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Position:Home>Visual Arts> Creating a mold of model made of metal...HELP!!!?Question: Creating a mold of model made of metal!.!.!.HELP!!!!? Hi
I'm trying to create a mold from an original made of metal!. I want to reproduce my metal original in poly resin, I'm not sure where to start!. Do I need to use a special clay or mold making material!? It will be a 1 sided mold & I want to capture as much of the fine detail as possible!.!.!.any suggestions!?!?!?!?Www@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: a silicone mold would be best!. here's my suggestion, but beware, silicone is STICKY, the soap acts as a release agent and can keep it from sticking to you as well: 1!. take your metal object and paint it with a soap solution like dish soap!. set aside!. 2!. get a basin of cool water, and a caulk tube of 100% silicone sealant, I use clear since you can see through it to make sure you don't have any air bubbles!. Make sure it's silicone not siliconized acrylic!. 3!. squeeze some caulk into the water!. The water acts like a catalyst, and will speed up the time the silicone sets up, it also makes it so you can handle it better!. 4!. smear your hands all over with dish soap, and then gently form your floating wad of silicone into a patty, working out any air bubbles you see!. If your hands seem like they might stick to the silicone, just get more soap on them!. 5!. now carefully place the silicone patty over your metal piece!. Check to make sure you don't trap any air bubbles!. let it sit in the water, and in a couple of hours it ought to be solid enough to remove!. Good luckWww@QuestionHome@Com Silicon is good, also because it will work with resin!. David W gave you good instructions, I'd just add that if your object has deep undercuts you may have to make it in more than one piece, if not you are fine!. If it's large you may have to make a mother mold (will your silicon mold be stable enough to hold it's shape once you take it off or will it need support)!. For a mothermold you would need to make keys (bumps or depressions) on the outside of your silicon mold and you could use plaster of plaster bandages on top of the silicon to make an unflexible structure in which your silicon mold fits to keep its shape!. also be aware that silicon releases acetic acid when it sets!. The acetic acid will probably change the color of your metal object!. You should be able to clean that off, but if you had a patina on your metal object it will be lost too, it may actually look really new and clean afterwards - which you may like or not!.Www@QuestionHome@Com There are some DVDs, books, classes , materials available from THE COMPLETE SCULPTOR http://www!.sculpt!.com/ Another source is http://www!.smoothon!.com/ Another source is http://www!.dickblick!.com/categories/mold!.!.!. The silicone mold will work to a degree!. These 3 sources sell mold making and casting materials!. They can offer advice!. BE SURE TO WEAR SAFETY GLASSES Here are some things to find out before you call these suppliers: Do you have any pronounced undercuts in the original!? What size is your original!? What type of metal is the original made of!? How upset will you be if you destroy the surface color of the original!? - (chemical reaction may change part of the color)Www@QuestionHome@Com need more info!.!.!.is you thing 3d or flat!.!.!.!.!.you could do a silcone based mold !.!.!.I'd suggest talking to the local artsupply store and see if they have the proper product for you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Feel sorry I can not help you!. Looo in AresWww@QuestionHome@Com |