Primer: Moldmaking: Moldmaking

by Adam Savage

Mythbusters' Adam Savage teaches you how the pros replicate objects.In principle, moldmaking is a simple process, but with every object you want to replicate comes a new series of pitfalls, innovations, and solutions. This article explains how to make a two-part, underpoured block mold, which is a versatile and beginner-friendly type that's great for small, detailed objects such as jewelry, game pieces, masks, picture frames, and figurines. Savage learned this technique by apprenticing under some of the great moldmaking masters in the specialeffects industry, and this article reveals their unpublished tricks.We'll make our mold out of silicone rubber, an excellent casting material, but it costs about $100 per gallon. This process uses as little of it as necessary, and it's important to follow all of these instructions, because a mistake can be costly. Then we'll cast our duplicates in opaque urethane resin (clear resin requires a more difficult process).This primer first appeared in Technology on Your Time Volume 08, which is sold out and no longer available.

9 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 9, 2009

About the author

Adam Whitney Savage is an American industrial design and special effects designer/fabricator, actor, educator, and co-host of the Discovery Channel television series MythBusters.

Reviews

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good alternative for anyone looking to do propmaking without a 3D printer. I'll definitely be looking into this for some of my larger parts, it's very thorough and a great tutorial, and seems cheaper and quicker than waiting for parts to build up over a while.