Silicone Seaweed Top

[Kishiko]

Hello all!

Just going to dive right in. I'm working on a silicone top for mermaid Ulla.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/04/337624a1a4f02d1bbdd3b2a08b977164.jpg

Materials for casting

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/04/0267ed2be12f6182179b291d6da046ce.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/04/2859d1b6ea39db6c71196ffd12f4977d.jpg

So I just did my test cast today to make little pearls, but the smooth cast didn't cure right. It didn't bubble r anything, but it's still like soft/gummy. Kind of the consistency of rubber when it should be rigid. Any have ideas on what's going on and how to fix it?


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[AniaR]

yeah it looks a bit like plasticine!

[Kishiko]

Plasticine?


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[Mermaid Wesley]

Some thoughts: it cures faster in the heat. I know I told you this already but very exact a:b measurements, is it hard anywhere ? Since it seems like it's gummy everywhere, I think it had to do with mixing or the air. Try a teensie test again and see if it cures this time


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[Kishiko]

I poured it in 78 degree weather and post cured it in the oven like it recommended. There's nowhere hard on it


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[Kishiko]

Could too much humidity affect it? I might try it indoors tomorrow


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[Mermaid Wesley]

Hmmm it could but that would make bubbles I think. Did the stuff in your cup or on your stir stick cure all the way?


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[Kishiko]

Nope but those were outside as well.


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[Mermaid Wesley]

My money is on slightly wrong measurements.... Or the cup maybe.


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[Kishiko]

The cup?


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[PearlieMae]

Looks like moisture in your resin. Also, perhaps you didn't have accurate amounts, our maybe didn't mix it completely. The plastic will be flexible at first, but that looks way rubbery. Did you rush the demolding? I know it's hard to be patient. I'd recommend a layer of clay under everything, rather than the foil.

[Kishiko]

Come to think of it, I rinsed out the mixing cup before I mixed the resin so there may have been some water left over in the cup. I waited an hour to demold, cure time is 30-40 minutes.


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[Mermaid Wesley]

idk i think moisture makes bubbles.

[Kishiko]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/05/83e779e720241919d19c8f4a628ef587.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/05/8227b472d3dad8233171912ff75f026b.jpg

New test mold. This is before and after 20 minutes. Going to give it an hour today before I pull it but it's already harder than my other mould. This was 1/2 tablespoon of each part


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[PearlieMae]

I think you need to mix at least an ounce of resin to get the chemical reaction to fully happen.

[Kishiko]

Actually I just demoulded this one and it turned out perfect! I'm not sure if it was the foil or moisture but it worked.


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[Kishiko]

Now what to line my mould box with... :thinks:


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[Kishiko]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/07/ed63d792bf85254994e6848613d5f059.jpg

Moulds

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/07/eb58bfdef705f96c4808965d5e976179.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/07/34ff4b0139dafb3e481ed3f51c5544f7.jpg

Slush casts to clean out clay. I love the way the seaweed looks!!!

Does curing silicone in too much heat affect it negatively?? I know the hotter it is, the faster it cures but I ha my slush casts under a heat lamp and it took 1.5 hours to reach full cure when it would take 5 at room temperature. Granted these are extremely thin moulds, but I'm wondering if it's bad to cure them that fast?


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[PearlieMae]

Probably not...In some Smooth-On how-tos, they advise baking the silicone in an oven to cure it faster and more completely! However, it can 'brown' the silicone. If you're painting it, it's not an issue.

(re mould box:I line everything with more clay!)

[Kishiko]

Haha that's what I did with the mould box. It took forever [emoji44]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/07/0660fd9264c9b7b745c328e74642142c.jpg

Annddd batch #1 of seaweed


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[Mermaid Wesley]

That's gorgeous!!


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[Kishiko]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/07/a9513a9b8ec68bbeb1919d89f6b338c5.jpg

Good golly there's seaweed in my sink!


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[Kishiko]

I think I ha clay rolling nightmares >.<


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[PearlieMae]

Haha that's what I did with the mould box. It took forever


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Just wait until you do it around a fluke! Got clay?

[Arella]

Looks great!!

[WaterDragon]

That seaweed is looking great :thumbs-up:

[jvry8c]

Looks awesome. If possible would you be willing to make another one like this using this mold? Or at the very least send a copy of the molds you used? You can PM me. :D

[PearlieMae]

Why would she make copies of her molds? Just order finished product from her.

[Kishiko]

Looks awesome. If possible would you be willing to make another one like this using this mold? Or at the very least send a copy of the molds you used? You can PM me. :D

Uhhhhh........ No I dont think Ill be giving away exact copies of the moulds I used. Also, fairly positive I won't be selling tops

[Kishiko]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/09/c7874a22eedab58ab57da71184b03ac1.jpg

Seaweed pinned in place so I know how much more I need


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[Mermaid Wesley]

This looks sooo great!

[Kishiko]

Thanks Wes! I might have to steal it for myself... :lol:


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[Mermaid Aika]

This looks great, Kishiko!

[Mermaid Julianne]

omg i love it!

[Talia]

Looks wonderful!

[Gem Stone]

I'm a very lucky mer this year :D
its looking great Kishi.

[Cordelia]

This is super cute! I loved the picture of the seaweed hanging in the sink. :D

[Arella]

Love it!

[SeaGlass Siren]

that looks amazing so far!

[PearlieMae]

I can just picture it embellished with pearls and clear iridescent beads that look like bubbles!

[SeaGlass Siren]

^ MEE TOO.

[Kishiko]

I can just picture it embellished with pearls and clear iridescent beads that look like bubbles!

It is going to have pearls, in fact they're curing right now! Its also going to have baby starfish hiding in the seaweed as per request by Gem :D

[Kishiko]

All the seaweed is glued together, hopefully painting on Sunday If I can acquire some Naptha :)

[Mermaid Holly]

Ok, I know this thread is pretty old at this point, but I was wondering if anyone knew what she cast the seaweed molds from. I'm looking to make a top similar to this, but if anyone knows, that would be great. Also, when attaching silicone to a bra, what do you use? E600? Do you put a layer of silicone on top to secure everything in place?

[Mermaid Fenicia]

you can use plaster, thermoplastics and a lot of other things except silicone or latex to make your mold. Silicone pieces (especially dragonskin) you need to stick with more of the same silicone ;)

[Ilyena]

I made my mould out of plaster. I used the silicone to attach the silicone leaves to the bra, just layer it on a little thick and it absorbs and sticks to the fabric. Then used a thin layer on top to make it shiny and make sure everything held together.

[Mermaid Holly]

Okay thank you! Did you buy the powdered plaster?

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[Ilyena]

Yes the powder.