Moulding and Casting - Part 4: Soft silicone

It's a long time I've been wanting to experiment with casting nose flutes. As a model, I chose a Bocarina^™, because I love those babies, because they are easy to disassemble and because they are produced by ABS injection... in a mould.

My goal is not to forge a Bocarina^™, and certainly not to make a market with that (anyway, moulding and casting is much more expensive that buying the original nose flute!). Chris Schuermans had authorized me to experiment with a mould. Indeed, my goal is purely recreational.

[Sequel of the posts Part 1: Hard silicone, Part2: Casting urethane and Part 3: Low temp alloys]

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Moulding and Casting - Part 4: Soft silicone

Let's begin by a video:



Well, I wanted to cast a chocolate Bocarina^™ for Christmas. And I did it, but it was very difficult.

I began by a test with my hard silicone mould, and it worked... until I tried to unmould the nose flute. The suction effect was so strong that separating the two parts of the mould was enough to break the Boccy. I didn't pour hot chocolate in the mould, because this stuff is far too much viscous to flow down, but I "painted" chocolate in the 2 parts, and then applied one part to the other.



When I opened the mould, the Boccy was in a correct shape. But trying to get it out broke it in pieces.



So I decided to make another mould, with softer silicone, and to use harder chocolate, 85% cocoa! I would put it in the freezer for a nice hardening.



I proceeded the same way, and despite a lower suction effect, I broke many chocolate Boccies.



Finally, after 7 attempts, I was able to unmould an almost perfect nose flute. I glued the insert with... chocolate.



Then I glued a magic mushroom and a Christmas dwarf silver saw! The very funny thing is that the shadow of the flute took the shape of my kitty Patafix, the famous Noseflute.org CEO!




Have all a Merry Christmas!!


To be continued!


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On the same topic :

- Moulding and Casting - Part 1: hard silicone
- Moulding and Casting - Part 2: casting urethane
- Moulding and Casting - Part 3: low temp alloys
- Moulding and Casting - Part 4: soft silicone
- Moulding and Casting - Part 5: casting Acrylic

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