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Post by insterburger on Sept 4, 2015 17:25:29 GMT -5
I found this product on Amazon and decided to give it a shot. Insta Morph is little balls of plastic that, when heated above 150 F (done in a pot or pan of boiling water) become a malleable putty. It can be dyed (Insta Morph also sells a mess-free dye pack) to create colored plastic and molded or worked into really any shape at all. When it cools, it hardens into rigid plastic. If it cools to solid temperature before you're done molding it, just reheat it again and get back to work.
I've only just started playing with it, but it seems to me this product could be absolutely revolutionary in crafting airsoft gun parts. It seems as though almost anything could be sculpted out of this stuff... The plastic seems to be very strong when cooled, and I can't imagine field conditions ever getting hot enough to turn it back into putty-- and if it ever did (i.e. leaving a gun out on a hot vehicle) the answer would be to just move it to the shade till it cools. I think for it to be really effective it needs to be able to be cut too, I haven't played with that yet. Still, this looks very, very promising with nearly endless applications.
If anyone else has played with it, how has it worked for you? If not... you should give it a shot on your next build.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 4, 2015 23:06:17 GMT -5
Sounds like it might work for a number of our projects. Certainly an expensive actual part that could be crafted would be stock bands? I have been anxious to try heating up strips of PVC or ABS and attempt to adapt it to accomodate needs but this might be simpler?
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Post by insterburger on Sept 5, 2015 8:51:27 GMT -5
I think stock bands would lend themselves well to replication with this-- don't know what stresses the plastic can take, but it seems quite sturdy when cooled.
I have parts to build about 80% of a G43 receiver for my M14 conversion, I'm hoping to use this to create the "gaps" and hold everything together. I might also make the front sight mount from this, especially if it can be finely sculpted with hobby saw and file once hardened. Will advise.
I also plan to use it to fix my MG42-- there, the switch inside that actuates the magazine feeding mechanism seems to have gone south (a common failing, I understand). My plan is to install a push-button switch at the back of the trigger guard that will be actuated by the back of the trigger when depressed. Should not only fix the issue, but make subsequent repairs much easier if the mod ever fails.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 5, 2015 22:01:44 GMT -5
Keep us posted on your efforts using this product. I have been anxious to try boiling Pvc or using a heat gun to mold it and will give that a go once home.
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Post by raffles on Sept 11, 2015 5:50:15 GMT -5
I picked up a bag of generic brand stuff from eBay a while ago. It shaped really well but the best thing was it takes a tap to fit screw threads really well. When cooled its like a nylon.
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