Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been doing taxidermy since 1974 and have made LOTS and LOTS of habitat for the mounts. A lot by hand and also by making reproduction rocks (more realistic). In taxidermy we make the fake rocls LIGHT so they can be hanging on the wall etc. Basically we make a mold of the rock, pour a cast of the rock, and then fill the cast rock with foam to make it light. I can use this same technique, but skip the foam filling part to keep the reproduction rock hollow inside. And of course I have to add a step and dremel out a hole (too easy). So here goes. I have pictures of different rocks for the process.

Kerby...

I use Latex 74 and make numerous thin coats on the rock to make the rubber mold. It dries pretty fast, especially in the sun.

Once you have numerous coats of Latex 74, just peel the mold off the rock.

Make sure you brush some car wax into the rubber mold for a mold release and then mix bondo and fiberglass resin and pour into the rubber mold. Rotate so that the bondo coats the inside of the mold.

Once the bondo sets you can then peel the cast out of the mold.

Make a hole pattern on the rock and then use a dremel tool and cut out your opening.

I use water based paints and just use different coats of TRANSPARENT earth colors, NOT opaque colors.

-----
Life is like a bunch of fish in an aquarium....we all get along (bonding) until I want to eat you....and I do.

That looks great! Thanks for the step by step instructions with illustrations. how long does it take to make one? Dave.

I can make a mold in one day, allowing 30 minutes between the latex 74 rubber coats. After that I can pop one out of the mold every 30 minutes. A few minutes to make the opening, and a few minutes for painting.

Kerby...
-----
Life is like a bunch of fish in an aquarium....we all get along (bonding) until I want to eat you....and I do.

Very cool Kerby. I have a question about the fumes though. I seem to recall bondo having a strong smell for some time. How long do you allow these to gas off before using them?
-----
“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

WWW.TDSNAKES.BLOGSPOT.COM

I mix and pour the bondo OUTSIDE and not in my shop. Once the bondo "kicks" heats up and then cools, I remove the blabnk from the mold. I then go to the sink and rinse it in HOT water to get rid of the mold release/car wax, otherwise the paint would have a hard time sticking to it. After that, the "bondo smell" is gone.

Kerby...
-----
Life is like a bunch of fish in an aquarium....we all get along (bonding) until I want to eat you....and I do.

Very cool, I've been thinking of doing the "fake rock" hide thing for my adult Black Milk... if you were doing a large cast would you place the rubber mold in sand for support or would your approach be completely different... e.g. bondo/fiberglass as opposed to foam? I don't know about others but I'd like to see more posts along these lines from a pro.

Gerry

On the larger molds I make a "mother mold" either in plaster or fiberglass that would go over the latex mold BEFORE I take it off the rock.

Kerby...
-----
Life is like a bunch of fish in an aquarium....we all get along (bonding) until I want to eat you....and I do.

But I have a question. Is that 3 different molds you used to illustrate the process? The first one definately doesn't look like the same rock, to me at least. They look great! I'm just seeing a big difference in the shape of the rocks.
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Yes, I stated that I was using different rocks to show the process.

Kerby...
-----
Life is like a bunch of fish in an aquarium....we all get along (bonding) until I want to eat you....and I do.

I must have missed that part. Thanks for the tutorial!
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com