Casting Vinyl Plastic Source?

[Kylash]

Is there such a thing as kits or pints of casting Vinyl? Like the softer kind of plastic ususally used for rotocast figures like the StarWars ones form Applause or other larger figures, ususally hollow, its a softer type plastic that can be deformed or shaped when heated?

Havent been able to find any sources online... Id imagine its somethig that neds to be heating in a double pot or something.

 

[SgtFang]

You can buy it from a place called Diversified Compounders, the place where Don Post used to buy all their stuff.

Company Name: Diversified Compounders [United States]
Street:5701 E. Union Pacific Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90022, USA
City:Los Angeles
Province/state:CA
Country/region:United States
Tel:77356 (936)597-5988 (936)597-6044 213-728-3000
Fax:213-725-7806

It comes in several densities/ firmnesses, from soft and flexible fishing lure rubber, to really hard, like old record album vinyl.

BUT, you have to heat the stuff up to 350 degrees or more to make it kick. Usually, the factories use metal molds, that are filled up and heated up externally to make the vinyl in contact with the mold walls kick, then the excess that didn't get hot enough is poured out leaving the hollow casting.

I've never been able to try this, but you "might" be able to heat up a small amount, throw it in a conventional mold and slush n' brush it like mad till it cools and get a good casting, but I don't know.

What are you wanting to make?

-Sarge

 

[propologist]

if you have any type of kiln you could do it very easily. Esp. a raku kiln you can raise.

 

[exoray]

You can get similar results with urethane rubbers like Alumilite Flex 80, the end result is pretty consistent with vinyl figures... And unlike many other urethane rubbers it kicks in a few minutes so slush or hand roto casting shouldn't be a problem...

 

[SgtFang]

You can get similar results with urethane rubbers like Alumilite Flex 80, the end result is pretty consistent with vinyl figures... And unlike many other urethane rubbers it kicks in a few minutes so slush or hand roto casting shouldn't be a problem...

Yeah, that's why I was wondering what he wanted to make- There's a urethane we got a sample of once that cures almost to the consistency of an unbreakable comb. It had about a 16 hour cure time, but we ran a Boba helmet in it and was kicking it around the old shop like a soccer ball with no damage!

-Sarge

 

[Kylash]

thinking of a custom vinyl type figure, so a softer urethane could work, as long as it has the same texture, smooth but slightly textured..

 

[propsculptor]

From what I was told by a Lab Tech, BJB Sells a casting Vinyl Plastic, although I've never tried it.

http://www.bjbenterprises.com

If they do not sell it, they may be able to refer you to another supplier that does offer it...

 

[exoray]

thinking of a custom vinyl type figure, so a softer urethane could work, as long as it has the same texture, smooth but slightly textured..

Paint the master with flat paint before molding and you will get that smooth but slightly textured cast... If you want more texture experiment with the distance you spray from, there will be sweat spot where the paint dries enough in flight that it leaves a more pebbled surface texture...

 

[dropshipbob]

You could probably send it overseas and have it poured, but you might risk having the piece copied endlessly without your consent. You can find tons of vinyl recast models on eBay from Thailand, they could probably do it easy, but as I said, they'd probably copy it to death and back.

And I know there are tons of indie toy designers that have vinyl toys made, but I have no idea if they do it themselves, or send it off.