How thin is your POP mold right now? I would suggest you thicken it a bit if it seems fragile. Just mix up some more POP but make it rather thick so that you have to spread it on the back of your existing mold rather than pour it on. That way you won't have to worry about any seeping under to the impression side. It depends on how big a leaf mold is as to whether I add expanding foam on the back for more support. I definitely used the foam on my gunnera mold. But I just made a hosta POP mold and I likely will not be needing the foam. I just make a nice silicone mold from it and then carefully pack the POP mold away in bubblewrap and in a safe place.

Hope that helps you... others may wish to jump in here with other ideas. Good for you for attempting this for the first time! It is rather addicting! lol

Marly

Marly,Buddyfly, Thank you for answering, I begin to see what to do.The leaf is about 13 inches, rounded. It is not uniform in thickness. I was told to apply the pop rather thin,so as not to get bubbles. I was imagining myself endlessly pouring pop over it.I was so concearned about not getting bubbles, I couldn't see the simplicity. It makes much more sense to spread it on thicker, and even out the thickness. Doing a gunnera takes all the help you can get, I would imagine. OH, yes, I will carefully wrap mine, too and put it in a safe place.Took a lot of courage to face it. I admire your work,Thanks for sharing. You are so right... terribly addictive !!! Irene

Yes, I like to apply the first layer of POP on in a fairly fluid form. It does creep under the leaf but I am a very patient person and can pick away forEVER with a blade to remove the extra POP! lol I suppose you could build a 'dam' of sorts but I haven't tried that yet.

Hope to see pics of your mold eventually.

Marly

OK, Marley, As soon as I master my son's camera, I'm still working on that.

Just wanted to add a note that when you add on that extra layer, you'll need to mist/moisten the older POP so it doesn't suck the water out of the newly applied POP. It's like a sponge!

Marly--Between layers of silicone how long do you wait before applying the next layer? I tried a POP leaf but the silicone stayed in the veins in some places. Mostly the deeper ones. They were kind of deep 1/8"-1/4".
Paws

HowieDoin... Thanks for the extra note, I'm going out this AM to handle it,So, I'll spray it first. Thanks

I have made molds from latex and from urethane - recommend both for leaf molds - cannot imagine POP, but have used POP for back up molds on some items. I have been out of the circuit for over a year, but will return to latexing and urethaning.

Grins

Vicki

Vicki-we're just starting on molds,got the stuff for urethane rubber.Do you do fibreglas backing?Given that we want to do a lot from each mold,we felt that it was necessary for our purposes.Just wondering about your experiences,mistakes you won't make again(!)that sort of thing...
cheers

If you are making leaf molds, there is no need for backup - because you use it exactly as you did the leaf!!!!

Urethane painted over 3 dimensional molds - let us say "frog" for example - require some kind of backup, as when you fill the mold w/ crete mix, it will stretch and sag. I have used Great Stuff - after wrapping completed urethane mold in plastic wrap. Be sure to make this backup before you undo any of the mold.

I tried some POP backups - much messier!! AND, prone to not doing well in this damp climate!!!

I have not tried fiberglass anything.

Best wishes - write if I can be of help w/ specifics.

Vicki

Actually I make a POP imprint of the leaf and then make a silicone or latex "mold" out of the POP imprint which gives you an eternal (well, sort of) leaf. I then use the latex leaf as I would a regular leaf to pat concrete on supported by the sand/plastic.