Moldable thermoplastic beads - White 100g

Moldable thermoplastic beads, white, 100 g

The beads look like small white balls, but it is enough to put them into hot water and they turn into a translucent, easily moldable mass. They can be kneaded in the hand, pressed into a mold, stretched and pressed against an object to take on its shape. Once cool they turn white again and harden into a solid plastic. This is not a modeling compound that hardens by a chemical reaction: the plastic only softens and sets, so it can be reheated and reshaped at any time.

Use

• costume parts, buckles, teeth, small ornaments
• quick repairs and replacements for broken parts
• making a prototype of a shape you are still looking for
• creating a simple mold by pressing an object into it

How to work with the compound

Heat the water to roughly 60 to 65 degrees Celsius and pour the beads in. As soon as they turn translucent and start to join together, take them out and shape them, preferably in heat-resistant gloves, because the mass is hot. Hold the shape until it turns white again. Count on one fundamental property: the surface of this plastic practically repels paint, so do not rely on it as a surface for a finish. A piece that has gone wrong simply goes back into the hot water and you start again.

Who the compound is for

• makers of costumes and props
• modelers who need to replace a missing part quickly
• anyone interested in a material that can be used again and again
• anyone who tries a shape out before making it for real

There is a risk of scalding during heating. Work carefully, use hand protection and keep the compound out of the reach of children.