CONGER
Established Member
Greetings Woodworkers.
Somewhat off topic... but I need to make a mould for the case of the ukulele that finished recently.
Please let me explain...
I want to make a case for the uke. The uke should embed snugly into a moulded 'slot' in the case; the case will also contain other components, each in a purpose shaped 'slot'.
The (simplified) idea is to make a simple mould case (read box)... half-fill the box with moulding mass... press the (well wrapped!) uke, and other parts, into the moulding mass... cover the surface with cling-foil... fill the box with moulding mass... and wait for the mass to harden.
Remove the components... then saw the the mould halves into a number of strips... from end to end. Each strip would represent a cross section of the uke & components.
Then... using the strips, make a similar number of 'strips' of wood... each strip would have an outline of the uke & components.
Finally... join the wood strips together to make the lining for the case.
Sorry... complicated, but the simplified(!) result of long deliberation!
Now... the problem (#1!)... I need to find a suitable mass.
I tried using papiermache (paper with wallpaper glue)... the idea was fine until I realised that the mass (papiermache) would not dry. Of course, papiermache needs to dry... it does not cure or set!
I tried a similar mixture using sawdust... same problem.
The next option would be gypsum... that would cure... but I do not have a saw (bandsaw) that will cut the gypsum... and the 'sliced' gypsum sections would probably be rather brittle.
I would appreciate some inspired suggestions.
Thanks, gerard.
Somewhat off topic... but I need to make a mould for the case of the ukulele that finished recently.
Please let me explain...
I want to make a case for the uke. The uke should embed snugly into a moulded 'slot' in the case; the case will also contain other components, each in a purpose shaped 'slot'.
The (simplified) idea is to make a simple mould case (read box)... half-fill the box with moulding mass... press the (well wrapped!) uke, and other parts, into the moulding mass... cover the surface with cling-foil... fill the box with moulding mass... and wait for the mass to harden.
Remove the components... then saw the the mould halves into a number of strips... from end to end. Each strip would represent a cross section of the uke & components.
Then... using the strips, make a similar number of 'strips' of wood... each strip would have an outline of the uke & components.
Finally... join the wood strips together to make the lining for the case.
Sorry... complicated, but the simplified(!) result of long deliberation!
Now... the problem (#1!)... I need to find a suitable mass.
I tried using papiermache (paper with wallpaper glue)... the idea was fine until I realised that the mass (papiermache) would not dry. Of course, papiermache needs to dry... it does not cure or set!
I tried a similar mixture using sawdust... same problem.
The next option would be gypsum... that would cure... but I do not have a saw (bandsaw) that will cut the gypsum... and the 'sliced' gypsum sections would probably be rather brittle.
I would appreciate some inspired suggestions.
Thanks, gerard.