using rod plastic in glue gun ?

out, and it occured to me that *maybe* I could use some plastic that comes in a
rod shape of the right diameter in the glue gun to do the same thing. Has anyone
done this with any success ? If so, what kind of plastic and where did you get
it ?

even know how hot it gets, which I am sure would be an issue depending on the
type of plastic.

Glue gun sticks are *already* made of plastic, and that's what you
should use. They only call them "glue" because the melting/cooling has a
glue-like effect.

You probably won't get good results with just a glue gun, but you can
try. I'd get the big dual-temp kind. Harbor Freight has them. There are
many other types of glue sticks you can buy, with all kinds of
properties. All are really formulations of plastic.

To do this right you need a hot glue pot, like this one:

http://www.peakcandle.com/products/Glue-Pot__A1031.aspx

If you don't have the pellets you can chop up glue sticks.

-- Gordon

I halfway suspected that. Cool! My next question was gonna be if the =
glue sticks could be remelted and used again - to go through several =
iterations of :
    pour glue sticks into mold
    modify that molded part
    cast new mold
    remelt glue stick and cast in new mold, etc.
    repeat until mold for part is perfect
 

Looks interesting and in my price range!
Good info - thanks!
JCD

sticks could be remelted and used again - to go through several iterations of :

Too much re-heating breaks down the plastic. It's best to heat what you
need to melting, and throw away what you don't use. Or if you're really
thrifty limit it to just one re-melt.

-- Gordon

Hot glue is one of several different techniques that you can use to
make your own castings.

For more information check out Yahoogroups "casting".

And books:
"Molding & Casting Handbook" by Thurston James.
"The Mouldmakers Handbook" by Jean-Pierre Delpech...

Note different spellings.

Search on "moldmaking supplies" for stuff like RTV silicones
and other moldmaking / casting supplies.

DOC

wrote:

out, and it occured to me that *maybe* I could use some plastic that comes in a
rod shape of the right diameter in the glue gun to do the same thing. Has anyone
done this with any success ? If so, what kind of plastic and where did you get
it ?

even know how hot it gets, which I am sure would be an issue depending on the
type of plastic.

out, and it occured to me that *maybe* I could use some plastic that comes in a
rod shape of the right diameter in the glue gun to do the same thing. Has anyone
done this with any success ? If so, what kind of plastic and where did you get
it ?

even know how hot it gets, which I am sure would be an issue depending on the
type of plastic.

I've never tried them, but these guys have a bunch of molding/casting
supplies:
http://freemansupply.com/

- Daniel

plastic that comes in a rod shape of the right diameter in the glue gun =
to do the same thing. Has anyone done this with any success ? If so, =
what kind of plastic and where did you get it ?

depending on the type of plastic.

Cool site and products! I'm really interested in the machinable wax.
Thanks !