Head Shrinking Advice

[renegade]

I'm going to start shrinking a few heads and was wondering a few things. Do I have to shrink the Original head or can I make a resin cast and shrink that? How long does it take to take a 12 inch head to 8 inches...appox.? I dont want to over due it or give up to early. Any help would be great.

[LAST SON OF KRYPTON]

Heads from 12" figure varies from each Toy Company.
For example you have a 1/6 head measuring from the tip of the head to the chin by a caliper and measures at 37mm.
Normal shrinkage in resin is about 2.5-3%.(You need to cast the original anyway so this will be your first stage of shrinkage at that percentage.
To achieve a Mego size head and also varies in sizes at 31,32,33,33.5mm at measuring from the tip of the head to the chin.
You need to shrink it about 3 times to achieve a 33.67-33.70mm head,and if the head is still big for you,shrink it down again.
You need to save up on your silicone in molding to avoid wastage and make a mold just enough to cover your original 12" head,if you know how to do molding & casting,you know what I mean.
If you don't want to try this method,here is the link here at mego museum for a different method;
http://www.megomuseum.com/custom/headshrinking.shtml

Hope this helps.

[renegade]

I'm aware of the process was just wondering around how long it takes..i.e 6 hrs...1 day...1 week. I dont want to go to bed one night and wake up to a lil head,,,come to think about it that really doesnt sound all that bad...lol

[LAST SON OF KRYPTON]

I'm aware of the process was just wondering around how long it takes..i.e 6 hrs...1 day...1 week. I dont want to go to bed one night and wake up to a lil head,,,come to think about it that really doesnt sound all that bad...lol

It depends on the kind of resin you are using,does it says in the label how long for it to dry?
Also goes for the silicone you are using.
For me,I do my own resin mix.
The silicone I use normally hardens at about 1-2 hrs,but I choose to go for 2 hrs. and gradually pours the silicone in the mold to avoid air bubbles forming inside unless you have a vacuum chamber to get rid of the air bubbles.
On resin,normally it hardens or sets at about 45minutes to an 1 hr.
The more it gets warm to feel the mold means that the resin is setting/hardening.

[renegade]

I use OOMOO brand resin...takes about a minute.