"polymorph" for custom knobs?

[gez]

I read of this stuff over at another forum, might be useful:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/media/largeimages/35511i0.jpg

It's not possible to link to the page, but here's the blurb from Maplin's site:

"Polymorph is one of a new generation of commercial polymers set to have a major impact on model making & prototyping. This polymer has all the characteristics of a tough ‘engineering’ material yet it fuses and becomes easily mouldable at just 62°C. It can be heated with hot water or a hairdryer and moulded by hand to create prototypes and solve manufacturing problems currently outside the capacity of other materials. Uses for Polymorph include: Prototype mechanical parts Armatures/frames for models Specialised components - e.g. motor mountings Moulding for complete products - e.g. torches Joining components together Mouldings for handles & orthopaedic aids Vacuum forming moulds
·  The revolutionary plastic that melts in hot water  
·  Heat up & mould by hand  
·  Hardens as it cools - strong as nylon  
·  101 uses for DIY & model making "

[gez]

Good job it wasn't around in 'those days'

http://internetdump.com/users/martycam/plaster.html

If they still have the moulds, the 'casts' would look pretty wild stuck to some alpha pots on a fuzz face!

I need to take my pills now...

[smoguzbenjamin]

Custom knobs!

[R.G.]

Custom knobs, logos, etc. have been makeable for a while now. The Fima and Sculpey polymer clays do this pretty well, and are available in many hobby shops. Milliput is a brand name for an epoxy-based putty that hardens up into really tough stuff.

[Nasse]

:shock: I have tried that polymorph stuff, its quite expensive anyhow but very very nice stuff. Nice thing is it "melts" at quite low temperatures, and it is *very* strong but elastic when cooled. It conducts heat so little, that you can model a hot piece taken off almost boiling water with bare fingers.

When cooled it feels like nylon, HD polyethen or polypropen. But just wonder what hapens if you leave your pedal in a closed car in hot summer day and bright sunshine. I have a key in my pocket that I partly covered with this stuff, it has became little yellow and grey because perhaps some brass keys and copper coins and dirt in mypocket. :wink:

For knobs you might need some mould. Maybe modelling hobby stuff selling dealers have some moulding material, I think some kind of very stiff and hard polyuretan foam is used to make precision molds from original. Ot maybe a metal one might be strongest. Just have thought some day try make "custom" plastic corner pieces for my self made speakers.

[gez]

I got the impression that once cured that's it.  Does it say anything on the container about this Nasse?  Wouldn't want to end up with two fried eggs under hot lights!  (and you can imagine the mess with those 'jimi knobs'). :shock:

[Nasse]

It becomes again soft in temperatures mentioned in your post. You can warm it up as many times you want and need (I did some rehearsal). But dunno is that high temperatures really possible on stage. If you play long time in sauna is maybe too much, and summer and sunshine is defitinely dangerous for this stuff, but you can always remodel it...