Flex Mold

Home » Flex Mold

This is new mold material is much superior to ordinary gelatin(mold glue) and is very easily made.  It does not shrink or dryout like ordinary casting gelatins.  If made according todirections it will retain all its original qualitiesindefinitely, and can be remelted when necessary.

FORMULA:

Flake Gelatin . . . . . . .  4 1/2  poundsWater . . . . . . . . . . .  4 1/2  pintsGlycerin . . . . . .. . . .  9  poundsGlucose . . . . . . . . . .  1 poundDenatured Alcohol . . . . .  1 ounce

PROCESS:  Place the gelatin in a large container and pour thewater over same;  then cover container with damp cloth toprevent evaporation.  Mix up thoroughly with the hands every tenminutes to keep water evenly distributed, otherwise the bottomwill absorb too much water and the top portion will dry out andharden.  Replace cloth after each mixing.  After gelatin isthoroughly softened, squeeze out all surplus water (if any), andplace in double boiler and melt.  A few minutes after it beginsto melt start stirring and keep stirring until the gelatin isall melted and free from lumps.  Then add the glycerin (whichshould have previously been heated) and stir until blended. Continue to stir until all ingredients are thoroughlyincorporated and remove from fire.  Now add the alcohol and stiruntil thoroughly blended with the rest of the mixture.  Thecompound is now ready for use.  Do not add water when remelting.

A double boiler can easily be made by using two metal buckets orpans, one larger than the other.  Put a few stones in the bottomof the larger container and partly fill with water.  Then putmold compound into smaller container and place it in largecontainer.  There should be enough water in large container tocome up at least half way on outside of small container.  Thestones are to prevent the small container from touching thebottom and thereby burning the mixture.  Leave unused materialin container in which it was melted.

HOW TO GET THE ABOVE COMPOUND TO MAKE MOLDS:  First select thearticle you desire to duplicate.  Almost all articles can beduplicated, such as celluloid novelties, metal toys, dolls, etc.Articles cast in compositions, book-ends, emblems, etc.

If the article to be cast is very simple, with one entire sideflat like a book-end, emblem, or plaque, it is only necessary tolay it on some flat, smooth surface, like glass or marble, faceup.  Place a frame of wood or metal bars around it, having oiledthe object and other parts well;  then pour the pliable moldcomposition over it.  However, for more complicated things suchas door stops and novelties in forms of dogs, cats, dolls, etc.,you will have to make a mold in two pieces.

To make two piece molds, plaster should be used to reinforce themold.  To make good molds you must bear in mind that both thiscompound and rubber gives under the weight of the castingmaterial.  Therefore, some means must be used to hold molds madefrom these materials in shape.  It must be made so that the moldcan easily be removed from the reinforcing shell so that themold may then be removed from the casting without damaging it.

After you have applied the molding composition or last coat ofrubber and compound starts to set - spread about 1/2 inchthickness of plaster mortar over it with a trowel, let set andthen remove it.  For full body molds in two parts - make onehalf, let it stand until set, cut notches in the plaster shellaround the edge that will be spliced to the other half and thenapply rubber and plaster to the other half.  To prevent theplaster sticking, coat the splice edge of the first half withtwo coats of ordinary rubber cement.

RUBBER MOLDS

GUTTA-PURSHA MOLDS:

Purchase a sheet of GUTTA-PERCHA, about one-fourth of an inchthick.  Cut it about size desired.  Soak it in NAPTHA (whichcauses it to swell), then soak it in hot water.  This makes thesheet of Gutta-Percha soft and mushy in appearance, somewhatlike a wet rag.  Then in this condition, press it against yourmodel, slowly but firmly.

When there are small cavities such as the mouth or eyes of afigure, be sure that you get the rubber all the way in . . . thebetter you press it, the sharper the mold will be.

Try it on a plaque first, for that can be made in one piecemold.  When it is sufficiently pressed, have some plaster mixedand pour it over the mold.  This will harden quickly and so holdyour rubber mold (Gutta-Percha), in place until it graduallydries out.  It will then retain its shape.  This plaster shellshould always be used to hold mold rigid while casts are beingmade.

To make a mold of a figure in the round (showing both sides) themold must be made in two pieces, with shell of plaster to holdthem in place, same a described previously.

 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10 Votes | Average: 0 out of 10
(No Ratings Yet, Be the First ...)
Loading ... Loading ...

Leave a Reply