Making Molds and Molding Supplies

[cj_h4x0r]

Hey all!!! I'm new to these forums, so I thought I'd share some input on my experience in making molds! Not long ago(and still today but not as much) I made wargaming terrain for D&D Warhammer, etc... At the same time I was making my own miniatures for D&D and making molds for them for I could make more. Making molds is pretty easy to do, so here are my hardcore instructions!!!(without pictures though, but I'll put up a link with a tutorial on making small molds but to make big ones are mostly the same).

There are many kinds of molding liquids, resins, etc... The ones I use are, cheap-like I guess you could say. I usually make my own buttons(or get some from a console and make duplicates, not copy righted ones though!!!). My supplies come from a place called micromark.

Micromark Site:
http://www.micromark.com

Site with Tutorial:
http://www.hirstarts.com/moldmake/moldmaking.html


Before we start making pieces, we need to make a mold!!! So first off what should we use to make molds? I think the best one on the site it item # 82083. It is a 1 to 1 solution of almost liquid weight quality!!! It take a couple hours to cure though, the item says four hours but actually it only takes about two. The tutorial link will show you with steps how to make molds. It uses some other kinds of molding products, but no matter which if you use the one at micromark you will be set!!!

Mold Release:
You do not have to use the mold release on the micromark site, it is kind of expensive. A good substitute for mold to mold release is vaseline. Just spread it with your fingers, really cheap and most of you probably already have it. Although this stumped some of my friends, it did not me. For some reason people around me thought talcum powder was some special powder for molds, its baby powder... So theres something else you probably have around the house!!! Hopefully people out there knew that baby powder was talcum powder with a scent added.

Now on the the resin to use!!! Part # 82057 from the micromark site is a great resin. Becomes solid in less than 5 minutes, 1 to 1 mixture, simple to use. Before I make parts with detail in them I paint on the resin with q-tips real quick and then put the mold together and pour the mixture in. It isn't important but it helps with air bubbles. There are several ways to rid air bubbles, but thats my way! You do the same with making a mold, paint on the liquid rtv mold product on the piece before pouring on the mixture.

These molds last a long time, well over 100 uses with some detail work, so well over 1000 or more with bigger, simpler shapes(buttons and such). The great thing is you can also make cases as well. Make one with bondo and other parts, then make molds of it!

Thats my short and vague way of making molds! Hopefully the link from Hirst Arts helps a little bit, theres also some detail painting and effects on the site too. Some video tutorials on making molds and pieces from it too.

Hope this helps someone out there!!!
h4x0r

[jeroen]

mmmmmm thanks. I think this is what ben did for his phoenix units. I lik the tutorial. One thing what do you fill them with?

edit: nevermind I se you posted it already.

[ShockSlayer]

Cool.

SS

[Life of Brian]

Excellent post - very useful! Thank you for being so thorough!

Now I've got some reading to do on those tutorials...

[cj_h4x0r]

Glad I could help!!! I can answer some questions if ya'll have any, but sadly my long term buddy Mr.Fujifilm,has sadly perished due to an unknown cause of death, so I cannot take any pictures of my own mold making process or my current molds that work...Now to find a cheap digital camera...

h4x0r

[Life of Brian]

I think what I might do is frankencase something, use bondo and sandpaper to smooth it out beautifully, and then make a mold of it. Then, make a strong plaster cast to use for vacuum forming! If I figure out a system that works well, then perhaps I could sell some molds?