How would I mold this?

[GrenadeKing]

It has a large hollow in the center and a cut out at the top (not pictured) for mounting it. I would like to avoid any heavy finishing work so, how can I mold it to reproduce all the hollows and such?

I also plan to use some chopped fiberglass to better replicate the original so, I'm also worried about the resin not filling the mold properly.

 

[robstyle]

Two part mold, split down the middle with grip texture facing up/down. To make it full hollow you will need to have something fabricated to act as the positive inside the void, then, suspend that into the mold, make magic happen.

or,

one part mold, clayed up solid then drill/mill the final part out hollow.

 

[28injection]

That looks very rare. Early AR15/M16 grip?

Matsuo may be able to advise on casting it.

 

[Phelyx]

What if you filled in the center hollow with clay, made a mold/casting of the solid piece, then sawed the result down the middle so you have two halves. You could then mill out the hollowness in each half, then mold/cast these as a two-part piece. You'd have a seam to deal with, but it might be easier than trying to accurately suspend something inside a long mold.

 

[jackdoud]

4-part mold. Top and bottom of the middle then the ends.

 

[GrenadeKing]

That looks very rare. Early AR15/M16 grip?

That is correct. It's a very early Colt 601 grip (it's also not mine sadly). I'm using an early black grip that I have to try and replicate the brown version. If the results turn out alright (and I don't find a real one for a decent price) then I'll try and borrow one for a more accurate replica.

4-part mold. Top and bottom of the middle then the ends.

That may work.

I wonder if I could insert the bottom piece (the mold of largest cavity) into the filled mold and use the pressure to get the resin to flow into the right places?

I'm worried that the fiberglass filler will thicken the resin too much and it wont fill the mold correctly.

 

[Eaglewood]

That is correct. It's a very early Colt 601 grip (it's also not mine sadly). I'm using an early black grip that I have to try and replicate the brown version. If the results turn out alright (and I don't find a real one for a decent price) then I'll try and borrow one for a more accurate replica.



That may work.

I wonder if I could insert the bottom piece (the mold of largest cavity) into the filled mold and use the pressure to get the resin to flow into the right places?

I'm worried that the fiberglass filler will thicken the resin too much and it wont fill the mold correctly.

Use fiberglass powder--not strand-- works just the same and is easier to work with.

 

[GrenadeKing]

Will it give that same mottled effect?

 

[GrenadeKing]

Bump. :confused