Here is the carved gourd with 3 coats of rubber on the inside – I will need 4 but it can be turned upside down to drizzle rather than having to smooth it with my hand like the first 3 – and let me tell ya, I was up to my elbows in rubber – so much so that I actually had to shave my arm to get the silicone balls off the hair!
Each coat has to be a different colour so you know you’ve covered all areas. It is a brush on rubber however it still remains kind of soft and floppy until it sets up in about 30 minutes so I must keep turning the gourd. It should be brushed on in thinner coats than I use however I’m impatient and it’s too hard to get a brush inside of this.
And by the way – there were holes right through the top tabs? I had to fill those with putty otherwise the mold would not come off later. However, silicone is very forgiving so other than a thin clear coat of Krylon, I did not prepare my gourd with anything prior to applying the rubber. Neither do I when I take a casting from wood.
At this point I have used about 8 cups of rubber and have wasted about 1 cup of that on drippage and leftovers after pot life.
After the rubber dries (in about an hour in a warm temp room) utensils are easy to clean and peel and ready for use.
I do not promote particular companies however I have favourable results with Smooth-On products.
-- http://www.jordanstraker.com
14 comments so far
SASmith
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1368 posts in 1155 days
#1 posted 476 days ago
Very interesting.
Off to google smooth-on.
-- Scott Smith, Southern Illinois
Joe Lyddon
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6390 posts in 2220 days
#2 posted 476 days ago
You really have to get gooey don’t you?
Interesting procedure…
Thank you.
-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"
Jordan
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1336 posts in 1292 days
#3 posted 475 days ago
Joe you don’t normally but because the hole of this is not big, I found it easier to use my hand rather than brush which I will use on the outside.
-- http://www.jordanstraker.com
Greg The Cajun Box Sculptor
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3767 posts in 1476 days
#4 posted 475 days ago
I think I will just read and watch. I don’t see me doing any sculpteds box castings anytime soon…but you sure keep it interesting for other projects.
-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com
patron
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12051 posts in 1508 days
#5 posted 475 days ago
wood carver
and
a beautician
how cool !
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
Triumph1
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810 posts in 1247 days
#6 posted 475 days ago
Very cool to see this process. Thanks for making us more intelligent Jordan!
-- Jeff , Illinois Please...can I stay in the basement a little longer, please!
Karson
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34369 posts in 2568 days
#7 posted 475 days ago
Cool Jordon.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
BertFlores58
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1529 posts in 1090 days
#8 posted 475 days ago
Showing another side of you Jordan… Skill on the dremel cutting and wasting…. Now you are creating something back from it. Thanks for the knowhow.
-- Bert
kiefer
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1838 posts in 834 days
#9 posted 475 days ago
I think you did the wrong side , the carving is on the outside, what a waste .
Just having fun :]>
Kiefer
-- Kiefer 松
lanwater
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2418 posts in 1102 days
#10 posted 475 days ago
I used mold builder (liquid rubber) to build 3D molds of small toys that I fill with plaster. once the plaster is hard I peel the rubber mold and my kids color on on them.
It looks like the same process.
This is exciting.
LittlePaw
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1500 posts in 1246 days
#11 posted 475 days ago
How about that, Jordan! I was thinking about casting my Canada goose when finished. I was considering making cast copies because the original is taking so long and once it is sold or given away, I won’t have anything left to remind me of it. As you suggested, I stopped counting the time I put into it and just getting everything as close to perfect as I can. I found Smooth-on online and they sent me their lit. I wasn’t sure about their product, but I see you using it and it is working well, I will try it as well. Looking great, Jordan. You’ll post the finished casting, won’t you?
-- Paul - The sweetest sound in my shop, next to Mozart, is what a hand plane makes slicing a ribbon.
Jordan
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1336 posts in 1292 days
#12 posted 475 days ago
Little Paw , I will indeed post photos of all of the process as well as the finished product(s).
Hope y’all enjoy the journey. Every day this week I will be preparing it so the blogs will not be that far apart.
-- http://www.jordanstraker.com
harrywho
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95 posts in 1400 days
#13 posted 475 days ago
Which Krylon did you use Jordan?
Thanks
-- Harry, Indiana
Jordan
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1336 posts in 1292 days
#14 posted 475 days ago
I used the matte clear finish Harry – I use that on a lot of things as several coats gives me a slight less than satin finish when I don’t want a shine.
-- http://www.jordanstraker.com
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