I've worked with silicone RTV rubber. For
molding/casting it has
My only experience of RTV is as the 'gasket replacement' stuff. It works
well for that, but that grade would be far too soft to make a roller.
excellent properties for holding small detail,
releasing cleanly from
pretty much ANY material that isn't itself, and lasting for multiple
The Devcon stuff is a 2-pack -- adter mixing it lasts for 30 minutes
(according to the data sheet I've read) and cures fully in 24 hours. They
also sell a mould release agent to coat the mould with, and a primer to
coat things you do want it to stick to (in my application I do want it to
stick to the spindle). They specifically mention 'transport rollers' as a
possible application,
My main concern is that I know I'll have problems the first few times.
Maybe I'll misdesign the mould, or be unable to get the part out, or
whatever. The roller in question is about 3" lon and 1/2" in diameter, a
lot less than one kit's worth of stuff. And I simply can't afford a
complete kit for every attempt.
IO've read the book 'How to cast small metal and rubber parts' (or some
similar title). The authors say that Devcon used to recomend mixing
part-kits, but now recomend against it. But that it should still be OK.
-tony