Thanks, Pat. We use Hydracal and Ultracal in ceramics when durability is needed for the mold, but the release times are extended because they have a slower absorption rate. For high quantity production of wet cast ceramics, they are less desirable. But for Ram press casting, which is a dry casting method, they do most of their duty. I'm using #1 Pottery plaster, which is 74% water to cast, so it's much less dense. It's nice for this because it dries quicker. Instead of using burlap, you can use a material called Aquaglass, which is a fiberglass that comes in matt and chopped strands, but is formulated to work with water applications like plaster, hydrocal, ultracal, fgr-95, forton mg and matrix g. It's from a company that produces a material called Aqua-resin that you may want to try out for prototyping. It's a water-based plaster-like non-toxic resin that, when used with the Aquaglass, is nearly as durable as standard epoxy fiberglass. It has a hardening cure time similar to plaster, but with much more durability. Plus, it can be laid like fiberglass, or poured like resin. It's only downside is expense at $4 - $6/lb.pacomotorstuff said:Not wishing to be a thread robber, but just wanted to say +1 on using plaster for your mould.
It's perfect for the hobbyist - non-toxic, cheap, quick cure, little or no odor but just watch the exotherm (heat of hydration) during the plaster hardening process with some types of plaster.
Back in the '70's, I used a US Gypsum product called Hydrocal to make a couple of racing seat moulds. The plaster provided a pretty smooth finish - the seats I made, the racers ran them in the white gelcoat I laid them up with. I got about 6 seats from each mould and could have kept using them, but the job ended so the moulds got scrapped.
About 5 years ago I got back into plaster moulds again - for prototypes and one-offs - switched it up to another US Gypsum product called Ultracal.
I used Pam oven spray for the mould release on the part - didn't harm the paint on the race bike gas tank cover I was cloning - brushed a thick coat of mixed Ultracal on the tank, then "laid up" layers of burlap cloth soaked in Ultracal as the first layer was just setting up. After the plaster had become hard, I popped off the mould, sprayed the inside with clear varathane, let it cure for a couple of days, applied 6 coats of mould release wax and sprayed PVA on top of that, much like a regular fiberglass mould.
Haven't tried the "Super Seal" product you mentioned, but if I can find some, maybe on the next mould I make...
Hope this kickstarts some of the other members to try plaster moulding.
BTW, neat looking ride.
Pat
PS really like the photo of the Triumph desert sled you have in your thread.
irk miller said:Seat foam is done. Cast with Smooth-on Flex Foam-iT 7FR. It’s the mid range of their densities and fire resistant. Next up is a leather cover...
irk miller said:Someone always cooks a chicken or fish in their mold. Freezing before casting helps, but it still comes out nasty and slimy as shit.
This particular foam seems to have virtually identical stiffness to the stock foam, but it has more rebound if that makes sense. It's a springier foam. Aging is obviously TBD, but it's 7lb/ft^3 density when fresh.doc_rot said:Seat looks great. I have thought about casting seat foam before but i was always concerned about stiffness and longevity. It will be interesting to see how it feels and ages.
The reason you have to fix your ABS pegs in the first place, is because ABS is not UV resistant. The G/flex is UV resistant. It maintains a level of flex that prevents it from snapping.pidjones said:That's cool stuff. On Honda (who uses ABS almost exclusively) plastic, I use ABS plumbing cement. Add a little woven fiberglass cloth if I feel it needs it. Great for gluing the pegs that so easily break off the side panels.
I'm glad this happenedirk miller said: