Can wood be used as a master for resin casting?

[sycor]

Basically my dad does some wood carving and I wanted to learn how to use resin. Well, I figured it would be easy to use some of his carvings as masters. Is wood to porous or anything?

 

[defstartrooper]

You'd be best off making a latex or silicon mould.

The wood would have to be sealed to pour resin on it and bear in mind resin produces a fair bit of heat too during curing so whatever you seal it with would need to withstand the heat, plus heat does nasty things to wood.

 

[sycor]

Maybe I know even less than I though. I thought you have to make a silicone mold to pour the resin into. :confused

 

[Java]

Yes wood is porous.

 

[weaselflinger]

Seal the wood with a good polyurethane and make a silicone mold. Then cast away...

 

[defstartrooper]

Maybe I know even less than I though. I thought you have to make a silicone mold to pour the resin into. :confused

Sorry from the way you posted i thought you wanted to use the wood as the mould, yes you will need to make an RTV mould

 

[sycor]

Sorry from the way you posted i thought you wanted to use the wood as the mould, yes you will need to make an RTV mould

No problem. So, seal the wood and then I should be able to make a good mold. Awesome. What if the wood is painted? Could the mold making damage the paint or anything?

 

[Fetthunter]

No problem. So, seal the wood and then I should be able to make a good mold. Awesome. What if the wood is painted? Could the mold making damage the paint or anything?

It could, but the Silicones I've used for molds are pretty benign...

If you're just getting into molding/casting, I'd suggest SmoothOn's "OOMOO25" Silicone. Great stuff, easy and fast to use... Almost foolproof. :cool

 

[sycor]

Foolproof, eh? I can almost guarrantee I will screw it up. :lol

 

[ursus43]

Well if you can measure and stir a spoon you've got it made ! Depending on the size of your project, Smoothon sells a starter kit that has RTV abd OOMOO30 and comes with sealer and release.

 

[stormtrooperguy]

smoothon has a great starter kit. comes with sealer, mold release, silicone and resin. everything you need to get a feel for how it works.

 

[sycor]

do they sell smoothon in retail places or do I have to order it?

 

[ursus43]

http://http://www.smoothonsecure.com/store/index.php?cPath=50_759

I remember when their starter kit was $25.00. Guess too many people took advantage of that.

 

[blufive]

Jason - I'm off work Saturday so let me know if you're free. I can help you with your mold and I have some rubber here.

 

[sycor]

I'm actually booked this Saturday. But yeah, we definitely need to get together. I will have my dad bring up some pieces when he comes up in a couple weeks or I will find something else to cast.

 

[stormtrooperguy]

http://http://www.smoothonsecure.com/store/index.php?cPath=50_759

I remember when their starter kit was $25.00. Guess too many people took advantage of that.

heh... i'd have been so excited to see $25!

even still, it is cheaper than the sum of its parts, which is pretty cool.

 

[Howlrunner]

Anyone know where to get smooth-on products in the UK? The website doesn't supply outside of the US.

 

[Vandark]

Anyone know where to get smooth-on products in the UK? The website doesn't supply outside of the US.

http://www.bentleychemicals.co.uk/

this place is an official distributor of Smooth-on products.

http://www.bentleychemicals.co.uk/newindex.php?content_id=3&sub_id=34

For the Silicone Rubbers

http://www.bentleychemicals.co.uk/newindex.php?content_id=3&sub_id=14

here for the Resins