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Steve Vasdekis
09-20-2002, 07:17 AM
A freind of mine bought a vacuum machine with the heat built in and he wants to know if he wants to make parts out of ABS or similar material and the plug is made from oak, does the surface of the oak plug need some kind of release agent or coating so the plastic doesn't stick? Any help is appreciated.
AndyKunz
09-20-2002, 07:39 AM
Usually not. It might be a good idea to wax the mold just to make sure.

Andy
T.S.Davis
09-20-2002, 02:45 PM
Steve,

I'm no expert but everything I've read says that you don't want a finish on your plug and that if you do have one you should rough it up with sand paper. The plastic will stck to the smooth suface of the plug and form a seal in places where you don't want it.
TooBadd
09-20-2002, 06:48 PM
We have a vacuum form at work to make automotive prototype parts (so we get plugs of all materials). You need it very smooth or you’ll pick up any imperfections even grain in the wood. We use Pam cooking spray works great. Just spray it down and wipe it lightly off. We also use small piano wire to drill holes in the corners of any detail and on the bottom of the plug drill a hole big enough for an air nozzle to blow the part off easily when it’s done
Steve Vasdekis
09-20-2002, 08:34 PM
Thanks for the information guys!
T.S.Davis
09-21-2002, 11:25 AM
TooBad,

You ever get forms that are calcitrol? I really need to find a better material than plaster of paris without spending lots of $. I know what the right way is but has anyone used calcitrol for a production mold?
TooBadd
09-22-2002, 09:46 AM
Calcitrol doesn't sound familiar, but were prototype place (usually under 100 parts but a few in the 1000’s over a long period of time) were not production so a lot of our molds are wood, metal or this plastic epoxy covered wood. But I’m not one of the main guys that work in the plastic area; I mostly go in at lunch and make my parts and leave. Most of the molds I made are from scrap oak or mahogany wood and sheet metal detail added to it. I’ve pull a lot off the same wood mold with no problems and it looks great from the first to the last part and they do the same with 90% of their mold being wood.