Stew Mac "Friendly Plastic"

[Terry Maurice]

Has anyone here used this material? I am thinking that it might work well for molds for supports while gluing repairs. What are your thoughts?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Clamps_s...ly_Plastic.html

Terry

[apartmentluthier]

Product is quite good for clamping cauls etc . .

This is also available as Protoplast™ Pellets for the medical and theatre industries. Price may be a bit better from these suppliers.

http://www.wfr-aquaplast.com/tmppcc_default.htm

http://spike.pnta.com/Merchant2/merchant...Product_Count=2

[Brad Dorsey]

I seemed like useful stuff, so I got some. I've mostly used it to make clamping counterparts for buttons to be used when gluing a neck into a violin. It works well.

[ispirati]

what is the temperature required to alter the shape?

[Regis]

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what is the temperature required to alter the shape?

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One of the ads said 160 degree (F I believe). I use similar to hold silver/gold pieces togather for soldering (when no other mechanical holding will work). Softens in hot water. Takes oxy/acetelene well.

Regis

[nertz]

It looks like it functions very similar to “Dental Compound” which restorers have been using for making small counter forms with for years. I still have an unopened box of the stuff I bought when I left Machold almost fifteen years ago.

[Michael Darnton]

I've got an unopened can of the friendly plastic because I'm still using dental compound, but I got it to try for the same stuff--just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Terry Maurice]

Thanks all! I think I will give it a try.

Terry

[Claire Curtis]

Friend of mine bought a bucket for use in a harp restoration project -- says it worked great, and has promised me the remainder in the bucket. Haven't gotten it yet.

-Claire

[HongDa]

Get some. Looks just like this stuff I have and use quite often. I kept this one bisquit intact because it looks so nice!

I boil a pan of water, then let it set about 45 seconds.Throw in the compound until the water cools enough to reach in.Then work the compound in the water until it's soft enough.Working with those pellets the first time could be tricky until you get them built into a mass maybe.

[image][/image]

[HongDa]

Here's where I used it on a badly repaired cello crack last week---saves a few hours work . [image][/image]

[Alex_E]

That stuff looks interesting, how hard would it set if used for large moulds (full violin plate sizes etc) and is it capable of standing up to heavy impacts like those in metal plate forming, without crumbling or deforming?

[Brad Dorsey]

My experience with the stuff tells me that it's very resistant to crumbling or deforming, unlike the previously mentioned dental compound which is brittle. When it has hardened, its consistency seems similar to the white translucent plastic that is used for milk jugs. I've never tried pounding on it though.

[HongDa]

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That stuff looks interesting, how hard would it set if used for large moulds (full violin plate sizes etc) and is it capable of standing up to heavy impacts like those in metal plate forming, without crumbling or deforming?

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I have never tried but don't think you could make a very large cast with it. It starts setting quite fast after pulling it out of the water and you don't have alot of time to position it.....unless it were still very hot and I don't know if that's something you'd want to be laying over a violin top or back. It's also very brittle so wouldn't take an impact.

These are the properties of the stuff I have anyway. Maybe the "Friendly plastic" acts differently.

[Brad Dorsey]

Friendly Plastic is not brittle.

[HongDa]

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Friendly Plastic is not brittle.

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It sounds like a more useful material then.

Is it possible to use it for making casts?

[Brad Dorsey]

"Is it possible to use it for making casts?"

Yes. But not for making casts of valuable old violins. In its pliable state, it's so hot there's too much danger of damaging the varnish, considering how long it takes it to cool and harden.