Faux Barnacles

[reefnewbie54321]

I am making some DIY rocks and want to include some barnacles on it. I have looked for decoration barnacles but non of them fit my needs and either already come on a rock and or are much to large to look real.

My idea was to buy some barnacle shells from ebay and then make a mold out of it and with that mold make a bunch of barnacles to set into my rocks. I would just buy a bunch of barnacle shells but I have only found a few at a time for sale and it could get expensive.

I do have a few questiosn though. What could I make my mold out of that wont stick to the barnacles? I have never made molds before...

What should I use to make the barnacles after the mold is done? I was thinking 2 part resin. But once agian it cant get stuck into the mold.

This mold is also going to be pretty small so its not going to be easy. If anyone has any other ideas or know a website to buy bulk barnacle shells or real looking fake barnacle shells please tell me.

 

[reefdood]

You could make the mold out of latex.

 

[H20ENG]

You can get all that stuff at TAP plastics. There are a few steps to do it right, and the stuff is expensive.

You can use regular silicone if you put a good release on it first. This would be OK for small batches. Then use thickened epoxy for the casting.

Or,
We had some rockwork done by Manwarren, and their barnacles are about 1/2" dia, in individual or in groups about 2-3" dia. You may want to see if they will sell you some.
Chris

 

[Gordonious]

How are you doing the DIYS rocks? I have searched online for Faux and found a million people you can pay to do it, a million examples of stuff that has been made with it, but haven't found a source that tells me how to do it.

 

[slevesque]

Gordonious: here

DIY rocks

 

[reefnewbie54321]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7844130#post7844130 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H20ENG
You can get all that stuff at TAP plastics. There are a few steps to do it right, and the stuff is expensive.

You can use regular silicone if you put a good release on it first. This would be OK for small batches. Then use thickened epoxy for the casting.

Or,
We had some rockwork done by Manwarren, and their barnacles are about 1/2" dia, in individual or in groups about 2-3" dia. You may want to see if they will sell you some.
Chris

Do you have a link to the wedsite where you got the rocks? And did they come on the rockwork or are they actual barnacle clusters that could be epoxyed to the rocks?

 

[H20ENG]

http://www.dlmanwarren.com/

They are loose, ready to be epoxied on. Also, they are a light tan color and would need to be painted or stained.

 

[reefnewbie54321]

Thanks for all the help

Anyone else have any info on how I would make some molds and casts of these faux barnacles? H20ENG was nice enough to offer to sell me a handful but I still will need to make some molds and copy them for the rocks.