Doctor Ben's How-To #4: Hot Glue Casting Technique booklet A number of years ago I was browsing through my old Gazette magazines and I picked up the January/February 1982 issue where I found an interesting article. In this long-out-of print magazine, I found an article about casting detail parts. In that article Terry Metcalfe described how he cast parts by melting beads of a thermoplastic called “Makit and Bakit” beads in RTV molds using an ordinary kitchen oven. I decided that this process was definitely NOT going to work for me.
As a former Mold Maker/Tool & Die maker, I am quite familiar with the plastic injection process which if you were not aware is how many of our daily plastic products are made. I tried Terry's technique several times in my plethora of RTV rubber molds and I just could not get them to come out as well as his article discussed. One day I happened to be using a hot glue gun in my hobby room and I had an epiphany. And the rest is history.... It has been nearly 30 years since my "Hot Glue Casting" technique was published in the "Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette" magazine. Although this innovative process hasn't changed much over time, the availability and cost of Room Temperature Vulcanizing Silicone (RTV) as well as weathering and finishes has had some significant innovations. Now is as good a time as any to refresh this article with additional information and lots more color photos than was in the original publication. (16pgs color & B/W) Read More ... | 
