Cant wait to see this complete. Do you plan on putting it up as a static display or just pull it out on special occasions?
the plan is to host it at a few comic cons then maybe sell it, or I might keep it, not sure yet.
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yeah it has been interesting in the space I have, but its proof you don't need a massive workshop to build something like this, i'm essentially in a studio apartment so its not even a proper workshop.
ive always loved ED-209. very nice job, looking forward to your progress. :love
Thanks, I'm looking forward to seeing it finished too lol
Something I discovered some what too late, one of these is Tomps own brand Blue PVA Mould Release, the other is Llewellyn Ryland's Blue PVA Mould Release, can you guess which one is which. FYI this is the knee block I was demoulding.
The Llewellyn Ryland's is on the right, nice clean pull and the film came off really easy
The Llewellyn Ryland's is on the right, nice clean pull and the film came off really easy
I also had some issues with my CNC router table and had to take it apart to work out where it was missing steps, turns out a grub screw had come out and another was missing.
I also managed to sand down the lumpy mess the dome was and skim it with a fresh layer of bondo and sand that so its much better shaped than it was, this is just going to be a plug mould so the final piece will be moulded over this and pulled off. I still need to add one more layer of bondo and then add a crispy fibre glass coating to it so its durable.
I also managed to sand down the lumpy mess the dome was and skim it with a fresh layer of bondo and sand that so its much better shaped than it was, this is just going to be a plug mould so the final piece will be moulded over this and pulled off. I still need to add one more layer of bondo and then add a crispy fibre glass coating to it so its durable.
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Attachments arent working for me and I need my ED209 fix...
finished machining the elbow gimble now the CNC machine is fixed, I sealed it with PVA sealer, did a small bit of filling, primed it, spot puttied, primed and gloss coated it.
Once that was all done I started to build the matrix mould for it, I attached it to a board, put foil tape around the board so the fibreglass wont stick to it, covered it in 12mm of oil based clay and built the keys. blue PVAed the whole lot and started laying up the fibreglass.
So far I just have the one layer of glass on there, the plan is to finish that sunday, I have just got a fresh batch of silicone in 22KG of it, and I have ordered a 5 gallon vacuum chamber which maybe I should have got sooner but hey ho. so the idea is to use that for the silicone on this matrix mould.
Once that was all done I started to build the matrix mould for it, I attached it to a board, put foil tape around the board so the fibreglass wont stick to it, covered it in 12mm of oil based clay and built the keys. blue PVAed the whole lot and started laying up the fibreglass.
So far I just have the one layer of glass on there, the plan is to finish that sunday, I have just got a fresh batch of silicone in 22KG of it, and I have ordered a 5 gallon vacuum chamber which maybe I should have got sooner but hey ho. so the idea is to use that for the silicone on this matrix mould.
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yeah I noticed, the pics were not showing, something weird happened on the forum but I fixed it now ;-)
Ahhhhhhh joygasm!
Finally got the matrix mould ready for silicone, its going slow because I am also trying to build a new workshop at the same time, I only have one pair of hands ;-)
so I have opted for putting straws in the bleeder holes to make things easier when I pour so I dont have to rush to plug holes and pour at the same time making loads of mess as I will be doing this alone.
I bought a 5 gallon vacuum chamber from best value vacs, worked out to be £240 including shipping from the US to the UK and customs charges, this does not include the pump. I had a 2.5cfm vacuum pump already which was ok but it took 5 minutes to get the air out the chamber so I bought a 8 cfm pump which has halved the time, I would post some pics but my phone just died. I will try and remember to post some.
so I have opted for putting straws in the bleeder holes to make things easier when I pour so I dont have to rush to plug holes and pour at the same time making loads of mess as I will be doing this alone.
I bought a 5 gallon vacuum chamber from best value vacs, worked out to be £240 including shipping from the US to the UK and customs charges, this does not include the pump. I had a 2.5cfm vacuum pump already which was ok but it took 5 minutes to get the air out the chamber so I bought a 8 cfm pump which has halved the time, I would post some pics but my phone just died. I will try and remember to post some.
cavx
Master Member
Sorry, just for clarity. This is a fiberglass shell (elevated) over a part and you fill this (the cavity) with silicone to make a "glove" mold?
Also keen to see another huge vacuum chamber in action. 5 gallon is about 22.5 litres? 4 min to evacuate the air with an 8CFM pump? My chamber is just under 30 litre and is at full vacuum at just under 1m with a 9CFM pump.
Also keen to see another huge vacuum chamber in action. 5 gallon is about 22.5 litres? 4 min to evacuate the air with an 8CFM pump? My chamber is just under 30 litre and is at full vacuum at just under 1m with a 9CFM pump.
yeah its kind of a glove mould, its just called a matrix mould, no idea why.
it took me 5 minutes with the 2.5 cfm pump and about 2.30 minute with a 8cfm to take it down to 29 hg, its a Chinese pump so its not going to be as good as a branded one. I think maybe I am being some what of a perfectionist with the level I evacuate my chamber so it probably would be ok in 1.30 minutes
it took me 5 minutes with the 2.5 cfm pump and about 2.30 minute with a 8cfm to take it down to 29 hg, its a Chinese pump so its not going to be as good as a branded one. I think maybe I am being some what of a perfectionist with the level I evacuate my chamber so it probably would be ok in 1.30 minutes
by using this method to make a glove mould the thickness remains consitant over the whole part unlike manual methods where you thicken it you can end up with thin spots and your likely to use more silicone than you need as it runs down to the bottom.
We shall see when I do the mould. I will be doing an instructable on the process
cavx
Master Member
Awesome. I look forward to it. I have a weird part that I need to do this for but not game to experiment just yet. Would like to see more "pros" do it first.
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Mine is Chinese. They can make some good stuff.
