Moldable, readily available materials?

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Apr 8, 2005 | 10:19 AM

#16

jdmorg

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From: just outside of Phila.

I miss play dough

Apr 8, 2005 | 11:06 AM

#17

NH-Hottie

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From: Southern NH

How about cheese cloth and fabric stiffener. You soak the cloth in the stiffener, press onto the item, then you let it dry. Retains the shape as long as it does not get wet.
Also I was thinking that instead of the chicken wire. You can use thick metal screening.

Last edited by NH-Hottie; Apr 8, 2005 at 11:16 AM.

Apr 8, 2005 | 11:55 AM

#18

rebocardo

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From: Atlanta GA

Go to U.S. Plastics and get their catalog. They have a lot of different plastic sheets to choose from and arc. and polycarb. are easily moulded and you can buy all sorts of forming tools, guns, sheet benders, etc. Plus, they have preformed angles, curves, rods, etc. The Lexan is pretty cheap, though I have never tried to bend that. You can buy poly for body mounts there too. They carry the black UV stuff in poly or nylon.

Apr 8, 2005 | 05:43 PM

#19

Greywolf

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Joined: Aug 2001

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From: Drummonds, TN USA

Seems to me any kind of fabric with a mold under it would shape a contour.
If you have ever done wooden airplane models you know what I'm thinking already -
A cardboard form that matches the cross-section, and fabric over it could be stiffened with starch, paint, airplane dope, fiberglass, etc...

A cardboard form with chicken wire could be layered with paper mache, and smoothed with plaster. Wax it, and you have your mold.

-Just some ideas...

Apr 8, 2005 | 08:06 PM

#20

eehoepp

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Joined: Feb 2003

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From: Tottenham Ontario Canada

I remember molding plexiglass in an electric frying pan! I think it was 7th grade. I think you could do the same with a larger sheet in a regular oven, but I think you'd need to put it on a large cookie sheet or a flat steel or aluminum sheet to prevent it sagging through the grille. Anyone remember what temperature the electric fry pan was set for?

Another suggestion comes courtesy of "Overhaulin'". Their car stereo guys built custom "organic shape" sub enclosures using fabric and fiberglass. They used plywood rings for the speaker mount locations (flat areas) & stretched & stapled polyester fleece (Polar Fleece) to get compound curves. After the fleece was stapled in place they saturated it with resin & let it cure. Then they started building the layers of fiberglass overtop & sanded it smooth.

Since the most common resin used for fiberglass is polyester, I guess the polyester fleece fabric is compatible.

Good luck with your project & please give FTE some credit when you apply for the patent

Cheers,
Eric

Apr 8, 2005 | 09:01 PM

#21

websthes

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Joined: Mar 2002

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From: Montreal Canada

i think the temp might have been around 350. if you raised the temp too high you'd get bubbles in the plastic.

May 11, 2005 | 02:55 PM

#22

cigarxtc

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From: North of Tulsa, Oklahoma

Topped. I'm curious. So did you ever get yer mold made up for your project? What did you end up using? What did you make?

May 12, 2005 | 02:50 AM

#23

four-sixty-power

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Joined: Feb 2005

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From: Lower Mainland B.C.

Bigger than a breadbox, smaller than a geo metro...

Quote:

Originally Posted by WheelMA1

Yeah, sorry I cant be more specific. Dont want any of you walking off with my beer cozy/back scratcher idea....oh wait...

In all honesty, a few minutes would probably be enough. Just long enough to be able to contour match. Its a rather simple design. There are a few gradual shapes, some flat faces, and only a couple arcs. Thats why my first thought of coated chicken wire seemed like it might work (possibly wire covered with a layer of duct tape, and then a sealing agent...to maintain rigidity and still be slightly flexible). I can mold that stuff real easy, and I have some thick coating agents at my disposal.

It sounds like your going to beat me to the patent office with that invention that has several different uses around the yard and/or property......the less I say, the less competition I have