by Charlestonguy » Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:41 pm
Yes, I buy the resin from my local automotive supply store. One quart will last for years.
One more note, I have the best results when using the black RTV or high temp brand. I also use the clear home bathroom caulking RTV for some of my molds.
If you have never made molds before here are a few suggestions.
1. Build a box from plastic styrene, don�t worry once you have the RTV mold you can remove it and use it again.
2. Fill the box with RTV and smooth the top surface.
3. Coat the part you wish to copy with a light film of oil and press it into the RTV, make sure you have good contact on all sides, if you wish to copy the upper part only press half way down leaving the upper part exposed. Let this dry before the next step.
4. Now, make a second box and after you have applied some Vaseline to the first mold and part, push or mate the two RTV halves.
5. Drying time on the RTV may take some time; give it a few days and check. When its ready pull the two mold haves apart and remove the part. Now cut a small �V� from the part to the outer part of the mold with an Exacto knife, making sure you do the same for both sides of the mold (top and bottom).
6. The V acts like a funnel to pour your resin.
I normally cut two of these, one to pour the resin the other to let air pass out. When the resin starts dripping out of the second I know it is full.
I use a rubber band to hold my two molds together.
For most parts you can hold the mold with your hand, but if you use a lot of hardener, say three drops to � of a Dixie cup of resin then it may be a bit hot to hold.
Practice and after a while, you will have the mix and drying time down to what works best for you. I've had the same molds now for over 10 years so you will have an endless supply of parts.
Yes, I buy the resin from my local automotive supply store. One quart will last for years.
One more note, I have the best results when using the black RTV or high temp brand. I also use the clear home bathroom caulking RTV for some of my molds.
If you have never made molds before here are a few suggestions.
1. Build a box from plastic styrene, don�t worry once you have the RTV mold you can remove it and use it again.
2. Fill the box with RTV and smooth the top surface.
3. Coat the part you wish to copy with a light film of oil and press it into the RTV, make sure you have good contact on all sides, if you wish to copy the upper part only press half way down leaving the upper part exposed. Let this dry before the next step.
4. Now, make a second box and after you have applied some Vaseline to the first mold and part, push or mate the two RTV halves.
5. Drying time on the RTV may take some time; give it a few days and check. When its ready pull the two mold haves apart and remove the part. Now cut a small �V� from the part to the outer part of the mold with an Exacto knife, making sure you do the same for both sides of the mold (top and bottom).
6. The V acts like a funnel to pour your resin.
I normally cut two of these, one to pour the resin the other to let air pass out. When the resin starts dripping out of the second I know it is full.
I use a rubber band to hold my two molds together.
For most parts you can hold the mold with your hand, but if you use a lot of hardener, say three drops to � of a Dixie cup of resin then it may be a bit hot to hold.
Practice and after a while, you will have the mix and drying time down to what works best for you. I've had the same molds now for over 10 years so you will have an endless supply of parts.