After the failure of my wooden moulds/formers I was a bit downhearted. I did get lots of very helpful suggestions from blog readers ... and I gave very serious consideration to using more than one of them. However, just as I was dozing off last night I had an idea ... and this afternoon I have had the opportunity to try it out ... and it worked!
The idea was very simple ... use a metal former! The thought of having to make a former out of metal is something that I must admit I did not relish ... but then I realised that I had suitable substitutes available that would allow me to experiment ... which I did. The 'suitable substitutes' were tin lids! (Not the tops off baked bean or other food containers, but the lids from stainless steel storage tins).
I assembled a number of possible 'suitable substitutes' ...
... clamped a piece of Plasticard to the inside edge of one of the tin lids ...
... placed it in a pan of boiling water for 45 seconds ...
... left it to cool, unclamped the Plasticard, et voila it worked!
The method is not quite perfected yet, but I have at least got 'proof of concept' now, and only a few more experiments should be needed for me to iron out the remaining problems.
The idea was very simple ... use a metal former! The thought of having to make a former out of metal is something that I must admit I did not relish ... but then I realised that I had suitable substitutes available that would allow me to experiment ... which I did. The 'suitable substitutes' were tin lids! (Not the tops off baked bean or other food containers, but the lids from stainless steel storage tins).
I assembled a number of possible 'suitable substitutes' ...
... clamped a piece of Plasticard to the inside edge of one of the tin lids ...
... placed it in a pan of boiling water for 45 seconds ...
... left it to cool, unclamped the Plasticard, et voila it worked!
The method is not quite perfected yet, but I have at least got 'proof of concept' now, and only a few more experiments should be needed for me to iron out the remaining problems.
Ingenious Bob!!
ReplyDeleteJim
Jim Duncan,
ReplyDeleteI have now discovered that two of the tin lids are almost - but not quite - the same size. If you put the smaller lid inside the larger there is just enough room for the Plasticard to fit between the two. This should mean that the Plasticard will not need to be clamped in place; the outer side of the smaller lid will hold it against the inner side of the larger one.
All the best,
Bob
Even better!
ReplyDeleteGet cooking!!
Jim Duncan,
ReplyDeleteI hope to try out the 'two lid' technique later this evening or tomorrow morning.
All the best,
Bob
I think I may well get barred from the kitchen if I tried this!
ReplyDeleteA starving wargamer is a sad, sad sight!
I watch with admiration Bob
PS Would like to attend CoW one day (family too young at the moment), is it always in London or does it roam?
Geordie an Exiled FoG,
ReplyDeleteMy wife is very understanding about such things ... which is lucky for me!
All the best,
Bob
PS. Except for the very first, COW has always been held at Knuston Hall, Northamptonshire. As it is in the Midlands, it is reasonably accessible from most parts of the UK.
A neat idea!
ReplyDeleteA J,
ReplyDeleteI hope it works!
All the best,
Bob