Polyurethane Side Strakes first cast
07-25-2004, 04:20 PM
#27
Ok so I can't find my cd for photoshop so i cheesed it with paint, here's what i was thinking, maybe even rotor shaped cutouts? Not a very good pic but you get the idea. If you look at the front fender on the I,Robot bike from OCC you can kinda' see what i was thinking as well. My thanks to whoever these strakes belong to for letting me virtually butcher them with my idea 
07-25-2004, 04:39 PM
#28
if your not 1st your last
i might know someone that can crome plastic
or so i was told. when i was thinking of painting my engine cover this shop told me
that they can even crome plastic.
let me know.im intrested in that
or so i was told. when i was thinking of painting my engine cover this shop told me
that they can even crome plastic.
let me know.im intrested in that
07-25-2004, 09:03 PM
#30
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Thread Starter
I've been keeping track of the interested members and am planning on contacting everyone of you when something comes available. It looks like a week before the basic comes available at this time.
Kelly, yes, I would be interested in finding a place for chroming these.
CanaryRX8, I was thinking something like that but with a bit more tooling. I'll see what I can come up with eventually.
Kelly, yes, I would be interested in finding a place for chroming these.
CanaryRX8, I was thinking something like that but with a bit more tooling. I'll see what I can come up with eventually.
07-25-2004, 09:44 PM
#31
if your not 1st your last
here ya go
USA WHEELS
973-227-7977 voice
800-513-1399 toll free
ask for jeff aka"big dog"
you can tell him i sent ya but i havent seen him in a while and dont know if he remebers me but then again how many people have a silver rx8 with 20" crome maido wheels that there girlfiend hit a curb that he fixed.
USA WHEELS
973-227-7977 voice
800-513-1399 toll free
ask for jeff aka"big dog"
you can tell him i sent ya but i havent seen him in a while and dont know if he remebers me but then again how many people have a silver rx8 with 20" crome maido wheels that there girlfiend hit a curb that he fixed.
07-26-2004, 09:20 AM
#37
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Kel Rx8
yeah bro
i did one side already
ahh what the hell i will send just that
its a good sketch IMO lol
let me know when you get it
i did one side already
ahh what the hell i will send just that
its a good sketch IMO lol
let me know when you get it
I am still trying to figure out how to model something and do a physical mirror image of it. I know there is a way, I just have to think about it a little bit.
07-26-2004, 10:09 AM
#39
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D MENAC 7, are you in the plastics industry? I was just wondering because I saw that you made the strakes yourself, you usually see people making stuff out of fiberglass, not molding polyurethane. How did you make your mold and what of? I would enjoy more indepth detail on how you made the strakes? Thanks. Im am currently going to school for plastics and polymers engineering technology.
Im am currently going to school for plastics and polymers engineering technology.
07-26-2004, 01:45 PM
#40
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Thread Starter
Briefly, the mold is made from RTV Silicone and is cast off the original aluminum strake. This material will capture every detail in the original though it doesn't last forever, it will eventually have to be discarded and replaced. Next I used a quick cast polyurethane that hardens in about 8 -10 minutes until demold time. This material is a clear yellow and is mixed in a 1:1 ratio with the activator catalyst. Within about 2 minutes it turns white and the chemical reaction causes the material to get very warm as it is going through it's hardening process. It comes out white as noted in the pics.
There is some sanding required to prepare the surface for painting. I finish off the sanding process with 1500 grit wet application sandpaper. They need to be primered then the base coat goes on. Velocity Red has a mid coat which contains the metal flake so that needs to be applied. After the mid coat three coats of clear coat and finally, I use the 1500 grit sanding process again and follow that up with rubbing compound.
I am also going to be testing some fiberglass resins and will eventually attempt Carbon Fiber lay up. The CF is labor intensive. These polyester resins are also very odiferous and need to be used outside or in a controled environment with a hood.
As far as being in the plastics industry, no, I am just learning this as I go along. I'm a quick study and am good with my hands as I have had some experience working with acrylic plastics and woods. Both of these materials tool similarly. I make a model of the mockup out of acrylic plastic first then make a final working model before I cast a mold. I'm also the curious type as to wondering how this works or that can be done.
This casting polyurethane is ideal for working with small parts and it can also be tooled. The tests that I have made actually allow for threading this material as it is not brittle and hard like acrylic plastic. Some of the items I have planned will be from original parts but will be modified to the extent that it has changed in appearance but will mount the same way.
Also, I have found a perfect solution to making these have the same surface as the stock aluminum. There is a high density chrome and aluminum look paint available, though it is expensive ($200+ a quart) but a little will go a long way, so they say. This paint has to go on in a three step process where as you start with black then use the chrome paint over this layer with two coats and finally it is clear coated to protect the final finish. Best part is, I can use my air brush to do this. Things are coming together. :D
There is some sanding required to prepare the surface for painting. I finish off the sanding process with 1500 grit wet application sandpaper. They need to be primered then the base coat goes on. Velocity Red has a mid coat which contains the metal flake so that needs to be applied. After the mid coat three coats of clear coat and finally, I use the 1500 grit sanding process again and follow that up with rubbing compound.
I am also going to be testing some fiberglass resins and will eventually attempt Carbon Fiber lay up. The CF is labor intensive. These polyester resins are also very odiferous and need to be used outside or in a controled environment with a hood.
As far as being in the plastics industry, no, I am just learning this as I go along. I'm a quick study and am good with my hands as I have had some experience working with acrylic plastics and woods. Both of these materials tool similarly. I make a model of the mockup out of acrylic plastic first then make a final working model before I cast a mold. I'm also the curious type as to wondering how this works or that can be done.
This casting polyurethane is ideal for working with small parts and it can also be tooled. The tests that I have made actually allow for threading this material as it is not brittle and hard like acrylic plastic. Some of the items I have planned will be from original parts but will be modified to the extent that it has changed in appearance but will mount the same way.
Also, I have found a perfect solution to making these have the same surface as the stock aluminum. There is a high density chrome and aluminum look paint available, though it is expensive ($200+ a quart) but a little will go a long way, so they say. This paint has to go on in a three step process where as you start with black then use the chrome paint over this layer with two coats and finally it is clear coated to protect the final finish. Best part is, I can use my air brush to do this. Things are coming together. :D
07-26-2004, 07:06 PM
#41
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Well done D!!
Nice to see people that love their cars helping others that love their cars! I know I'm on your list for a bunch of these. I think chrome is the way to go...I like a lot of folks here am not removing the chrome logos from the car. I love the fog light billets/strakes (can't remember what you called them) Also, besides those and the strakes I'm definitely wanting those eyelids!
Thanks again and keep up the great work!! Hmm, you may just have a gold mine on your hands!! ;-)
Nice to see people that love their cars helping others that love their cars! I know I'm on your list for a bunch of these. I think chrome is the way to go...I like a lot of folks here am not removing the chrome logos from the car. I love the fog light billets/strakes (can't remember what you called them) Also, besides those and the strakes I'm definitely wanting those eyelids!
Thanks again and keep up the great work!! Hmm, you may just have a gold mine on your hands!! ;-)
if not, sign me up! I want some!
07-28-2004, 04:00 PM
#49
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Very good job!
I don’t think the LEDs will be a problem, just add before the pour. If you want to get the carbon fiber look you may want to try some carbon fiber vinyl first it may be the easiest way to create with the polyurethane strakes.
I don’t think the LEDs will be a problem, just add before the pour. If you want to get the carbon fiber look you may want to try some carbon fiber vinyl first it may be the easiest way to create with the polyurethane strakes.
