Alajane Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 I can’t figure out what’s going on with myclamshells suddenly! Last night on the 8thclamshell of a pour, I noticed that one was leaking. I’ve read that happens occasionally (althoughit was the first time for me), so I dumped the wax back into the pot andcontinued. Then on my next pour, thefirst 3 all leaked, and I had another leaky one in the next pour. I only did a small run last night; out ofaround 30 clamshells, I had 5 that had to be thrown away—not counting the mess! That's a very high percentage!I’ve used 3 cases in the past from eClamshellwithout any leaks and, as I said, was halfway through this one from Impact whenit started happening. I can’t figure outwhat’s causing it—I’ve always poured clamshells at 160° or less with noproblems. I can’t think it’s the temperature, especially with the first pour, because the first 7 didn’t leak—and that waxwould have been hotter, if anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 I think mine leaked from pulling the clamshells apart roughly. The top edges is where they were leaking from. I think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alajane Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 (edited) I had that problem once or twice with my clamshells from eClamshell, but it was obvious that there was a little tear. The ones from Impact don't stick together for some reason, so I'm pretty sure that wasn't the problem. There's no tugging at all to separate these--for that reason alone I had decided they were worth the ~$0.03 more than those from eClamshell, but now I don't know since I never had eClamshell's leak (for no obvious reason). Edited August 24, 2012 by Alajane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Maybe contact them? It could be a bad batch instead of something happening at your end. The no tugging thing would definitely be worth the price difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alajane Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 Since I had used half a case before the problem occurred, I don't want to contact them too hastily. I'm going to pour again this weekend and see if lowering the temp might help. If the problem continues to occur, I will contact them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraciS Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I've had the same experience. It seems like when they leak it is frequently in a small group of the same pour. Sometimes I have seen a very small spot on the PVC and when it leaked I noticed it was on that spot, like a flaw. Othertimes I have been trying to pour too hot and will melt a little weak spot I guess. For a while I poured 1/2 full and finished the batch like that and then started over topping them off to see if that helped, it didn't but pouring cooler def did. On average I have 10 max in a box that will leak so I haven't worried about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alajane Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 TraciS, thanks for sharing your experience--I haven't had any more since the night I posted about, so it may have been an experience like yours. I had been posting at around 160° but dropped that down to 150°, so that may have helped also. I hate waiting that extra time--messes up my whole system! But you gotta do what you gotta do.Thanks,Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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