From: "Kismet" <kismetproductions-AT-bigpond.com>
Subject: PUPT: Re: Mould making with silicone
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 19:01:59 +1000


Well I don't know about "savvy" but I have been mucking around with Silicone
moulds for a while.
Why not just use moulding silicone available from all fibreglass
suppliers/surfboard suppliers etc? Lot easier. I prefer Ultrasil but don't
know its availability. . .Im sure you could get Dow Corning's 3481 silastic
which is fine and only about $35 kg US. (I use about 1kg per mould for a
head for a 30" puppet but I am somewhat excessive)
You MUST test the plug material first. Sulphure in plastecines will inhibet
curing. . I use Klean Klay for this reason. I then encase the whole
plastecine plug in about 1" of organic clay and then I make a 2 part
fibreglass case over it. . . . or plaster if you prefer. . . . . (Under cuts
are eliminated by extra clay. . .if excessive you may need more parts)I
remove one part and carefully clean the clay off, insert "key holes" into
the clay and apply a layer of silicone with a brush. . .removing BUBBLES as
I go. Reassemble the case and flood the cavity with silicone. When thats set
repeat the process on the other side(s) only BEFORE applying Silastic apply
a scant coat of vinyle mould release (I use Mann 200 Ease Release).
When all's set the silicone molds are parted and ready to go! Moulds are
forgiving enough for the most severe undercuts if the layer is 1/2-1". What
I prefer is to leave severe undercuts and difficult details to be added with
Aves Apoxie sculpt after casting is finished. I expect about 80-90 pulls
from a mold, placing it an oven after 10-20 pulls to redistribute the
silicone lubricant.
Its not rocket science and a hell of a lot easier than latex moulds.
Hope that helps

Daniel
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mathieu Rene" <uubald-AT-magma.ca>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 3:03 PM
Subject: PUPT: Mould making with silicone


Hi all techincally savvy puppet folks!

I have three marionnettes to make this summer, and find it difficult to make
re-usable flexible moulds without using latex rubber. I want to reproduce
the heads,  hands and feet to keep a copy for myself, and possibly make a
limited edition to sell.

Here's a direct link to the heads I am talking about, so you know the level
of complexity.
http://www.magma.ca/~uubald/newpups.jpg
Please don't mind the texture and small defects, I have yet to clean them up
before the moulding.


I heard about people using regular silicone for this. however, I have no
idea which one to use, and how it needs to be done.
A very good staff member at my favorite hardware store warns me that this
type of silicone is very sticky.
My heads are already sculpted, out of plastalina (LeBeauTouché brand).
They have a few pronounced undercuts and protruding noses, hair spikes and
and other details.
I tried the multiple part hard plaster moulds last year, and I find I need a
lot more practice with the method than I have time right now to deal with.
So a flexible mould is all I can think of.

I know how to build a plaster shell around the flexible mould.
I just need to find a better material than latex rubber...

Has anyone used harware store available -type of silicone for mould making?
Anything you could tell me about the specific type/brand/properties/methods?

I used regular liquid rubber latex in the past, but making a mould with the
proper thickness  took me a full day on a simple sculpture with a fan on at
all time to help drying.

http://www.magma.ca/~uubald/newpups.jpg

As always, thanks for your help past, present, and future!
This list is responsible in a great part for my evolution in the world of
puppetry!





Mathieu René Créaturiste
Marionnettes, masques, etc...
Puppets, masks, etc...
uubald-AT-magma.ca
http://www.magma.ca/~uubald/
 (514) 274-8027



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