Casting question

Videoviper

illuminati
Officer Club
Aug 15, 2012
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Let me preface this question by saying I have no desire to start casting. This is simply a question about the process.

I know a lot of the castors cast individual pieces one at a time. However back in the day when we got vehicles as a kid, many of the smaller pieces (Of the same color plastic) would be on a "tree" 1 mold for many pieces.

Is this something that makes sense to do for casting other parts? (Like making 6 head casts at once rather than 1 at a time.) or is it something that depends on the part?

Other than Curiosity, I oftened thought this would be a great way to get a 10 pack riffle/ accessory pack that's just one tree. I have often read some that some castors would like to do smaller parts but ultimatly something like Hawk's Coffee mug isn't feasable/sellable do to the size (who wants just 1 mug :) )
 

daremo

Officer III
Sep 12, 2011
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Most will make a mold having multiple different pieces in one mold. Once you have enough of the same piece you can make a gang mold (multiple copies of the same piece in a mold). It's not cost effective to make a mold of just a single part.
 

Tofujesse

Enlisted
Mar 15, 2012
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I believe most casters already do that. I think a lot has to do with costs cause silicone isn't cheap. I mean if you have one part that's selling like crazy, obviously you should make a multicavity mold. Then if you have a part that you only sell 10 units a month why waste the silicone on a that. It's kinda tricky, for me anyway.
 

Vortious

Officer II
Feb 13, 2013
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The thing is that say you get 1 of an item from someone. Then you'll need to make several copies of that item before you have enough to make a gang mold. Most of the heads in my store are single molds unless they sell allot then I make a double mold of that, but not too many sell like crazy enough for that.
 

daremo

Officer III
Sep 12, 2011
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I've had one done for a while. Sold 2 dozen to guy on joecustoms.

 

Giga Bread

Mega Calories!
Aug 20, 2011
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I usually have one or two molds with 1-2 heads that serve as a way use up excess resin. But everything else is 5-8 parts each.