Comments on: *ding*. Model’s done. http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/ding-models-done/ A designer from NYC, babbling globally. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:20:03 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: bronxelf http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/ding-models-done/#comment-215 bronxelf Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:23:18 +0000 http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/?p=96#comment-215 Hi Sally, I understand the concept. It would seem though that there's some points that need clarification. 1. When you make a silicon mold, you aren't burning it. It's liquid. You pour it, it hardens, you cut it off the positive and you use it over and over You can create hundreds of items from that one mold. That, right there, is significantly better in terms of impact than burning polystyrene. A reusable item= + over something that can only be used once. Also, there's no tooling involved. You could make one of these molds in your garage. 2. If you're only going to make a few of them, then you're right, a silicone mold isn't needed. However, <b>neither is the polystyrene positive.</b> You can word directly in wax like people have done for thousands of years. Carve the wax directly, cast it up, no burning plastic. I promise, it works perfectly(try it, it's fun!) The foam isn't needed here at all. It's *convenient*, since carving foam is a lot easier than carving wax and you get a positive faster. But it doesn't make it less toxic when you burn the stuff out. It's interesting, but it's not really innovative. All he's done is replace one, non-toxic material (wax) with a toxic one (polystyrene). Other than that, the process is basically the same as it always has been. It's not any more hands on than it would be in wax. It just requires less patience. Hi Sally,

I understand the concept. It would seem though that there’s some points that need clarification.

1. When you make a silicon mold, you aren’t burning it. It’s liquid. You pour it, it hardens, you cut it off the positive and you use it over and over You can create hundreds of items from that one mold. That, right there, is significantly better in terms of impact than burning polystyrene. A reusable item= + over something that can only be used once.

Also, there’s no tooling involved. You could make one of these molds in your garage.

2. If you’re only going to make a few of them, then you’re right, a silicone mold isn’t needed. However, neither is the polystyrene positive. You can word directly in wax like people have done for thousands of years. Carve the wax directly, cast it up, no burning plastic. I promise, it works perfectly(try it, it’s fun!) The foam isn’t needed here at all. It’s *convenient*, since carving foam is a lot easier than carving wax and you get a positive faster. But it doesn’t make it less toxic when you burn the stuff out.

It’s interesting, but it’s not really innovative. All he’s done is replace one, non-toxic material (wax) with a toxic one (polystyrene). Other than that, the process is basically the same as it always has been. It’s not any more hands on than it would be in wax. It just requires less patience.

]]> By: Sally http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/ding-models-done/#comment-214 Sally Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:58:05 +0000 http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/?p=96#comment-214 I don't think you read the text properly... The idea is about sacrifising an object, so that no two chairs are the same. It means the designers doesn't have to deploy expensive tooling costs to make negatives of something he will only make a few of. Its called lost foam casting . You talk about environmental impact - since when was making a mould in silicone environmentally friendly?!! I think it an interesting hands-on approach to furniture. I don’t think you read the text properly…
The idea is about sacrifising an object, so that no two chairs are the same.
It means the designers doesn’t have to deploy expensive tooling costs to make negatives of something he will only make a few of.
Its called lost foam casting .
You talk about environmental impact – since when was making a mould in silicone environmentally friendly?!!
I think it an interesting hands-on approach to furniture.

]]> By: bronxelf http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/ding-models-done/#comment-212 bronxelf Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:26:26 +0000 http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/?p=96#comment-212 Realistically, all you needed to do was take the extra two steps that it takes to make a mold from any other object. You'd need to coat it in a release agent, and make a rubber/silicone negative, and then create a wax positive from the mold. There was no need to burn the polystyrene. Realistically, all you needed to do was take the extra two steps that it takes to make a mold from any other object. You’d need to coat it in a release agent, and make a rubber/silicone negative, and then create a wax positive from the mold.

There was no need to burn the polystyrene.

]]> By: Paul Neubauer http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/ding-models-done/#comment-211 Paul Neubauer Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:30:25 +0000 http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/?p=96#comment-211 Ah, I see. That screams toxicity. I am curious about the alternate methods. Ah, I see. That screams toxicity.

I am curious about the alternate methods.

]]> By: bronxelf http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/ding-models-done/#comment-210 bronxelf Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:10:17 +0000 http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/?p=96#comment-210 Paul- http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/21/bronze-poly-chair-by-max-lamb/#more-8738 Seems pretty clear to me he's burning polystyrene. Paul-

http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/21/bronze-poly-chair-by-max-lamb/#more-8738

Seems pretty clear to me he’s burning polystyrene.

]]> By: bronxelf http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/ding-models-done/#comment-209 bronxelf Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:05:35 +0000 http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/?p=96#comment-209 Actually, what I can tell has nothing to do with that image, but from an article I read previously describing how the chair was made. I can try to scare it up for you. Actually, what I can tell has nothing to do with that image, but from an article I read previously describing how the chair was made. I can try to scare it up for you.

]]> By: Paul Neubauer http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/ding-models-done/#comment-208 Paul Neubauer Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:03:47 +0000 http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/?p=96#comment-208 Sometime could you elaborate on the casting methods and how you can tell what can tell from that image? Assuming it's something that can be reasonably well explained to those without having years of foundry experience, of course. Sometime could you elaborate on the casting methods and how you can tell what can tell from that image? Assuming it’s something that can be reasonably well explained to those without having years of foundry experience, of course.

]]> By: Trav http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/ding-models-done/#comment-207 Trav Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:51:52 +0000 http://damnedgooddesign.wordpress.com/?p=96#comment-207 Wow. That chair... I guess you could call it that. I'd be more tempted to designate it a "sculpture" than "furniture." I mean, yes, you can probably sit on it, but it looks like a thing made to see rather than use, which takes it out of the realm of furniture. I mean, "comfort" doesn't appear to have entered into the design, there. Wow. That chair… I guess you could call it that. I’d be more tempted to designate it a “sculpture” than “furniture.” I mean, yes, you can probably sit on it, but it looks like a thing made to see rather than use, which takes it out of the realm of furniture. I mean, “comfort” doesn’t appear to have entered into the design, there.

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