These came out OK. In retrospect, I should have made the original mold from some artificial shapes, not natural ones; it turns out the natural spears have a surface texture that is not really smooth.
Because the natural spears are uneven shaped (and large) making the mold resulted in a large block of silicone with multiple cuts in it to release the object. That means it has to be strapped together with strapping tape, then wrapped with plastic to prevent unauthorized resin excursions. It also turns out that for best results the mold’s first pour must be made with the mold at an angle so the bubbles can creep out, then a second pour on top of that, etc.
Yanking that much resin out of a block of silicone is good wake-up exercise.
When it’s plugged in it looks pretty neat:
I want to do another with a bit of UV sensitive pearl in the second pour, and be a bit more careful about pushing the light wires down into the tips of the spears.
The base of the spears is angled, so that the whole thing can be hung on a wall.
I have a silicone mold of a human brain, that I got when I was making soap. (I used Abbie Normal’s brain) and I think I’ll do a similar treatment. I need to make an interior form so that I can do a two-layer pour: pearl white on the outside and then a red interior.
What a fabulous thing! It has an aquarium sort of look to it, a bit like a jellyfish tank. It’s an excellent prototype. I look forward to seeing the next iteration.
Brains! Brains!
I love the idea of doing a brain in the same fashion – in red, no less. I don’t know where you found Abby Normal’s brain, but Frank might want it back.
Oooh that is wonderful! I love it! But yeah, that must have been a bear to pull out of the mold. Really worth it though – what a fantastic light!
O.O
That is so cool.
And I was expecting some Roman pila!
It looks rally cool, especially since the milky surface hides the LEDs.
I often coat stuff with a thin resin layer before making a silicone mould, thus I get shiny surfaces.
Giliell@#5:
I often coat stuff with a thin resin layer before making a silicone mould, thus I get shiny surfaces.
Arrrrgh! Of course!
Nice, Marcus!