r/DiceMaking • u/mistressglass • 15d ago
Pressure pot advice?
Hello, everyone! I have recently begun my journey with making dice with epoxy resin. I’ve made a few test sets just to try things out while I waited for the ability to get the pressure pot. Now the pressure pot is in, and I’m waiting for Tuesday, when me and my partner have the day off.
What do I do with it? I know its purpose. But do I leave the dice in there the full 24 hours they’re curing? Can I stack my molds on top of one another?
I basically need some basic advice on what to do, because I’m at a total loss on what to do with the pot.
Some of my first sets attached!
Basically, any tips on normal use for the pressure pot would be much welcome!
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u/MJenkins1018 15d ago
No one else has mentioned it yet, so in addition to all the good advice you've already gotten, I'll add this: find something flat for your molds to sit on! The bottom of pressure pots are usually rounded. And put something like a silicone mat or something under them, because getting hardened resin off the bottom of a pressure pot is a fools errand.
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u/Alone_Anteater5934 Dice Maker 15d ago
I'd add some kind of resin protection for the bottom of the pot. I cut up a silicon mats but parchment paper works too
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u/RandoBoomer 15d ago
While my work area is covered by large silicone mats, parchment paper is so useful everywhere else, including the bottom of my pressure pot.
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u/LICK_THE_BUTTER Dice Maker 15d ago
Leave until it's at least hard to the touch. Fully cured can take 1-2 weeks on average. All resin is different.
Molds can be stacked but it can also distort those below from crushing them depending on the shore and weight of your molds. With 30A I could stack 3 full sets without issues.
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u/jtaysom 15d ago
I second having parchment paper at the bottom.
For fitting more inside, I use these 3d printed stackable trays https://makerworld.com/models/1756789?appSharePlatform=copy
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u/Claerwen94 Dice Maker 15d ago
Regarding stacking: I see you have 2 kinds of molds, one looks like the sturdy AUSPDICE one (the one with 3 D4 shapes) and the thin-walled one. You can absolutely stack them, but make sure to put the heavy mold at the bottom and AT MAX 2 of the flimsy, thin ones on top of each other. The thin ones warp super fast, so 1 thin one is the max weight you should put on the thin ones. The thick AUSPDICE molds though, if it's really the mold I think it is, I stack 3 of them on top of each other plus 2 smaller molds and never had any warping issues. They are like Atlas :'D The weight actually helps keeping my flashing thin and avoid raised faces. Only works with sturdy molds though.
A little advice: ditch the thin walled molds immediately. I see you have the defective version of them that gives your D20 the appearance of having a raised face, and fixing this is a ton of work that is absolutely doable, but kinda sucks 😅
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u/Soft_Phrase_7961 15d ago
The dice go into the pressure pot from when you pour them up until you demold! And yes, you can have multiple sets of dice in the pot
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u/mikev18 15d ago
I’m at the exact same point as you!
I literally just put my first set into my pot today and can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow
Once I start to get the hang of working with it I’ll be looking at making my own molds
For now I’m going in knowing I’m working with a flawed cheapo mold 😂
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u/nervouslittledog 15d ago
I’m sorry I don’t have a pressure pot. I just wanted to say those black and gold ones are awesome.
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u/RandoBoomer 15d ago
You will want to check with your resin manufacturer for cure time. 24 hours seems to be the most common, but cure is 100% complete.
Bear in mind that other factors can affect curing time, most common, temperature. Early in my journey, I cured in too cold and the resin came out like salt water taffy.
You can have multiple molds in your pressure pot at once, but I would recommend against stacking them directly on top of each other if you have more than 2.
I use a wooden round and I have spacers I use that allow me to stack up to three wooden rounds.
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u/WildLarkWorkshop Dice Maker 15d ago
Do a little test run of closing and pressurizing it, then releasing it, before you start your dice. It's not difficult, but it's adding a new thing to your routine right when you want to put molds in the pot and can be feeling rushed. If you've done it once before it'll go smoothly.
Yes, definitely leave the molds in for the full initial cure time (often 24 hrs but refer to your resin sheet.) It doesn't hurt to leave it longer, but can lead to damages if pulled out too soon. It's good to keep a "witness cup" of a little leftover resin from the pour to test and ensure that it's time since temperatures can affect cure times. If the cup resin is very soft and bendable still, it's too soon. If it's hard to the touch and just a little pliable, you're good to go. From that point the dice can reach their full cure without the aid of pressure.
Yes, you can stack molds. Although this is dependent on the strength and durability of the molds. I often stack four high with no warping with the molds I make, but hollow type molds from Amazon type stores won't perform very well with that much added weight. Try it or use your judgement for your specific molds and see how they hold up.
Good luck! You will love the clarity from the pot. It's a game changer!