Resin Casting Side Vent on a Corvette

[Len Woodruff]

I need to make a mold of the side vents on a rare 66 Corvette. I don't want to cutup the body to do it.

Can I build a dam around the vents or something like that to make the mold.

Any help and pictures would be great.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

 

[68shortfleet]

Yes, entirely possible to just build a small dam around the area of the vent and pour the mold silicone into the area. 

 

Edited May 6, 2024 by 68shortfleet

[Len Woodruff]

1 hour ago, 68shortfleet said:

Yes, entirely possible to just build a small dam around the area of the vent and pour the mold silicone into the area. 

 

Thanks. Any suggestions for holding the dam on the side of the body?

[68shortfleet]

The molding clay I use is tacky enough that it will "stick" to the body. 

[Len Woodruff]

4 minutes ago, 68shortfleet said:

The molding clay I use is tacky enough that it will "stick" to the body. 

That sounds like a perfect solution. I will give it a try in a couple of days and report back.

[JollySipper]

When I first saw your question, I thought of Bill, @Ace-Garageguy and his using real sheet fiberglass to do things such as this......... Maybe he'll join in and offer some advice.

Edited May 7, 2024 by JollySipper

[OldNYJim]

I don’t know if you HAVE RTV resin already for this project, but I’ve seen people use this stuff for similar projects:

https://a.co/d/iRP3Ka4

Benefit is, you roll it into a ball, press it onto the thing you’re replicating and then it hardens whilst maintaining it’s shape - no need for dams or boxes 

Edited May 8, 2024 by CabDriver

[Len Woodruff]

8 hours ago, CabDriver said:

I don’t know if you HAVE RTV resin already for this project, but I’ve seen people use this stuff for similar projects:

https://a.co/d/iRP3Ka4

Benefit is, you roll it into a ball, press it onto the thing you’re replicating and then it hardens whilst maintaining its shape - no need for dams or boxes 

Wow. Thanks for the info.  I didn't know about it. That would work great for 1 sided casting.

[Len Woodruff]

Here is an update. I made the side cove dam using clay.

I poured silicone rubber into the dam.

I now have this piece that I need to make a female mold from the male mold from this piece of silicone.

Any suggestions for how to do this? 

Can I glue this down using silicone glue?

If I can find something to hold it in place then I can use mold release to keep it from sticking? 

[LennyB]

I would build a box around this with some flat styrene just a little taller then your mold. Make sure to use mold release and then just pour on top of to make the female master. If you are lucky you can remove the male mold from the box without disturbing the female and then pour right into the box, now from the opposite end, to cast your part.

[Len Woodruff]

1 minute ago, LennyB said:

I would build a box around this with some flat styrene just a little taller then your mold. Make sure to use mold release and then just pour on top of to make the female master. If you are lucky you can remove the male mold from the box without disturbing the female and then pour right into the box, now from the opposite end, to cast your part.

Thanks. I was just worried how to keep it from "floating" when I poured the new rubber over it?

[R. Thorne]

Double back tape?

[LennyB]

If it’s tight around your male master it shouldn’t float. But double sided tape or hot glue it to your work surface would also work.  

[Len Woodruff]

I the tape tomorrow.

I was also wondering about silicone sealer?