Sealing mould walls

[follox]

I made my first (Wilco's Own Brand Knock-Off) Lego mould last night - fun stuff! Clean-up took a while and there was quite a lot of seepage between the bricks (probably what you get for buying cheap bricks) Is there anything I can paint the inside of the walls with to minimise this? I don't have a lot of working space so something I can brush on would be good - maybe petroleum jelly? Thanks!

[RageofAchilles]

Hi, rather than do that I would cut some 1mm styrene sheet to line the inner walls of your lego box with. Saves sealing the bricks every time.

[follox]

What a good idea, thank you! Do you suppose cling film/saran wrap would work, or might it do something sticky and horrible..? Just thinking about what I have to hand currently (having a bit of a sunday moulding sesh)

[mangozac]

I don't see how cling wrap would work. I know of some people who have used petroleum jelly. You could also use clay or even styrene sheet less than 1mm like RoA suggested...

[follox]

I can imagine the stuff you mean, now - you get envelopes made with it for computer hardware and stuff. I reckon I can dig something out...

[RageofAchilles]

yeah its just plasticard you can get from any hobby shop, of if you cant get that, cut up some household plastics like ice cream tubs or something.
Personally I tend to make all my mould boxes out of polystyrene pizza bases, just cut into strips to build the walls with. But that's just me making do with whats to hand lol.

[follox]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaah *happy dance*

[RageofAchilles]

ah you found some polyfoam packing material, hope it give the result your looking for. Here is a link to styrene on ebay, nice and cheap...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Plastic ... 33a1e36001

[mangozac]

That stuff is slightly porous - won't the silicone stick to it?

[follox]

[mangozac]

[follox]

Aaah ok - I thought that was just cos the plastic already has that texture on it. Still though, it'll do the job until I run out. Something more rigid would be easier to manage I'm sure (that's what SHE sa- sorry...)

Thanks so much for your help This forum is a wealth of knowledge and skill and I just love it, and really appreciate you guys for not chasing off those of us who ain't making miniatures

[jm72076]

Another good source I've found in the US for cheap thin plastic card is WalMart. In the hardware section they sell 0.3mm thick "For Sale" signs for $0.96 each. They also have one that is 1mm thick for $1.26. It's a lot cheaper than buying from a hobby shop.

Jim

[mangozac]