how do i make a mould for a door plaque?

Question

my friend has a door plaque ,what is the procedure for making a mould for this item and making another ,it is not plaster its a tough plastic...any clues????

Answer 1

Use a liquid latex or silicon moulding material. latex is cheap, silicon is not. Lay plaque face up on flat surface box round with wood. Apply a release agent. Pour moulding material. when set, remove. Use polyester resin with fillers added to make new plaques in mould, again using release agent. Reinforce with fibreglass matting cut to shape.(Although you don't need release agent with silicon moulds) This was simplest explanation, but there are many different types of moulding/casting/filling materials with different viscosity, properties. When you find a supplier for these items they will be able to guide you as to which type best for you application and tell you about adding colours. Try "Trylon" in Wollaston, Northants, (I think) if they're still there, long time since I messed with all this stuff.

Answer 2

Try coating the plaque with a thin thin coat of Vaseline. Then use a modeling clay to form a mold. Then you can purchase a pourable resin, pour it into the mold you made of the plaque. Let the resin set up, peal off the clay, and there you go.

Answer 3

There's stuff called Alginate or Moulding Alginate for making moulds. Crystal resin can be used with it. Says it is solid and very lightfast to produce ornaments, furniture handles etc. Can be coloured using Pebeo Vitrail (transparent glass paints). Presumably you can also use the Pebeo opaque glass paint.
Never tried it myself - good luck.