[Jewelry making - Article 01155] - Re: [Orchid] Cutting rubber molds

[Patricia Hicks]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    Karen, my silicone sheet and the separator came from Contenti. They
    were selling fine mica powder with it. I rather doubt they still use
    that, as I've heard talc is now used. You simply make a pounce bag of
    muslin or similar filled with it, top twisted with rubber band for a
    handle, and dab it on the mold surface with the item to be molded in
    place, plus whatever you're using for lock registers, before
    vulcanizing. My mica powder turned out to be a lifetime supply I
    think. Haven't made any molds for quite awhile, since I'm in
    semi-retired category and mostly teaching. There is no vulcanizer at
    school, so I only talk through the mold making process and give ways
    to make them with minimum heavy equipment, then suggest for starters
    they have them made locally or elsewhere. No problems have been
    reported back to me.    

    If I had the time and energy, which I don't now during a period of
    acute stress and sadness, I'd go through the other catalogs to see
    what they're offering. I know Rio has the silicone material which is
    the similar brick red color of mine - which I believe was the first
    out from Contenti. Saw them demo in Providence at an Expo.  Sure
    appealed to me! Never regretted the purchases either. And they've
    aged very well, stored in dark, dry, cool area. Keep all molds in
    those conditions and they'll live long and prosper. You too.  Good
    luck with non-cut molds. Think you'll approve. But, I was warned not
    to use the same mold frames you use for the regular rubber, thus I
    also have dedicated frame plates as well. Recently I saw a post from
    Tas, if I'm not mistaken, telling of Daniel Grandi doing a demo with
    this material, and using the mica powder, at Metalwerx. You might
    want to check with him too. Hope this helps.

Pat

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________