Re: ATM Alt. Tool

[Anthony Stillman <atmer@flash.net>]

Joe,

Though this is already in the archive, this is how I make a POP tool.
First I put down a layer of wax paper over the glass and trim it to fit.
Next I make a dam around the glass with masking tape.  I lay the tape out
on a flat surface sticky side up, then put down another layer over it,
sticky side down.  I then wrap the not sticky tape around the glass and
tape it tight.  I do this because it helps keep the tape from buckeling.
After the mixed up, poured POP has set up.  I seperate it from the glass
and dry it in a pilot lit oven (about 100 F) for a few days.  Then I coat
the back and side with one to one epoxy from Tap plastics.  After this sets
I lay the tile upside down and coat it's back side and the top of the tool
with one to one, flip the tile and stick them together.  I wet the tile
back as this helps prevent voids where grit can hide.  I try to keep the
tile top free of epoxy and I try to keep the channels at least half clear.
To help press the tile in place I cover the tool with a layer of wax paper
and then put a weight (often the mirror) on the tile while the epoxy sets
up. I also usually check around the edge, clean up run off and look for and
fill in voids durning the adhesion step.

Good luck.

Anthony