Casting or Moulding Rubber

A slightly unusual question, perhaps, but has anyone any experience using casting or moulding rubber? I wish to try making some rubber mats for an old car; the type that mould over and around the transmission tunnel. I have been looking for a suitable product to use and am considering Devcon Flexane 80. However, it would be good to hear from anyone who used this, or a suitable alternative product, before spending £80.00.

Regards,

James.

I haven't used it in such a manner so this is just a suggestion but there are many silicone moulding rubbers available in varying degrees of flexibility that would probably give you what you want. Pigments are also available to colour it - to the degree you want - without affecting its properties.

An eBay search would probably help but the name Alec Taranti as a supplier springs to mind.

It's been a long time since using it for mould making but it will certainly flow and set to minimal thickness for what you describe

Hope that's of help

Tug

I have made a mold of a 14" high garden cherubim. I used 3 coats of silicone molding rubber and then a a backing cold of re-inforced plaster of Paris (in sections). The silicone is not rigid enough to support the Devcon or other product on its own as the silicone mold is probably only 3/16" thick or so.

Bob

Thank you for the suggestions. The idea of using plaster of Paris to support the mould is a good one one of which I had not thought.

I had not considered using silicone for the actual mats as the only silicone I have encountered it is too fragile to stand up to that type of use. However, I shall look at the suggested supplier to see whether there is a more robust style that would be appropriate.

Thank you.

James

I would stick to polyurethane rather than silicone. Polyurethane looks and feels more like real rubber and is stronger. The disadvantage is that it will stick to anything and needs a good release agent on the mould.

Russell