Polymorph Uses

[Rivera]

I recently purchased a small amount of Polymorph and am not having a lot of luck with it using it to produce decent useable moulds (probably me being a bit cack handed) and was wondering if there are any alternative uses for it?

[Rivera]

No, me neither.  If someone would like the remainder of the unused Polymorph for free and is willing to cover the cost of postage then please pm me.

[Henrix]

I'm not at all familiar with it, but it sounds like a fun material.

How is it compared to oyumaru? Sounds like it is harder when it has set, is that right? Is the melting temperature lower? Can you use either to make a mold for the other? How thin can you make it?

Immediate uses I can think of (without, as I said, knowing much about it) are various terrain uses.
Press it against a nicely textured rock to get a very nice nice cliff side. (I have used paper clay, but this sounds better.
Is it colourless? Can you use it for water effects?
How does it paint up?

[Rivera]

It's a plastic type material that you add boiling water to and then press onto whatever you wish to make a copy of.  I've never used Oyumaru but this stuff sets very hard when allowed to cool, but I don't think it would take paint very well as it's similar to nylon.  The one good thing about it is that if you don't like your mould then you can reuse it by just adding boiling water again.

I did think of using for water effects as you suggest but it doesn't dry very clear.

[DrVesuvius]

This Polymorph sounds similar if not identical to the product sold as Instant Mold.  If so, this video shows a method of getting better molds out of it using a lego-built former.  I've tried this and gotten good results, much better than "push on and pray".



Hope it's of some help.

Dr V

[Rivera]

Thanks for the link Dr V, it was very informative and I might be giving the mould making another go - InstantMold seems to be exactly the same as Polymorph, probably just sold under the Polymorph name here in the U.K.

Saying that, the free Polymorph offer is now off - for the time being (fingers crossed).

[Henrix]

It doesn't sound as it's the same as InstantMold. InstantMold is rebranded and slightly overpriced oyumaru sold to gamers.

Oyumaru does not set hard, it's rubbery. One of the big advantages is that nothing sticks to it, press out greenstuff in a mold you've made and it doesn't stick at all.
I can hardly imagine using it as terrain, for instance, it's very much a moldmaking material. And, IMHO, a very nice and simple one.

Couldn't you try to paint a piece of polymorph? If it works it sounds to me like it could be very useful for making terrain.

As I love trying out new materials I might have to get some - where did you get it?

[Rivera]

Polymorph is not very flexible when its set but there is some give in it which is where Oyumaru might just have the edge for moulding.

I bought the Polymorph from E-bay and if you want to try it out then it's available in quite small amounts if you hunt around a bit.

I might try painting a pice with some acrylics when I next have my paints out and I even have some some enamels knocking around which could be worth a try - I'll let you know how I get on.  I'm now off to see if I can find some Oyumaru.

[Henrix]

I get my oyumaru at Fred Aldous, they're in the UK so should be fine for you.

I see they have 100g packets of polymorph as well. I'll get one of those to try out! (Their shipping to sweden is very reasonable, so I like them.)

[maxxev]

I'm not sure instant mold is exactly the same stuff, all the vids i've seen suggest if you make a "wrap around" mold then you need to cut through the instant mold to make into a 2 part mold, where as the Olygo stuff I have, I just wrap it around and it doesn't really stick to itself (ie. I just pry it apart).

[Henrix]

Oh, it is. You just have to wrap around faster, or heat the oyumaru more, so that it's still hot enough to stick. ;-)

[Wachaza]

Polymorph isn't much use for moulds. It's too rigid and moulded parts stick in it. Best use is for things like custom handgrips on walking sticks where the rigidity is an advantage.

Oyumaru/Instant mould is much better. I'd second the Fred Aldous recommendation if you're in the UK.

[Rivera]

Thanks Henrix and Wachaza for the info - I'll check out the Fred Aldous site and see his prices for Oyumaru/Instant Mould and maybe give it a try.

[Hammers]

Going on a Polymorphic Spree, are we... 

[Henrix]

Yep, I've always loved Polymorph Object!

I did get some, and have experimented a little with it. I plan to post about my findings when I have the time.