Shake Yer Booty update Jan. 22 Materials: Where to get 'em! - Other Crafts

V VanTiki Member Hawaii Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 1046	V VanTiki Posted posted on Mon, Jan 15, 2007 11:11 AM This thread is fantastic! I did a TON of molding and casting when I was working in LA - and I second all of the advice given above. I have always used foam core for making small molds - and it was the material of choice in the FX shop I worked at. The key I learned to make it easy is to use one strip of foam core that is scored only half way through 3 times to aid in folding it into a square. Tough to describe - mayhap this photo will explain better: Talcum powder is great stuff for breaking the surface tension while casting - and I have found that drawing a cut line on the foam core inside the mold before pouring the silicone can help when cutting open complicated molds. Finally - the "roto-cast" method rules if you don't have a vacuum chamber! I would pour the resin, cap the pour hole, and GENTLY rotate the mold until the resin has set. I'd get a great surface every time - you just have to be sure to do it gently - and make sure the pour hole is plugged well! I had urethane pour down my arms and all over my watch on a sad occasion or two!

This thread is fantastic!

I did a TON of molding and casting when I was working in LA - and I second all of the advice given above. I have always used foam core for making small molds - and it was the material of choice in the FX shop I worked at. The key I learned to make it easy is to use one strip of foam core that is scored only half way through 3 times to aid in folding it into a square. Tough to describe - mayhap this photo will explain better:

Talcum powder is great stuff for breaking the surface tension while casting - and I have found that drawing a cut line on the foam core inside the mold before pouring the silicone can help when cutting open complicated molds.

Finally - the "roto-cast" method rules if you don't have a vacuum chamber! I would pour the resin, cap the pour hole, and GENTLY rotate the mold until the resin has set. I'd get a great surface every time - you just have to be sure to do it gently - and make sure the pour hole is plugged well! I had urethane pour down my arms and all over my watch on a sad occasion or two!

Post #278990 by VanTiki on Mon, Jan 15, 2007 11:11 AM