Need tips on materials to use

[BuzzerMan]

Okay, so i'm new here, first thread and all.

And would like some advice on different materials for sculpting things.

Maybe something cheap non rigid to form a good base,
then something that i can put on top of it to make a shell so that it won't break or fall apart, also i want to be able to sculpt smal detail ou of since want to make a pit of it.

I'm modding a MX510 so it would be great with something not super stiff that could actually bend with the mouse without cracking up.

I have seen the Alien mouse mod video, seem like that meterial is a bit to stiff for my purpose though.

Any advicw will be reall appreciated.

[BuzzerMan]

Please, Don't strain your fingers just yet. :D

[DaveW]

The forums have been pretty quiet recently...i think most of the regulars are either having busy months due to exams or are bogged down with a sh#tload of work. I'm one of the first and i should get back to studying, but hang in there, someone will answer your question.

Oh, and welcome to TBCS! ;)

-Dave

[Rankenphile]

Many modders here have had great results with using filler foam as their base - the spray stuff you can get at most any hardware store that is frequently used as insulation. It is pretty rigid, and can be carved pretty well, but it will not hold minor details. From there, you can apply a layer of bondo or a two-part epoxy putty to give you a rigid surface to work with. This may set a bit quickly for your needs, however, as it sounds like you want to do some detaield sculpting with it. If so, try using bake-set clays, such as Sculpey, for your detail parts, set wires or pins into the back of the detail pieces, press them into the foam, then blend them together using a putty such as bondo or another epoxy. This may or may not work, depending on the individual piece you are trying to create.

Another great method, given time and resources, is to simply sculpt your piece using traditional materials such as clay, then create a mold and create a plastic or acryllic positive of your sculpture, providing you with your piece in a very rigid final model to work with.

Again, this may not meet your needs, but there are a number of informative and inspiring mods around the site which may help give you a better idea of what is possible.

[madmikejt12]

Polymorph is good for moulding: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35511&TabID=1&source=2&doy=8m1

havnt used it on a case mod though (actually.... i havnt DONE a case mod :)..... YET)

[Cevinzol]

From that Polymorph link:
The revolutionary plastic that melts in hot water... This polymer has all the characteristics of a tough ‘engineering’ material yet it fuses and becomes easily mouldable at just 62°C
Might not be good in a case mod. It would suck to look over and see parts of your case dripping onto the floor.

[madmikejt12]

ah yes :redface:

[opengswede]

unless you know what you are doing, or have good contacts (ie local design school or whatnot) i would suggest rank's first option. Moulding in plastic is difficult in sweden (i know, i've tried it). especially financially. Getting material, you have to order it from Germany or Netherlands, and the freight alone will cost you 800-900 SEK per 3k material (which was the smallest volume i could find), this also depends on what you want, some are considered volatile material = really expensive shipping and probably not good to muck about with without serious experience / protection. You may have luck shipping stuff from US (read, pretty expensive shipping), there are a few online stores that carry hobby sized volume of plastics, but then you might need lots, what do I know.

I've got some links to plastic retailers in Europe at home (which is currently undergoing serious renovations, i.e. i can't get hold of my comp until next week), but if you want i can see if i can find them again.

I'd recommend trying to find something local that can help you out. Our design school is great, and they got the know-how. However, mine doesn't have a vacuum mould, which makes transparant plastic models impossible, at least if you need it bubble-free.

thread stealer: Does anyone know how heat resistant the filler foam is? Can it be used in an ordinary owen without producing deadly stuff and destroying the kitchen?

btw, where in Sweden are you?

-.erik

[BuzzerMan]

To start off, iäm located in Jönköping, Sweden.
To get a hold of the stuff i need wouldn't be too hard as my father is an experienced builder, now he sells these kinds of things.
I'm sure he can locate where i can get some of this stuff.
The polymorph is what i looked at recently, as it is a mouse mod it actually might be suitable.
But it's hard to get into positin the way i want :p

I wouldn't place the Filler Foam in an oven though, it might be possible at lower heating but my guess is that it would become pretty soft and melt.
So the polymorph stuff is pretty out of the question for me.

