alternatives to mould release

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alternatives to mould release

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dbcrx	dbcrx posted 11 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 46, Visits: 1.2K	Just wandering if anyone has found any good alternatives to proper mould release? I can't get any locally and although I'd love to try the easylease, I can't bring myself to pay about £20 shipping just for that, so until I can afford to put in a larger materials order I'm a bit stuck. I have a product here that I have a suspicion might be similar to easylease. It's called A-glaze - http://www.marineaglaze.com/aglaze-marine-sealant/ - and we use it sometimes as an alternative to wax on the boats. It's a surface sealant that is applied in the same way - just wiped onto the surface and according to the blurb is a "silicon-free fluoro-polymer resin" Can anyone say if this is the same kind of product? In the past, I've had success with normal car wax, but only on very simple moulds like this one: This is the pattern I'm working on now: My first attempt was with pu foam blocks stuck onto a plywood base with epoxy. Everything was coated with epoxy, flatted and polished and waxed 6 times with the car wax, then the mould was layed up with epoxy (thickened, pigmented coat as gel coat first). As you can see here, after laying up the mould the release was a complete failure. The mould released from the plywood base but just broke the foam blocks off. The one on the left is where I've tried to dig out the foam, but I can't get it all out without gouging the hell out of the mould surface. I don't know if this was just because the wax wasn't good enough to release a more complicated shape or if the join between the foam and ply wasn't strong enough to withstand the pull. So this time I've made the blocks out of wood as well and screwed them onto the base. I made sure the sides were cut to 10 degrees to make sure the angles aren't too tight. So, do I try again with the same wax; try the a-glaze; or is there something else I could try?
	Reply Like 8
fgayford	fgayford posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 433, Visits: 1.2K	dbcrx (07/02/2014) Just wandering if anyone has found any good alternatives to proper mould release? I can't get any locally and although I'd love to try the easylease, I can't bring myself to pay about £20 shipping just for that, so until I can afford to put in a larger materials order I'm a bit stuck. I have a product here that I have a suspicion might be similar to easylease. It's called A-glaze - http://www.marineaglaze.com/aglaze-marine-sealant/ - and we use it sometimes as an alternative to wax on the boats. It's a surface sealant that is applied in the same way - just wiped onto the surface and according to the blurb is a "silicon-free fluoro-polymer resin" Can anyone say if this is the same kind of product? In the past, I've had success with normal car wax, but only on very simple moulds like this one: This is the pattern I'm working on now: My first attempt was with pu foam blocks stuck onto a plywood base with epoxy. Everything was coated with epoxy, flatted and polished and waxed 6 times with the car wax, then the mould was layed up with epoxy (thickened, pigmented coat as gel coat first). As you can see here, after laying up the mould the release was a complete failure. The mould released from the plywood base but just broke the foam blocks off. The one on the left is where I've tried to dig out the foam, but I can't get it all out without gouging the hell out of the mould surface. I don't know if this was just because the wax wasn't good enough to release a more complicated shape or if the join between the foam and ply wasn't strong enough to withstand the pull. So this time I've made the blocks out of wood as well and screwed them onto the base. I made sure the sides were cut to 10 degrees to make sure the angles aren't too tight. So, do I try again with the same wax; try the a-glaze; or is there something else I could try? Carnuba wax will work. PVA will work after you wax. You should do a test sample before you committ to a large part. Fred
	Reply Like 6
dbcrx	dbcrx posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 46, Visits: 1.2K	I haven't been able to find any pva here either. And I couldn't find carnuba, just a basic creme wax. I'm sure this stuff must be available somewhere but Portuguese businesses just don't advertise. A lot don't even have a website.
	Reply Like 6
FLD	FLD posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 468, Visits: 2.7K	I've used furniture wax before (when desperate). Left the mould a nice shade of "antique pine" but worked incredibly well.
	Reply Like 5
combustioncraig	combustioncraig posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 26, Visits: 46	There are a lot of options to use. PVA is a option but I live in desert and the lack of any humidity causes the pva to shoot cob webs unless I add 5%-10% distilled water. Also pva can't be applied to thick or it will affect the surface finish. I suggest 3-5 coats Meguiar's M0811 Max Mold Release Wax and then a quick spray of tresemme hair spray #7 heavy hold (this will be easier to apply then pva and you have less chance of wrecking the surface finish) a chemical release agent like easy release would be better than hairspray but that cost more money. Wish you the best of luck don't give up.
	Reply Like 5
dbcrx	dbcrx posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 46, Visits: 1.2K	Some interesting ideas there. I may have to give the hair spray a go.
	Reply Like 6
dbcrx	dbcrx posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 46, Visits: 1.2K	got there in the end. the hairspray worked great. the flat areas around the edge lifted very easily. the shaped areas were still stuck fairly solid, but some gentle persuasion with a rubber mallet got it loose eventually.
	Reply Like 6
combustioncraig	combustioncraig posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 26, Visits: 46	Well I am glad it worked out. Which hair spray did you end up going with?
	Reply Like 7
dbcrx	dbcrx posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 46, Visits: 1.2K	cant remember the brand now, just one my wife had already. it was a strong hold though. dont tell her but theres not much of it left, i went quite heavy with it. put on a light dusting first but then sprayed s full wet layer. once id sprayed it it actually started running nut it levelled out nicely before drying.
	Reply Like 7