Cool video of diy frag plugs
- Thread starter MichaelB
- Start date
timmeh
Supporting Member
Michael: I have a couple kilns at the house (we have a pottery studio here in San Jose). I would be happy to fire any number of these that you cast. I also have probably 30 gallons of slip, and would be happy to give you enough slip to cast more plugs than you will ever have the time/willingness to cast (a gallon or so would do).
Also, FYI: Using silicone for slip-casting is a horrible idea. What you'd use silicone for is casting a plaster mold. Then, you put the slip in the plaster mold, wait a period of time, and then demold the slip-cast ceramic. You may notice how crappy his plugs look - that's because silicone doesn't absorb water from the slip, and thus, it doesn't really harden properly. When you put slip in plaster, it takes about 20 minutes for the plaster to suck the water out, allowing you to demold the cast ceramic material (I use porcelain mainly), let it dry, and then fire it.
Anyway, if you legit wanted to make plugs, I'd be happy to have you over, give you some pottery plaster powder (so you could cast some molds) and some slip (so you could cast in the molds). Then, after you make a bunch, I'll fire em for you.
Also, FYI: Using silicone for slip-casting is a horrible idea. What you'd use silicone for is casting a plaster mold. Then, you put the slip in the plaster mold, wait a period of time, and then demold the slip-cast ceramic. You may notice how crappy his plugs look - that's because silicone doesn't absorb water from the slip, and thus, it doesn't really harden properly. When you put slip in plaster, it takes about 20 minutes for the plaster to suck the water out, allowing you to demold the cast ceramic material (I use porcelain mainly), let it dry, and then fire it.
Anyway, if you legit wanted to make plugs, I'd be happy to have you over, give you some pottery plaster powder (so you could cast some molds) and some slip (so you could cast in the molds). Then, after you make a bunch, I'll fire em for you.
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Wow, sounds like you are very experienced in this general area. I honestly saw the video and saw this would potential be a cool project to play around with.
If I'm honest I know absolutely nothing at all about this process. Beyond what I saw in the video.
I kinda think being your somewhat of a expert. There could be a few others that might be intrested in trying to make frag plugs. If you would maybe consider showing a small group of club members the basics and whatever process you think would be the most economical and efficent to make diy plugs.
Maybe if this is something you would consider hosting and sharing some of your general knowledge we could discuss the possibility of settling up a future workshop/ of sorts. We could probably bring pizza over etc. No pressure intended here just a thought.
Though I would personally be highly intrested in this myself in any case.
timmeh
Supporting Member
I do have the desire to host a little get-together for some of the active folks in the San Jose area at my house sometime this summer for pizza/beer/hanging-out... I could also work a little lesson on frag-plug casting into that, if any of those folks happened to be interested.
Funny enough, as I typed the above message, I had a couple slip-casting molds for glaze-test-tiles that we curing, and I have a kiln-load of them firing. I snapped a picture of what the mold, and slip-cast part looks like:
Also, interestingly enough, it's quite easy to use a 3D printer to make a "mold master" - the thing that you cast the plaster mold around. Then, you use that plaster mold with the slip, to cast the final plugs. Since both Marcos and I (and others) have printers, getting a master made would make this whole operation pretty easy.
Funny enough, as I typed the above message, I had a couple slip-casting molds for glaze-test-tiles that we curing, and I have a kiln-load of them firing. I snapped a picture of what the mold, and slip-cast part looks like:
Also, interestingly enough, it's quite easy to use a 3D printer to make a "mold master" - the thing that you cast the plaster mold around. Then, you use that plaster mold with the slip, to cast the final plugs. Since both Marcos and I (and others) have printers, getting a master made would make this whole operation pretty easy.
I've reread your response a few times to try to understand whats what. So your picture helped alot.
We definitely have a few guys that would likely be willing to 3d print things for the club, @MarcosD @Srt4eric .
Are the slip & plaster molds something that's reusable from one batch to another? I assume the 3d print master mold would be.
I love when people bring other expertise that can be used in the hobby like pottery, photography, plumbing, 3-d printing (I just realized that's a lot of p's) and more, very cool of you!
timmeh
Supporting Member
Yes - a single plaster mold can be used to cast many many replicas. A couple hundred wouldn't be unusual before the mold degraded and lost its precision. If I were doing this, I'd make a single plaster mold that had spots for many 10 or 20 frag plugs, that way you'd get a gazillion of these before needing to make a new plaster mold.
There’s free kilns on fb marketplace once in a while
I'll chat with him more and see if he’s open to it. Than maybe we can do a sign up to gauge intrest.
At one point we were considering DIY’ing frag plugs and discs, potentially with “BAR” embossed on. With the 3D printing mold master idea, this sees like it would be doable. For club members, and to hand out at events for outreach. I think it would be cool anyway. @Srt4eric @Darkxerox
Is it possible to make agrocrete plugs/discs like Oceans Wonders makes with this technique or related?
Is it possible to make agrocrete plugs/discs like Oceans Wonders makes with this technique or related?
I have two kilns...
I think lot of cool things are possible. Yet skills and know how to do them would be a challenge. I would imagine with the experience @timmeh has he would know a method that could make it happen. Rather a stamp or or something put into a mold etc. As far as plug materials I expect he may also have worked with many types of material that would be suitable for plugs. With experienced guidence we could likely produce something of high quality
Never knew you were into pottery etc. Have you used them before?
I suppose the better question is what don’t you have ?
Lmao I was honestly thinking it.
timmeh
Supporting Member
If someone wanted to give me the specs of the best frag-plug size, I can get a 3D model of the master-mold whipped up in just a few minutes. Flat discs would be outrageously easy to cast. Discs with a post are fairly easy, although marginally more complicated to slip-cast. Either way would work easily.
Also, making a BAR stamp is 100% the way to go, if you wanted plugs to be marked. Depending on the size, the stamp could be 3d-printed too.
Also, making a BAR stamp is 100% the way to go, if you wanted plugs to be marked. Depending on the size, the stamp could be 3d-printed too.
I think 3/4 and 1inch are likely the most commonly used frag plugs with stems. Though there are larger ones as well.
For frag tiles I personally prefer the 4inch square tiles for my frag tank. I'm not certain what the main steam preference is reguarding tiles are. They range frag 3/4 inches up to 6 inches round or square.