I wouldn't that much of it, since it's not a big area to fill.
It's gonna be a very miniature like terrain.

[Rankenphile]

Filler Foam expands if exposed to high temperatures, so it is not a good option if you are planning on exposing it to hot environments, such as a kiln or oven environment, especially if you have a body filler or putty over the top of it, as it will cause it to break and crack as it expands.

How detailed of a piece are you looking to make, BuzzerMan?

[BuzzerMan]

The details are going to be pretty "small".
i.e. it's going to be a crater on the first mouse button.
Then i'm actually going to make a flat "pond" of acid in it with body parts from a old warhammer figure i hadn't assembled :)
Gotta start working on reteaching myself how to blend/feather the paint in a good way before i finish things up though.

[crazybillybob]

Check out http://www.smoothon.com/ They carry evrything you need to mold and cast resin (or sevral other products). To start I'd pick up one of their starter kits. They are reasonablely priced, and Molding is pretty easy to do just read the tuts on their site, and you should make a good first pull.

Good luck, sounds like a neat Idea. (the acid pooled melted warhammer fig).


Crazybillybob

Oh, and some of the Regulars here are fighting Dead lines (MML is only 3 weeks away!), on top of crazy work schedules....So We miss things or are slow to post.

[BuzzerMan]

Thanks for the welcome.
I totally understand that a lot of people have a pressured time.
We have a different schedule here in sweden, so we're already done with all this :)

Thank you for all the fine tips :D

I hope i can order some model from germany or the UK, it would be costly,
But having my vision realised is priceless.

[opengswede]

Thanks for the welcome.
I totally understand that a lot of people have a pressured time.
We have a different schedule here in sweden, so we're already done with all this :)


WHAT!? HUH!? Lucky you...
Dead lines are based on what you do... I'm a Swede and my schedule is still filled until mid-August, then a short break and then it's all work and no play again... :(

I hate this thesis writing... it distracts me from the essential parts of life. :mad:

anyway, smoothon have european retailers that is where the expensive freight come in. Anyway, good luck on the moulding bit.

-.erik

[BuzzerMan]

I'll admit that my funds are pretty limited so i guess i'll have to wait before making molded models :p

[The Modfather]

If weight isn't a major issue, might I suggest using polymer clay? It'd be a cheaper alternative. Sculpey is the most popular brand of the stuff. You work with it like you would any moulding clay, it doesn't harden in the air you need to bake it but unlike most clay you don't need a kiln to fire it, it will bake in a standard oven at 275deg F. at 15m per 1" of thickness. I used it to build an entire computer, including mouse and keyboard, so I know it works. :)

[BuzzerMan]

Well, the only limitation i have is financial.
But something that isn't too stiff would be perfect, or else it could snap when the button bends.
Wouldn't baking the plastic mouse melt it?
Or is that just some strange experience only i got from putting plastic on hot stuff :p

[crazybillybob]

Buzzer,

Sorry I didn't know you were in the EU. I'm sure there are places onver there that stock and Sell Plastic Resin molding supplies. Try doing a google search for a supplier (or check smooth on's website they have a list of distributors...maybe one's close :) )

Good Luck,
Crazybillybob

[BuzzerMan]

Nah, i'm sure i can find something.
It's just that the mold making is pretty much a fog to me right now :p

If you know any good sites with help for beginners in this area it would be much appreciated.

Edut: Sry, for the miss-spelling

[The Modfather]

Hahaha, yes, baking the mouse would melt it and it'd release toxic fumes. What I did to my mouse was create the "shell" that'd go around it out of polymer clay and then remove the shell in sections and bake it then while it was still warm and somewhat maliable, adhered it to the mouse. The mouse button sections being seperate so it didn't matter if the substance it was moulded in was flexible or not.

[opengswede]

Nah, i'm sure i can find something.
It's just that the mold makeing is pretty much a fog to me right now :p

If you know any good sites with help for beginners in this area it would be much appreciated.

this google search (http://www.google.se/search?q=mold+making+plastic&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official) gave me tons of info.

-.erik