Well, was re-introduced to some seemingly oldtimey technology this past weekend.

A fellow was showing me how "back when" they used to make up 1-2 shot moulds for fiberglassing. He took the plug, and began overlaying it with strips of bedsheets dripping of blue starch from a bottle. He would lay on one 3 inch wide strip soaked in the blue fluid starch. And with other hand hit the surface with a hair dryer. This went on until he had a good 1/4 inch thick mould made up. Said they used to make whole models in reverse from this in the 1930's.

The mould was popped off in perhaps 10 minutes. It wasn't a huge one, maybe 24 inches long. It had to be handled carefully so as not to bend or crack it. He said it was good for about 1-2 fiberglass copies, as after that the surface deteriorates after that. However, he mentioned overall, it cost him about 50 cents to make the one mould and took ten minutes to complete.

Problem being is that my local grocery stores no longer stock the blue bottled starch.

My thought is once a fiberglass copy is made, a more permanent fiber glass mould could then be made. But this 50 cent item sure soaked up the detail (and the scratches) of the original plug.


Wm.

Go to a Super Wal-Mart or Super Target. That starch is readily available, but in plastic bottles now.

sounds like a great method for experimenting with. I'd try it on my shirt plugs, but not on my underwear plugs hehehe!

Scott

Bet you did!

Awright I did but only once!

Can anyone describe their experience with this method?

Scott

[8D] Interesting, but why starch and cloth? Why not try something even easier, and cheaper? I say this cause "I've done it. Get a bunch of old office paper, you know the kind thats tossed out, some wood glue, a cup of water and a paint brush (disposable one inch). So you've got your plug and a parting divider attached (I assume). Do one side at a time: Grease 1/2 the plug with a light coat of Vaseline. Cut the printer paper into strips appropriate to the sie of the piece your building. Drop them in a bowl of water to soak for a few seconds, then pull them out and wipe away the excess water, then apply them bit by bit to the plug. work your way down till the whole side (1/2 the plug) is covered. the water will stick the paper to the plug quite tightly if you rub on it a bit. Ok so we have one layer. Break out the glue and squirt a bunch onto this first layer, then take your wetted 1 inch brush and brush it all over the surface of this 1st paper layer evenly. Now, do another paper layer just like the first. Do a glue coat over this one as well. After this you can do as many layers as you like to get whatever thickness you want. If your going for a really thick mold, you may want to do 3 or 4 layers and alow them to throuroughly dry for a few days before adding more. When your done it should pop off and leave you with a mold thats every bit as detailed (if you took your time in the first step) as a fiberglass one. You can coat the inside with a few coats of polyeurethane either waterbased or oil if you want to use the mold for more than one casting.

Anyway, give it a shot, its easy and it costs next to nothing. Its worked for me.

Regards ZZ.

Tried that glue routine many years ago. Took too long. The hot starch dried rather fast.


Still having problems in locating something other than an aerosol type. The suggestions as to locations given did not pan out. The Wal-mart stuff put a stiffness into the cloth, but no rigidity.


Wm.

Get some cornstarch and mix it with water. It's the same stuff essentially.

you could always stop pissing about and do it properly with either polyester or vinlyester resin and have it done in half an hour and a mold that will last you years

goony