Mold Release?

[Boomyal]

I need to make a little water deflector to keep water from running down my deck and into my gas tank well thru the access cutout. I've fashioned a plug out of 2 x material to use as the form to get the contour I want. I will build it out of laid up fiberglass. <br /><br />What common material can I use for mold release. Here is the plug.<br /><br />

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Mold Release?

Your post reminded me of an old article I read:<br /> http://www.epoxyworks.com/14/pdf/PVAhairspray.pdf <br /><br />Never tried it myself though. I think I would experiment a bit first!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Mold Release?

Hmmmm! Thanks Paul. I'm wondering if I should epoxy coat the wood first to give it a smoother surface. I guess I would then use paste wax then the hair spray???

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Mold Release?

^bump

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Mold Release?

Hi boom,<br /><br />Are you looking for something that is a 'trick of the trade' type thing or an actual release agent?<br />They don't look all that expensive.<br /><br /> http://www.fibreglast.com/showproducts-category-category-23.html#44 <br /><br />Aldo

 

[BillP]

Re: Mold Release?

Here's ones I've used for "one offs" when costmetics didn't matter. Saran Wrap, wax paper, brown wrapping paper, mylar sheet, melted wax and brushed on. Melted wax makes the worst finish but is good if papers don't conform right. Sometimes it easier to do one of these and do a final sanding on the finished product to get smooth cosmetics.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Mold Release?

Could you not just coat the wood with epoxy? Two good coats aught to do it. <br /><br />At leaset you sandblasted the outdrive on my other sugestion.

 

[Terry H]

Re: Mold Release?

Bill has the right suggestions. You can also use as I have many times the clear 3M packaging tape. You just won't get away without some sort of coating. Chief

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Mold Release?

I've used Armourall (sp?) for one-offs. Its the stuff used to spray on plastics and vinyls to keep them shiny and soft. No matter what you use, the wood has to be sealed somehow first or the release agent will just absorb into the fibres. Try varnish or shellac etc.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Mold Release?

Realgun and RodC-already done. One coat of straight epoxy then two coats of mayonaise epoxy. I'll probably use several coats of pastewax then use the super hold hair spray that Paul's article talked about. <br /><br />I only need to glass the cutout plus part of one side of this plug. Because of it's contours I would put a coating of epoxy on it, let it start to kick off then lay the glass and let it finish curing. I would need to repeat this for about four layers of glass to get my desired thickness.<br /><br />

 

[BillP]

Re: Mold Release?

Beware on using regular paste wax. It sounds crazy but it can actually make the parts stick together. I've been there, done it and cried hard when a week's worth of plug making went to hexx. If you decide to chance it don't put on a lot of coats. Boatbuilders found this out even with mold release wax...to many coats cause the parts to stick together. At one time SeaRay was going 30 hulls before rewaxing molds. Less wax = no stick. I would use anything but regular wax...like Paul sez, tape works too.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Mold Release?

Originally posted by BillP:<br /> Beware on using regular paste wax. It sounds crazy but it can actually make the parts stick together. I've been there, done it and cried hard when a week's worth of plug making went to hexx.

Thanks for the heads up BillP. I was just getting ready to use a coat(s) of Johnson Flooring paste wax. I heard the clear tape suggestion but it didn't sink in. That might be just the ticket. It should lay smoothley on the contours of the plug. I just hope that the tape will not distort with an application of epoxy.<br /><br />I could easily do a test run. As you might imagine I already have a fair amount of time invested in the plug and if I could not seperate the finished project from the plug, that would destroy if for further attempts.

 

[Terry H]

Re: Mold Release?

You should be fine with a small part like that. You can get the 3M 375 in 4" widths so it would leave you a smooth finish with no seams. Chief