smooth on rubber mold maker question

[mazinz]

The other day I went into a Hobby shop by me and noticed that they sold both smooth on resin as well as a rubber mold maker two part compound. I need something to make a mold, however how toxic is this stuff?

I am trying to avoid what happened here:
that wonderful resin and it's lovely fumes - Mego Talk

since that time from the link above I went to Castin's "low odor" resin (comes in a small box with two tubes, not that giant blue metal gas can that I used in the above link)) and it was like night and day when compared to what had occurred with the situation above.

So if anyone has used the Smooth on rubber mold maker, just how toxic is this stuff? Will it kill everything in the house or is it sort of odorless that I can have one window with a fan and that should work ok.

[BlackKnight]

I've used it for the better part of 3 Years. I'm not Dead Yet.

[piecemaker]

I have used it and there are no killer fumes like you described in the other thread. I haven't noticed really any odor from the Smooth-On resin.But you can check out the MSDS on any Smooth-On products here:http://www.smooth-on.com/technical_msds.php

[Type3Toys]

Actually, smooth-on is quite toxic. it should be used in a well ventilated area. I love the stuff but have suffered iritated sinus's many times while pouring.

[livnxxxl]

I'm not Dead Yet.

I can vouch for J if need be. He is still very much alive.

[livnxxxl]

Actually, smooth-on is quite toxic. it should be used in a well ventilated area. I love the stuff but have suffered iritated sinus's many times while pouring.

Agreed. I use a respirator just as a precaution. It never hurts. Why take a chance?

[mazinz]

thank you for the replies. I think if I do buy the stuff will wait for a sunny day on the weekend and try it outside first to see just how potentially potent it is.

Let me ask another stupid question. If the object itself is made out of clay do I need to put on demolder first before pouring in the rubber compound or does the demolder go on after to help loosen the object from the mold?

[livnxxxl]

Let me ask another stupid question. If the object itself is made out of clay do I need to put on demolder first before pouring in the rubber compound or does the demolder go on after to help loosen the object from the mold?

Not a stupid question at all.

Being that the object is made out of clay you should not have to use a demolder. Generally a demolder is used when you want to seperate the rubber compound from itself.

An example of this would be if you were creating a two part mold. You pour the first part of the mold and let it cure. Then when you go to pour the second part of the mold you paint the first part of the mold with the demolder. When applied accurately (see instructions on the package) it keeps both sides of the mold from sticking together. Other wise both parts of the mold would have stuck together on you rendering your mold useless.

I hope that helps!

[ThatBatmanGuy]

Just a quick 411: just because a product is odorless/low odor doesn't mean it's any safer. All smooth-on resins have mercury in them for one thing. Everyone should use extreme care when using any resins. I'm as guilty as the next guy. I've been casting resins since the early 90's. For about 10 years I really didn't pay much attention to the harmful effects. Not till I heard some horror stories. You know the ones like being in a wheelchair and carrying an oxygen tank around. I follow directions today.
Bob

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Most folks don't seem bothered by the fumes, but it's possible to have a sensitivity to the stuff; and you won't know until you've used it. Ventilation is key. Also, MOST materials shouldn't require any kind of releaser.... although porous ones like cardboard, paper Macie and Das will. And for keeping the two halves of a mold from sticking together, I brush on some Vaseline.

Don C.

[mazinz]

thank you guys for the info. In my case I have a small bathroom with a window. I use that with the object in the middle and a fan to the right of the object so it blows any fumes directly outside. However in some cases (like when I used the metal can resin) the fumes were so bad that, that method could not handle it at all.

Thank you for the demolder info-- hypothetically if I were trying to recast a plastic toy (which would be done using a two part mold) would I need to put anything on the actual toy itself (vaseline?) to prevent the rubber mold compound from sticking to it

[ctc]

>if I were trying to recast a plastic toy

It shouldn't stick.

Don C.

[mazinz]

>if I were trying to recast a plastic toy

It shouldn't stick.

Don C.

thanks, I might take a swing at trying to recast "tricephalon" from the Godzilla vs tricephalon playset, though he might actually need to be a 3 piece mold

[ctc]

>I might take a swing at trying to recast "tricephalon" from the Godzilla vs tricephalon playset,

Neat! I wouldn't expect the rubber to adhere to him. Check the piece out first to make sure it's not dried out, and there aren't tiny cracks in it. (Those might catuse problems.) Toys are made out of what a friend of mine calls a "self-oiling plastic" that silicone doesn't stick to. (Not sure what that means, but he's an engineer and designs plastic stuff so I figure he knows....)

>though he might actually need to be a 3 piece mold

At least.

Don C.

[Neutron X]

Just a quick 411: just because a product is odorless/low odor doesn't mean it's any safer. All smooth-on resins have mercury in them for one thing. Everyone should use extreme care when using any resins. I'm as guilty as the next guy. I've been casting resins since the early 90's. For about 10 years I really didn't pay much attention to the harmful effects. Not till I heard some horror stories. You know the ones like being in a wheelchair and carrying an oxygen tank around. I follow directions today.
Bob

OUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had no idea Murcury was in resin! Thanks for posting this! Good tip to know what customizers are dealing with.