Need help/suggestions how to make an ice block

[Blackluc]

Hi,

I am looking for ideas how to make a "budget" version of an ice block to put a sword in it. This would be the inspiration :

As this particular one would cost about 400, I would like to make something similar myself. I know the logical option would be a mold and cast in solid resin, I could always to that, but any ideas what I should make the master of? I was also thinking of maybe making a stand out of wood for the sword and cover it with anything that doesnt have to be that solid but that would look like ice-ish. Anyway.. Totally open to any ideas or suggestions how to tackle this project! thank you!

 

[division 6]

For a master foam, wood, clay, plastic, cardboard with a coating.
Pretty much anything for the bulk.

 

[swgeek]

Well the cheapest way would be to vacu-form your ice block...if you have access to a vacu-form machine. You can make a cheapy home version for not too much money.
If you're going the sculpt, mold route, I would sculpt the original out of 4lb urethane foam or oil clay. Both of which could get expensive.

 

[13doctorwho]

You could make it out of wood, then get it super smooth with putty and sanding. Paint it with pearl white and metallic blue. Then put on a heavy gloss coat of something like polyurethane or maybe a clear epoxy. That would be the cheapest way to gate a similar, budget, effect.

If you sculpted it, made a mold and cast it in clear resin it would end up costing A LOT. Also, the clear resin would have to be done in a pressure pot or it would have visible bubbles. If you've never done that before there would be a lot of trial an error with expensive materials. It would catch up to the $400 pretty quick.

So I would make it as I said above. Just my opinion, I'm sure you'll get lots of ideas.

 

[Odin82]

Some plywood as a base. Some tinfoil loosely made into the shape, and a brick of clay to coat it and sculpt. Then some smooth-on quick drying silicone coatings and some plaster paris. Quickest and cheapest way I can think of.

Or fill a similar sized box with a can of expanding foam, and carve/paint. - worst case scenario, molding the foam sculpt!

 

[Riceball]

Another cheap(ish) option is to create a rough form using chicken wire then cover it with something equally cheap like expanding foam or clay then carve and sand it to refine the shape and then paint. This is how Disney does a lot of their rock work in their parks and it would be much lighter and cheaper than trying to make it from a solid piece of material.

 

[13doctorwho]

Keep in mind he want to support a sword. Vacu-form wouldn't be strong enough, unless it had a core. The same thing with chicken wire. They're good ideas, I just don't know if they'll support a sword (unless it's a foam sword).

 

[JPH]

Put 2 or 3 2x4s in it and you can stand on it.

The questionnis does it need to be cast or can you make it as a stand alone?

 

[JPH]

Another cheap(ish) option is to create a rough form using chicken wire then cover it with something equally cheap like expanding foam or clay then carve and sand it to refine the shape and then paint. This is how Disney does a lot of their rock work in their parks and it would be much lighter and cheaper than trying to make it from a solid piece of material.

Thats soooo old school!

 

[Riceball]

Keep in mind he want to support a sword. Vacu-form wouldn't be strong enough, unless it had a core. The same thing with chicken wire. They're good ideas, I just don't know if they'll support a sword (unless it's a foam sword).

The solution to that is simple, put a PVC pipe or a plywood sheath in the middle for the sword to go in to or even a foam block at the bottom fo the tip go into to help support the sword. Besides, a properly made historical sword isn't that heavy, on average, historical swords weighed only between 2 - 3 pounds. With some material going around the outside, the chicken wire should be more than strong enough to support a 2 -3 pound sword.

 

[ahuntley]

I have to agree, a two part of epoxy (thinking smooth on) over the top of the painted form would give you a nice, shiny surface