Fiberglass Scale Mold FAIL--can it be fixed?

[Mahi Mermaid]

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So I had all the scales glued down and secured and then put a sealer on (two coats) and this is the result---everything stuck to it--and looks like the foam shrunk---any advise? I forgot to put sealer on the actual box (which was just poster board) so that's also stuck---I just drenched it in Goo B Gone to hopefully salvage it---The sealer I used was from Smooth-on

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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Did you put a release agent on the mold?

[Mermaid Wesley]

With a lot of patience and prying you might be able to salvage it. P


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[BayouMermaid]

Oh, you poor dear. I had the same thing happen to me and my mold was unsalvageable(foam circles, acrylic sealer, and fiberglass). I redid it with clay and it turned out much better. I would nix the foam circles if I were you...

If you want to PM me, you are more than welcome to .

[Trident True]

oh, I feel so sorry for you, I Hope you can salvage this, all your hard work maybe down the drain. but if you end up having to do another scale sheet may i suggest. FLAT PLASTIC sequins, they will be easier to demold too and wont stick like foam. release agent to. keep your chin up. ive been through too many mishaps thats why its taken me over 3 years to complete mine.

[Anahita]

Trident True, won't flat plastic sequins not have enough lift/definition on them? It seems like the things that are the base for scale molds are chosen because they need to be thick enough that there's a definition to where the scale ends.

As for the mold, I don't think it is salvageable. I would check, but my guess is once you put the Goo B Gone in it, you probably can't put silicone in it anymore. Silicone is temperamental about things before it cures, and I wouldn't be surprised if Goo B Gone is one of them. I know Goo Gone (which I am assuming is either the same as, or very similar to Goo B Gone) is used to remove dried and wet silicone caulk from stuff... so I'd be worried about that affecting the uncured silicone pours via contact through the mold (no matter how cleaned it is afterwards)

[Mahi Mermaid]

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So I decided to toss the fiberglass and scale sheet----and I'm going with clay now. But I can't get a consistency in scales---my sheet is really wavy, some very thick, some really thin (using monster clay)...any suggestions? I don't want my silicone sheets to be very heavy so I really wanted to make the scales as thin as possible...thoughts??

[PearlieMae]

I'd get a pasta machine to get a consistent thickness. Craft stores carry them and after Xmas, you might get a good deal (look for coupons, too)!

[Anahita]

I second the pasta machine idea. Especially if you can get it on sale. If you can't get it on sale though and don't want to spend that much, you can use a rolling pin with "rolling guides" on the edges. (The guides are usually made out of silicone, so you don't have to worry about them) I have a set for baking, and a set (and roller, for that matter) for crafts, and they're pretty nifty.

[BayouMermaid]

I used a pasta maker as well with the flat guide (used for making lasagna noodles). Perfect, uniform thickness!

[BayouMermaid]

Also, I had some cure inhibition problems with the silicone using one of my fiberglass molds. This was fixed by 5 layers of clear acrylic sealant over the entirety of the mold. TEST TEST TEST! And Good luck!!!!

[Aziara]

Pasta maker, definitely. I actually got one that was specially made for clay at Hobby Lobby. Are you using a bottle cap to cut out your scales? They look really cool!

[Mahi Mermaid]

Thank you! And no actually (although they do look like bottle caps!) I used a tool for making cupcakes :) Question for the fluke---So I'm sculpting mine from the same clay and over wax paper, but what should I seal the clay with (if any) when applying the fiberglass over it to make the mold? Also I think I made my first fiberglass scale mold too thick---how thick are you guys making yours? I used the whole container for the scales, thinking I'll also have to do that for the fluke---just want to be sure I don't have another disaster---and then can the clay I use be used again?