How to Make a Mold to Replace Composition Ornaments
The more time goes by, the more likely it becomes for frames, mirrors and furniture decorations to suffer an accident. Although you can easily repair small dings, whole ornaments may go missing from these pieces. In these cases, it's time to think about creating a replacement yourself. But chances are that you won't be able to find new replacements in a store. Instead, you can cast your own using a mold you make off of your object's other ornaments. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Lay your object down on a layer of newspaper. Select a portion of your object that has a duplicate ornament that you wish to copy. Prop your object so that this ornament is level with the ground.
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2
Build a ¼ inch thick wall of plasticine clay around the area of ornamentation. Make the wall one inch higher than the ornament itself and be sure to completely enclose it.
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3
Pour alginate powder into a bucket, enough to fill the walled section. Alginate is a powder used for making molds. It is nontoxic and safe to use on many materials, even skin. Be sure to cast your ornament within a few hours of making the mold as it will start to deteriorate.
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4
Fill the bucket of alginate with water. The ratio of alginate to water depends on the brand of alginate you have, but ranges between one part alginate to three parts water and one part alginate to five parts water. Stir the mixture together for 30 seconds.
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5
Pour the mixture into the enclosed area, filling it all the way to the lip of the plasticine. Wait 15 minutes.
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6
Remove the plasticine and gently peel the alginate off of your object.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not make molds based on any object with loose gilding, as the gilding may come off when you peel off the mold.
References
- Photo Credit picture frame 05 image by Natasha from Fotolia.com
