Vacuum forming

I have tried vacuum forming, and I have practiced now. Today, I report still in progress.

To start vacuum forming, must to prepare tool of vacuum forming. This tool sell at the shop of plastic model, but it's expensive. So, I make by my hand in economy. :D I got little wood box and crevice tool of vacuum-cleaner in 100 yen shop.  (this store is like an one dollar shop or 99 cent shop in USA) And I bought a punching sheet and sponge tape in other store. The cost of materials is under 1000 yen (about $10). :) 

Next, I assemble a vacuum forming tool.

1. Cut short crevice tool, make a hole in the box for crevice tool. insert a crevice tool in the box, and fix by glue.

2. Put a punching sheet on the box by glue, and moreover gummed tape. And put sponge tape. 

Box size is 11cm X 11cm. The inside diameter is 9cm X 9cm. But this inside area is a little wide to miniature. So, I made frame that made in paper and sponge tape to make little area.

Prepare two plywoods (11cm X 11cm), make hole 6cm X 6cm each, sandwich a sheet of plastic 7cm X 7cm (0.3mm thick) between plywoods, and fasten with a clip. This photo is plastic sheet after heat and vacuum. I have tried and practiced some various mold. I practiced in the mold of kouglof in this photo.

I guess that this hole is still a little wide. I will make new frame that inside area 5cm X 5cm. 

Well... I have made a lot of trash now. XO I understand:

simple form（circle or square plate etc.）could vacuum forming well.

detail and very little or thin line etc. could not or difficult. 

But I guess I could do it. I need more time to succeed....

Tutorial ~planter and plant~

Thank you for waiting. :D :D
Today, I write about how to make miniature planter and plant,

and simple explanation of copy by silicon rubber.  

Well, I already have opened about how to making model and copy 

in my website. But those are in Japanese.
And I was requested that translation to English, 

but I had lost the opportunity. (I'm sorry!) 

So, I decided write new tutorial in strange English.
The planter size is about 1.5cm X 1.5cm.

OK! Here we go!

First,  make one board (thick about 1.5mm) and two half balls by stone clay.

One ball is a spare that a case of if failed. 

Next, cut half the half ball (become quarter), draw some lines on this, and carve with a cutter, sandpaper and sand sponge etc. 

These are my tools, design cutter and sand sponge. The sand sponge is very useful!

Make a part of back of planter. Draw your favorite design. I made a image of  basket. 

Draw lines and carve to the part of handle. 

Dig shallow to the inside planter. It's not need deep, because the plant not plant to the interior.  

After dug. And put a planter on back (handle).

Coat with foundation paint gray (surfacer). When put gray on this mold, it can find the  strange part in detailed. If found some trouble, correct or adjustment.

And the weak point of stone clay is fluffy in the face. So, file smooth by sand sponge. And coat with the surfacer again. The face will be smooth. 

Next step is take a silicon rubber mold. Work such like this photo, and coat with separated compound, and the silicon rubber pour in this box slowly, little by little and like a thread. Never pour a lot of silicon at once, it can not take detail mold.

It have made perfect silicon rubber mold. :D Coat with separated compound (for take out easily), and pour urethan resin in this mold. 

The copy done. Adjust shape by sandpaper etc. 

If you'd like to put on the wall, hole by router or drill etc.

How to make the texture like a terra cotta:

After coated with surfacer, put color by brush, after dry, put color by sponge, each  about 2 times. 

Well... I forgot take a photo that making plant. :,-(  

I explain in the simple drawing. 

This time, almost photos became bigger in one click. (Only last one is not bigger.) You could see more detail. Of course, there are a lot of way in the world. This is a part of a lot of way. I guess some people may already have done this work. And, this way can apply to make your favorite shape of dish, cup or frame etc. I hope today's post is helpful for your works.  

Thank you for reading long, long blog. :D And... if there are some not clear meaning sentence, please point out. I already had confused halfway. (@_@) 

Meringue & open star decorating tip

I made miniature meringue that made from resin clay (air dry clay).
I put brown on the meringue. And I made about 200 meringues included practice one by one by miniature open star decorating tip.

I made miniature open star decorating tip too. I had investigated about how to make tip for a few days. I tried wring for cream that made from resin clay. There are fine lines. :D

I opened my way of making an open star decorating tip. 

First, prepare a wood stick sharpened by pencil sharpener, and make a few lines by chisel.  

And covered the wood stick with the epoxy putty (*1), and press for make lines on the epoxy putty , and the stick separate from putty gently and dry a few hour. 

After dried, cut the tip a little, arrange to conic shape. And same way actual to wring cream. After used, wash by water and wipe with a cloth. This tip could use a few times. 

The cream was made from resin clay "Grace" and "Hearty". Each mix, put in color and a few drops of water, and mix again to like a cream in the little cup etc. If it is too soft, there are not some lines on the cream, but if it is hard a little, the cream couldn't treat easily, besides fingers would became painful. The adjustment is difficult!   

I will improve more this tip. 

Thank you for reading!