on your mold.
- Step 5.Get to a spot with air current (outside with fan is best), and standing away from fumes, mix the plastic/sand mix as explained above and pour it into your mold.** (I'VE HEARD SOME SERIOUSLY BAD STORIES FROM PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T CAREFUL WITH THESE FUMES... PLEASE BEWARE!!)
- Step 6.I then cut a piece of foam and place it on the back, but this is really not necessary if you don't want to.
- Step 7.Pop out your hold in an hour or two. File off any sharp points and if you did not add foam, file the back flat. (I use the curb outside to file the back flat. It works perfectly and quickly).
- Step 8.Use a 3/8 inch masonry bit and drill a hole PERPENDICULAR to the ground through the washer.
- Your Done! Give it a couple more hours, bolt it up, and Climb On!
**If you want to make a multi-color hold, then split the plastic goop mix into two cups, add a couple drops of cement dye to one, and pour them simultaneously into the mold. It looks great. (be sparing with the dyes, it will weaken the hold if too much is used!)
Be sure to check out the constantly updated Tips and FAQ Page as well as exceptional feedback fromDon and Rhona of East Coast Rocks!
Good Luck and God Bless! Also, thanks for the great emails! I'm glad this has helped!
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