1 Topic by cmetzel

  • cmetzel
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  • From: Solidoodle2 #0091
  • Registered: 2012-08-22
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Topic: visco-elastic foam source? stress ball material

It dawned on me that I could print out my own molds for making custom stress balls with the SD2, but I've been looking for the foam material for a little while and can't find anything under 2lb density which is much too rigid for a stress ball.  Anyone know of a stress ball like substance that I can pour into a mold?  Even a light airy Gel would probably work, as long as it doesn't remain tacky.

2 Reply by Tomek

  • Tomek
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  • Registered: 2012-10-01
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Re: visco-elastic foam source? stress ball material

You might find some success with "silly putty" type polymers. I'm sure there's a silly-putty recipe somewhere that would be decent for the silly-putty type of stress ball. But for the rubber bounc & return type, I don't think it'll work.

I've also filled a balloon with flour and found it to have pretty nice stress ball qualities (a side effect, because it's useful for juggling.)

3 Reply by cmetzel

  • cmetzel
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  • From: Solidoodle2 #0091
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Re: visco-elastic foam source? stress ball material

I'm not using it as a stress ball, need the foam kind.

4 Reply by pretenda

  • pretenda
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  • From: Sydney, Australia
  • Registered: 2012-10-13
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Re: visco-elastic foam source? stress ball material

i know this isn't what you are after, but ive been playing around with making molds for buttons made out of silicone. Buy a tube of normal silicone you'd use to silicone up your bathroom / kitchen and mix it with cornflour. Its a bastard of a thing to work with, but it might do what you are after. If you want to make it pourable, you supposedly mix a thinner into it like metho.

I haven't really had the time to finish playing around with it, and I haven't yet played with the thinner part of it to make it pourable, but it might help you out. So far, all of my castings have been too elastic for what I need, but it might be perfect for you.

This is where i first saw it:
http://blog.makezine.com/2010/11/04/rea … g-silicon/

Cheers.