Amateur "rosin based" sealant trials and tribulations

[HughC]

I put it in the jar ( that I'm going to leave it in) with a little oil and use an electric hot air gun ( into the top of the jar) to melt and mix, heat until a clear liquid. Let it cool and if it solidifies add a bit more oil and repeat until it remains a thick, tacky liquid at room temperature. If you buy a "soft" rosin it already has oil mixed in so should be easier and quicker.

Regards
Hugh

[cedargirl]

Brilliant. Thanks.

[firstpancake]

How inspiring! I may try to cook up a batch myself.
However, as a former violinst, I'm not sure if I can bring myself to butcher a block of rosin. Just seeing the pics and videos was a little heartbreaking. I'm sure the first think I'll do is source the poorest block I can get my hands on to take the sting off, then there's the little part of me that still loves the precious shiny new block of rosin feeling.

If I finally get the courage to start hacking away at some rosin, is there a reason why castor oil is used? What properties should a good rosin sealant oil have?

[79spitfire]

I'm going to try this, I just ordered some inexpensive rosin, and will source some castor oil the next time I'm at the pharmacy.

[Tony Rex]

My thanks to Flounder and HughC for their wonderful pointers on how to make this gloopiest substance ever.


The Castor Oil was from the chemist warehouse for four bucks. The rosin cost $2 from eBay.


Cooked over low heat.


Voila.

[Farmboy]

I'd rather see 'that' be a heat gun instead of a candle.

FB

[Tony Rex]

Point taken. At the time of testing above, "that" was the closest thing and good enough for example purposes.

At the risk of preaching to the choir: “Do not use open flame on pens folks! Especially celluloid!”. Cheers.

[Flounder]

Tony, may I take it you're a fan of Breaking Bad Love your shady setup!

In Jeph's vacumatic thread a while back, I posted a less-meandering step by step bizney, if anyone else is rosining for the first time.
http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread....ll=1#post76268

[scrivelry]

My thanks to Flounder and HughC for their wonderful pointers on how to make this gloopiest substance ever.


The Castor Oil was from the chemist warehouse for four bucks. The rosin cost $2 from eBay.


Cooked over low heat.


Voila.

Love your little jam/honey jar! The thread sealant being a credible honey/preserve color, glad you labelled it so clearly!

[RayCornett]

I made a batch of this earlier this year with dark rosin and castor oil and it works like a charm. I however made it just strong enough as to not need a heat gun or candle. It does, however, take a firm grip and some careful muscle. There was one time I did need heat but the heat from holding it firmly in my hand creating body heat for about 2 minutes was plenty. I traded some off to others for a couple pens and they were extremely happy with it as well.

I made mine using my microwave a minute at a time to soften the rosin in a small glass pimento jar. It took about 4-5 minutes to begin to soften. Then I stirred with a toothpick every minute until it became liquid. Once liquid I added a touch of castor oil and let it cool completely. I added more in very small amounts and let it cool completely until it was the consistency I wanted. It was a several hour process considering the time needed for complete cooling to room temp between tests but well worth it. Between the 4 ounce bar of rosin and maybe 1.5 ounces of castor oil I ended up needing I have enough sealant to last a very long time. You need very little to make it work. It seemed to set in under 10 minutes.

[Farmboy]

Ray,

With the knowledge we have today regarding open flames and pen repair, why would you use a candle?

Farmboy

[RayCornett]

My reply says I made it just strong enough as to NOT need a heat gun or candle. I listed candle and heatgun because those are the two common heat sources people use. That's all

Ray,

With the knowledge we have today regarding open flames and pen repair, why would you use a candle?

Farmboy

[Farmboy]

My reply says I made it just strong enough as to NOT need a heat gun or candle. I listed candle and heatgun because those are the two common heat sources people use. That's all

Ray,

With the knowledge we have today regarding open flames and pen repair, why would you use a candle?

Farmboy

And with the knowledge we have today, why mention open flames? I've seen enough times a pen that was damaged beyond repairs because someone found something on the internet about how to fix it...that didn't work out.

Anyone from the Sacramento area going to make it to the Pen Posse on the 19th or the PPPC meeting on the 25th?

[RayCornett]

When and where? Id need to get a ride from south sac.

[Farmboy]

PPPC is on the 25th at the Pacifica Community Center from 11 to 2. I'm sure there will be Sacramento people in attendance. The Dixon crowd will be there, they never miss. Sometimes the Arbucle guys show up. Bit of a stretch for the guys from Chico but you never know. The PPPC meetings are sort of like a 20-25 table pen show.

The next Pen Posse is on the 19th at Peter's Cafe in Millbrae on the 19th at Peter's Cafe. Figure it starts around 12:45 or so and runs until it quits. This one is about Esterbrooks that need help. More specifically I think we are doing a lung transplant and possibly whacking a few nibs.

I think Aletc started a thread about the Posse and Markh started one about the PPPC on this board and on FPN and FPB. Try a post there about a ride and we will direct others there that can possibly help.

[Jon Szanto]