Thread: "Glove" Mold Making 101

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This thread is in direct response to this one here: Mold help...

I in no way claim to be an expert. But, there was a request.

I do know a little bit about making glove-style molds, and may as well share that knowledge, especially as both my son and I are making new ones anyway.

First of all, we'll be showing my son's project. Need mini skull

Thanks to indianaholmes for sending us this great miniskull, Kyle here is making a couple molds, and making a bunch to 'sell' at a mini-society at school. We'll be totalling 2 molds, one for plaster, one for resin.

First, subject preparation.

This skull didn't have any undercuts or things getting in the way, so Kyle drilled a hole in the little stem, and threaded a string through so we could hang-dry the thing.



Now, with the order of Mold Builder latex arriving the same day, we set right to work Friday night.

This one being so small, the quickest way was just to dunk it.



Making sure to wiggle back and forth to get into all the little nooks and crannies.

Taking it out, that's WAY too much latex, so brushing off the excess to leave a thin layer, and making sure to cover it all.



And, as the wife was working this evening...I sorta commandeered the hair dryer and the little candy dish to set up our drying station. Actually, it's my hair dryer from a thrift store, just for this purpose.

Waxed paper underneath to catch any drips.



Dinner, shower, and jamies later it's all dry, you can hardly see the first coat.



Now, repeating the steps for coat 2, but leaving it on a little thicker.

But, this time we had a little problem...a bubble in the nose...pop that thing with a pin.



Let coat 2 dry, and between cleaning house and soccer, and shopping on Saturday, did not get to coat 3 till this morning. Leaving it nice and THICK this time, only popping bubbles and wiping off obvious drips.

Now, for most, 3 coats is likely fine, and you can peel it off when dry and go from there. I wanted Kyle (9) to have a larger target for pouring the plaster into, and some handles to make removing the mold easier. So, these next are optional.

We built up a little base with some clay. We're using Crayola Model Magic. I have used just about everything from play-doh to silly putty, to more proper clays before.

This base allows us to stand it up, and will act as a bit of a funnel for Kyle to hit the target with the plaster/resin.



Now, this funnel and handles, we need stretchy, and arent worried about getting the details, so we're 1 coating it, but nice and thick.

Kyle lays it on, making sure to paint it a bit onto the mold as well.



Then, we stand it up on some waxed paper, and Kyle lays out a little area that will act as his handle for when we pull it off later.



Now, it's the waiting game. You want to make good and sure your mold is DRY before trying to remove it. We're going to give it a day or two before removing. Heat helps. My favorite way to cure a mold is to leave it on the dashboard on a hot day. This time of year, though, we'll place it over a heat vent or under the hair dryer for a day or two.

Stay tuned, I'll get the rest as we get to it. AND, my Lindberg skull from the group by arrived today, I'll start it as soon as I get to the hobby shop to get the glue to get it together.

UnOrthodOx - wow looks great, can't wait to see the final project. What a cute family you have. =) Where did you get your can of mold stuff from?

I buy my latex from here:

http://www.delviesplastics.com/mold_builder.htm

BUT, it's only cheaper for me because they are local and I don't pay shipping. There are other brands out there that are cheaper with shipping. Or, check the phonebook under plastics and call around, someone might have some locally.

And to give you an idea, the first gallon I bought made 4 full size skull molds, and half a dozen shrunken heads, and I still have a bit in the bottom (which is why there's a tipped over can in the one pic)

I am so happy to see you are involving your son in this project.

Originally Posted by Madame Turlock

I am so happy to see you are involving your son in this project.

Oh, this is HIS project he asked for my help on.

He's making this for a school project, he has to make a service or product to 'sell' in a mini-society (for monopoly money) which they then get to use in an auction at the end. Max they can spend on making whatever is $20, and they are supposed to fork over the cash (though you know some parents are circumventing those rules, we'll stick to em). So, after he pays the shipping, plaster, resin, and a bit for the latex, we're thinking he can make about 50ish skulls. 40 plaster, 10 resin (clear plastic "crystal" skulls).


(of course, he gets the process down on this school project and I've told him I'll pay him $0.50 for every full size skull he makes me over the summer. Since I'll have 6 molds to do at a time, that's $3 a batch)

Ah, think I figured out how to get the pics straight from Picasa, no more re-uploading everyhing with imageshack.. [edit]apparantly not...

Anyway.

After 2 days of sitting under the hair dryer, the mold is ready. (actually it was ready after one day, but we were busy so it got 2)



Just roll the mold right on down. Kyle found this a little diffficult to get started, but once going, no problems.



Out pops the 'mother' piece.



We now have a mold!



Time to make up the plaster. We wanted this one a little thin to prevent air bubbles. We're just filling this one up all the way, avoiding the 'funnel' area.

And holding it over one of my old molds to catch any extra, since we didn't know how much this mold was going to take.



Can't really tell from the pic, but tapping the mold gently to get all the air bubbles up top and popped.



Then wait till it dries.

Peeling away mold again...



Ta-da!

We now have 2.

UnOrthodOx,

Your picture links in post #6 aren't showing up for me. All I see is red "X"s.

What a great Dad you are!!! I would love to see the pictures too but they are not showing on the screen.

Hrm...They were working this morning, but not now...

Alright, I'll reload them to imageshack.

Should be fixed now? (at least I can see em)

OX, Do you think this Mold Builder-Liquid Latex Rubber will work if I want to make a mold of my large painted foam hands?