The smallest Santa I have ever found...

Clinton · Post by **Clinton** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 12:04 am

I found this little guy with an old "charm" bracelet I picked up at an antique/collectors mall a few days ago. He is 1 inch tall and made of a hard plastic and says JAPAN on the back. I dunno how old he is, but I would like to make some copies of him through a molding process. Any suggestions? I think he would be a fine addition to smaller putz houses that I restore/build. What do you all think? Thanks for your advice & answers in advance!

Regards,

Will

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Post by **Lucy** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:06 pm

I agree, that is certainly a "mold-worthy" Santa - it's great. I've been looking into making molds as well though not anytime soon.

The best DIY mold-making sites I've found have been on gaming sites. Here is a good description of how to make a mold:http://www.stormthecastle.com/miniature ... -index.htm

Hirst Arts website has some really good stuff on it. This is the main URL:http://www.hirstarts.com/index.html
And the mold-making part: http://www.hirstarts.com/moldmake/moldmaking.html

I think the really important thing is to not damage your little santa in the process. I would certainly practice on some toy figure first before you make a mold of your Santa.

Nice work on finding that Santa and recognizing how special it is.
Lucy

Clinton · Post by **Clinton** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:56 pm

Thanks Lucy for your advice. Yes, I agree! Try a few molds with some other small stuff and see how it turns out. Can't wait to try it out though!

Regards,

Will

Post by **Howard** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:56 am

Will...Lucy is right about the instructions on the hirstarts site...excellent info...

But wait a short time until I can get back to you with a "low budget, old school way" of making simple molds...since you already understands the basic process I won't be posting a true step-by-step guide...just some notes about very low cost, readily available alternatives...I just have to find my notes...

Howard...

Post by **Tom Hull** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 9:20 am

I have made molds and there are two basic kinds. Fixed and Flexible. A two piece plaster mold is an example of a fixed mold and there are several ways to make them but I really don't like the plaster mold as it wears out over time. Another example of a flexible mold is using modeling clay in a two part mold. It does a better job with the details but also is very temporary. I have used black silcone rubber with some success and it would be the best solution but is sometimes hard to peal off of the model. It doesn't wear out like the others but it was difficult to get the inside of the mold to be smooth - it would develop voids that had to be filled.
The final solution I have tried is to use that oven temp setting plastic clay called Sculpty. It does a great job with details too but is hard to get a two piece mold. ALL of the fixed mold need some sort of registration so that they are alligned. On the plaster ones I just took a knife and carved a cone shape in the plaster so that when you pored the second half it would make the register. The rubber is a one piece mold and so doesn't need it but for the Sculpty molds I used pieces of broken off round toothpicks and heated the two together.

Post by **Howard** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:42 pm

Will…here's how i made a santa mold...it's labor intensive to say the least…there are other ways...but this worked for me...

simple wood frames…“dollar store” modeling clay...pressed santa half way in each side...paid most attention to face side impression...had to touch up edges of clay when original pulled from mold halves...

put mold halves in freezer for an hour or so…applied thin coat of vaseline (as a mold release) with soft water color brush...(frozen, oily clay and vaseline don't like water putty mixture)...might want to try thin coat of baby oil in place of vaseline…

align mold halves and clamp...was careful when i made impressions so i had a good idea where molds aligned...did make one alignment pin from a nail...have added another recently...

fill with water putty…go to http://waterputty.com/ for details…shake/vibrate so air bubbles come to surface...inserted length of wire for attachment to cardboard...

let dry for several hours...3 or more if i recall...perhaps 5?...remove from mold…clean up with xacto...parting lines, face, eyes, around feet and base etc...

glue on a cardboard disc...prime and paint...glitter/mica base...cut off excess wire...

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Post by **paulrace** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:51 pm

Howard, thanks for sharing your secrets. These Santas all look great!

Post by **Howard** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 7:06 pm

paulrace wrote:Howard, thanks for sharing your secrets. These Santas all look great!

oh...they're not really "my secrets"...

...i did get ideas and input from a several sources...(some of whom you probably know)...all i did was put what i learned and read together...like i said...i know there are other ways with other materials...but this one worked for me...
howard...

Clinton · Post by **Clinton** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 10:34 pm

Thanks Tom & Howard for your input also. WOW! I can't wait to try my hand at your method Howard. I think that's the way to fly with this project. I will be attempting this in the next few days and show my results to everyone. Stay tuned!

Regards,

Will

Post by **Howard** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:50 am

Will wrote:Thanks Tom & Howard for your input also. WOW! I can't wait to try my hand at your method Howard. I think that's the way to fly with this project. I will be attempting this in the next few days and show my results to everyone. Stay tuned!

Regards,

Will

I should have mentioned you'll have to "work the clay" for a while to get it more pliable and softer before you make the impressions...you can't use the clay right out of the package...Howard...