|
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2014 18:24:13 GMT
I've been experimenting with Sculpey and some of my Hirst Arts molds! So far I've gotten good results with one of the floor tile molds, but the first wall mold didn't work out quite as well. Being a deeper mold, I didn't push the clay in quite enough in a couple of spots and demolding caused a little deforming of the Sculpey. I'd like to bake the Sculpey right in the molds, but I'm not sure if the molds will withstand the heat! I've tried to get an answer on the Hirst forums, but so far, the responses having covered how well the molds will hold up to the heat. But I also use the coffee stirrers to make my doors as well, at least wooden doors! I thought (but could be wrong) that hirst arts molds could withstand up something like 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that sounds like a lot, but I'm sure if you wanted to you could cast pewter in them, however the extreme heat will deteriorate the mold faster. I remember someone else here saying how much heat they could take.
|
|
|
Post by skunkape on Oct 6, 2014 18:32:21 GMT
Thanks for the answer shinobi! I was thinking of sending an email to Bruce directly asking him, as he should know what the heat rating for the material he uses to make the molds or at least ask him where he gets it so I could ask the company. 600 is way hotter than I need, 275 is the most you need to bake Sculpey!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2014 18:38:51 GMT
Edit: I found it! Teazia said in the redneck casting thread "I asked Bruce and this is what he said:
I don’t think it would hurt the molds. They’ll withstand up to 400 degrees I believe" so there is a better answer. Still more than needed.
|
|
|
Post by adamantinedragon on Oct 6, 2014 19:36:53 GMT
Bruce uses Reynold's Advanced Materials mold material. He once posted the specific product he uses, but there are a lot of them. You can go to www.reynoldsam.com/ for details. I think Bruce uses the "Smooth-on" products.
|
|
|
Post by adamantinedragon on Oct 6, 2014 20:55:58 GMT
I did a search on the Reynold's website for "metal casting" and only came up with some ways to cast realistic metal finishes, not actual metallic casting. I would suggest caution on heating molds too much. Before I tried to cook polymer clay in a Hirst Mold, I'd probably do some tests on a custom mold of my own creation. But on the other hand, I don't think I'd use my Hirst molds for polymer clay casting anyway, I have plenty of Hydrostone for casting, and if I need something more durable than Hydrostone, I'd use resin before I'd cram polymer clay into my molds. Resin is more expensive, sure, and it degrades the mold more quickly (but you can mitigate this with mold release agents), but the result is almost certainly going to have much better detail and should result in a lot less physical stress on your molds, and that's not even considering sticking them in an oven.
|
|
|
Post by skunkape on Oct 6, 2014 21:01:57 GMT
Yeah. I got the idea of using the polymer clay from a Kickstarter I was involved in. I have Merlin's Magic to use with the molds but even cramming the clay in the mold and de-molding it, I can go much quicker than I can with the plaster. Even with the slight warping that I'm getting with de-molding the unbaked clay. I was just curious how the molds would handle the heat!
|
|
|
Post by adamantinedragon on Oct 6, 2014 21:20:57 GMT
After all the dire warnings I've posted, I'll say that polymer clays typically only need about 275 degrees F to set the clay, which is a long ways from even 400 degrees, much less over 600. So the odds are that it will be OK.
|
|
|
Post by SpielMeisterKev! on Oct 7, 2014 2:36:33 GMT
Howdy,
Uh...42!
Kev!
|
|
|
Post by dungeonmistress on Oct 7, 2014 18:11:15 GMT
Rofl, @spielmeisterkev!
As it turns out, the answer is four!
Or at least it was for me on Sunday. At literally the last minute, as my players were walking in the front door, I was just hot gluing the base on the last of six doors I had made, praying, that they would be enough.
My heroes started out at the southern edge of the Osto Alba Forest (the White Bone Forest), on their way to the Ancient Academy in search of the Tome of Great Majicks, said to still be at the ruins of the Academy. So they made their way through the forest fighting giant bugs (Huge Grasshoppers and Huge Praying Manis'), Strangler Vines, and finally rescuing a Golden Ligon (Lion/Golden Dragon) who was surrounded and under attack by a dozen huge vipers. He was bitten in several places and unable to fly due to the poison weakening him. Once they had rescued him and healed him, they asked if he would join them and help them get to the academy, he agreed.
Well, they finally made it to the Academy, and stood outside debating whether or not to go down into the lower level of the Academy to find this book or to say the hell with it and move on, letting the afflicted people of Forgedawn suffer and possibly die. I think I may have made it a little too scary for them, my brave heroes. Even my lawful good wizard and lawful good paladin were willing to ditch and run!
They finally went in and made it thru 3 rooms and opened the fourth to find a pool of rotten and rotting zombies waiting for them. Quick thinking Boris the Wizard, threw a fireball in the room and slammed the door. This took care of all but one zombie who was easily dispatched by the paladin. And now they are resting in the hallway, outside of the zombie sauna.
So, I only used 4 out of the six doors I made. I'll have to make more though, for our next game. Thankfully I have some time for that.
|
|
|
Post by adamantinedragon on Oct 7, 2014 18:33:07 GMT
Wait, whut? I thought the question was "How many doors are enough. Not "How many doors can you use. Totally different questions...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2014 20:49:25 GMT
I think its how many do I need on hand.
|
|
|
Post by skunkape on Oct 10, 2014 20:05:01 GMT
So while this isn't completely on topic, I have been using Sculpey clay in my Hirst Arts molds and letting it sit over night in the mold. It firms up enough that I can de-mold it without any odd changes to the final result. I haven't tried any really complex pieces from the molds, just plain walls, floor pieces, a door and a treasure chest. Once I finally finish filling my cookie sheet that I've set aside for baking, I'll put them in the oven and bake the clay. I'll be sure to take pictures of them when I finish.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 1:59:18 GMT
Can't wait
|
|
furfle
Tool Gatherer
Lunatic Fringe...
Posts: 84
|
Post by furfle on Oct 11, 2014 4:32:25 GMT
The Hirst arts molds are so pretty - I like the marble tops ya painted... Coffee stirrers rock too tho.
|
|
|
Post by skunkape on Oct 20, 2014 14:54:26 GMT
Just about got the tray full and ready to bake. I think when I get home tonight and have time to de-mold what I've currently got filled, I think I'll be ready to bake! I would really like to bake the molds with the clay in them, but I'm so afraid of destroying my molds!
|
|
|
Post by beetlewing on Oct 20, 2014 17:12:29 GMT
I would really like to bake the molds with the clay in them, but I'm so afraid of destroying my molds! Once you bake those, you could make molds of them that you wouldn't be afraid to bake in, for future casts.
|
|
|
Post by skunkape on Oct 20, 2014 22:27:10 GMT
Very good point beetlewing!
|
|
furfle
Tool Gatherer
Lunatic Fringe...
Posts: 84
|
Post by furfle on Oct 23, 2014 18:33:09 GMT
Try a 2 part silicon mold... it's easy, and durable - what is w/ this baking stuff...?
|
|
|
Post by skunkape on Oct 23, 2014 18:39:30 GMT
Try a 2 part silicon mold... it's easy, and durable - what is w/ this baking stuff...? Sculpey clay needs to be baked in order to solidify the shape. Becomes a little more durable than air dry clay, but of course, you have to bake it at 275 degrees.
|
|
furfle
Tool Gatherer
Lunatic Fringe...
Posts: 84
|
Post by furfle on Oct 24, 2014 19:53:48 GMT
we're talking about 2 diff things - I thought he meant as if he wanted to produce multiple copies of the same thing - like a batch of crates, doors, or w/e. 2part silicon is stunningly durable.
|
|