Recipe for debubblizer

Jewelry Discussion
1

I am looking for a recipe for debubblizer. I would appreciate any
suggestion on the proportions and ingredients.

Thank you,
Dianne deBeixedon

2

For investing with or without a vacuum bell jar? Without the vacuum
bell jar you can use tincture of green soap (soft soap and isopropyl
alcohol) but with a vacuum system don’t bother as it is not necessary
and most debubbleizers will make lots of bubbles when used with a
vacuum investment rig. Kerr used to (maybe still does) sell a
debubbleizer called Vacuufilm but I never found it to be worth the
effort.

Jim

James Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts

3

Hi Dianne,

A rough and ready mixture is 50% water, 50% alcohol and some drops
of photo-flo, or lacking that, dishwashing liquid.

best
Charles

4

Hello Diane, Have you considered not using one at all? Many casters
seem to be getting away from them as unnecessary. I have not used a
debubblizer in years. Try it.

5

We use straight denatured alcohol in a spray bottle - have for
years, works great…

6

Zero-D Products offers an alcohol free debubblizer suited to vacuum
investing as well as open air investing. Ships at non-hazard rates.

There is no foaming under vacuum.

Contact Bill Mull for details and samples.
zerodproducts.com

7

Bill:

I understand that most modern investments contain wetting agents
that are supposed to minimize or eliminate the need for a debubblizer
when vacuuming during the investment process. My students and I have
done a lot of work where we vacuum twice–once in the bowl after
mixing and again after pouring into the flask. We seldom find trapped
bubbles. Of course, most of our projects do not contain a large tree
where there would be more opportunity to trap bubbles.

Would you comment on when you feel there is a need for a debubblizer
if one vacuums the investment as described above.

I look forward to hearing your experience.
Fred

8 
I understand that most modern investments contain wetting agents
that are supposed to minimize or eliminate the need for a
debubblizer when vacuuming during the investment process. My
students and I have done a lot of work where we vacuum twice--once
in the bowl after mixing and again after pouring into the flask.

Yes modern investments have wetting agents in them. I used to manage
a small production casting shop where we did at least 18-20 4" x 9"
flasks a day. Each flask had 20 to 100 or more parts in it. We used
several different investments while I was there R&R Ultravest,
SatinCast 20, WestCast they all were mixed and degassed with a
vacuum and no debubbleizer was used. Bubbles were very rare
occurrences.

James Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts

9

James:

I am glad my experience with small flasks agrees with the experience
of someone who has been casting large trees. I have always told my
students that while I thought vacuum degassing the investment would
work with large flasks as well but I didn’t have the personal
experience.

Fred