36:38 Because he's also a TH-camr. Beautiful and pleasing parts drive viewer satisfaction, even for the molds. And my guess is that the vast majority of his viewers are just enjoying what I call a "build video". And he is attracting possible buyers for the product.
Yup... I like what he is doing. I wish I had the same digital opportunities in my day! It would have been fun to share all the funky stuff that went down in my shops over the years... I like RTA's work and his commitment to telling a story with poetry and peace. He has my high five for sure! Michael
My mind is blown to find this channel at 1.5k subscribers. Seriously insane. I had the good fortune to make some props for money, and I'm so vindicated and happy to haer that the "try-fail-try-fail" process really is standard/to be expected, because I felt like an utter failure. Can't wait to see more, and glad I'm here for the ride.
Try Fail.... I don't know about you, but that method exhausted me as a young mold maker. I was into the process like an extended game of chess, but I wish there had been more easy wins along the way! Like you mentioned, it was hard to feel good about myself when the day was peppered with valuable lessons, but hard financial losses. Sound like we are both past that phase... my hope is to share some good stuff to let younger generation of makers kick butt faster that I ever could. That would make me happy. Thanks for tuning in! Michael
Great analysis of a maker I watch regularly - your comments were gentle and clearly "born of experience" - lots to learn from his video, and then also lots to learn from your personal analysis of it!
RTA is always a nice watch. I have thought about commenting on more of his videos, but did not want it to come across as I was hounding him. If you have a particular video that may be a good candidate for review... I would welcome it. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Robert Tolone cut mould videos are always fascinating - I have used many of his techniques on complicated moulds that I never thought would be possible!
I say the same amd I've seen all his videos. Some parts can be short cutted for profitability. I use all of the technologies the guy uses and yes SLA printing came a long way and does help doing molds faster. One thing should br understood about the RTA guy, he does detailing for cars and this phone charger he designs here is just a limited series for his fans. 👏 Overall both are inspiring.
In a sense, we are all DIY-ers... right?? Thanks for tuning in. We have a lot of cool stuff coming up, including some interviews with other craftspeople and some in house instruction videos. It just takes us some time to pull it all together... I hope you will stay with us for the journey. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV You do have a point! But if it were up to me, I'd rather be a PAY-er and share the headache. Haha! "Nothing ventured. Nothing gained." though, amirite? Here for the journey! 🍻
😂 you remind me alot of my mentor who brought me into cnc machining. People would say he nit picks everything but it was all valid and had reason behind it. I was very fortunate to have a mentor that didn't like cutting corners and was detail oriented. Awesome video . I've never printed anything and was able to follow along here. I'm subscribed.
As a self taught mould maker, it was a pleasure watching this video, great little gems of advise, will definitely bag my scales for next time. Much much respect and please share it makes a difference.
Self taught seems to be the way mold makers roll... with such limited intel in the ethers! Like you, I learned one 'gem' at a time and gradually it came together. Lots more videos coming. Hope you will stay with us for the gem journey. Michael
Thanks for watching. RTA guy is really good and my comments are not targeted towards him personally or expected to have any influence whatsoever in his work practices. I just wanted to express other observations about the same processes/work flow. His videos are great and it can suck to have a couch captain guy bark out things after RTA has done all the hard work. In fairness of contribution, I will be sure to present more of my work history as our channel grows. I have much to share/express and I am expecting there will be some critical commentary on my methods as well. Buckle up! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Michael
I see a lot of the commentary as being based on having an established business. I was this kid, at one point. My "shop" was a basement with two electrical outlets and no ventilation. I made high quality parts to both learn, and to establish a customer base. Much of the advice given isn't relevant for that situation; when money is tight, your only option is spending more time doing things, because you have nothing else to spend. That being said, nearly *all* of the feedback was spot on from an efficiency perspective. If you have the means and control of the workspace, every piece of feedback given in this video is worth implementing. It is so rare to have experienced moldmakers sharing their perspectives!
@@stevewells20 I think RTA guy is doing great. On quite the journey. Loud and clear about the studio situation. He is way ahead of the game. Two outlets.....you will get a kick out of this. I posted a short studio history montage... link below....got to 12.56 th-cam.com/video/fd3DCbVXnw8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=4lBwoOuCJFZ4JVJw Thanks for tuning in. Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Michael, Oh man, this one is a gem as well! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. The fabrication industry in general, and mold making in particular, tends to be tight-lipped about much of the "secret sauce" that separates the amateurs from the pros. Really cool seeing people succeed, then share back with the community!
Sometimes youtube throws you a random 60k channel's video that is amazing quality, cinematography and informative. Then it throws you another video from a 1k channel, that has immense knowledge, expertise and amazing tips & tricks. I found Engineer Guy like this around 9 years ago and there are many more channels like this. Now, RTA and your channel. Great work and would love to see what you create in the future. Small tips that could improve the viewer experience; 1) Intro; In an age where short form video content with around 30 seconds of video length is the prominent content consumed by many, i think 40 seconds intro and after that another way better intro for 30 seconds is too long for viewer retention. I would have kept the first 10 seconds of the video and scrap the 30 second montage and go directly to you explaining who you are, what are we doing in this video meanwhile a small popup could show more details links, socials, producers etc. Or you can change the structure where the start could be you talking about yourself and the topic shortly similar to like 0:37 to 1:19 and you could cut to the intro sequence where your logo and disclaimer is shown. Linus Tech Tips kind a does this decently but their main goal is more entertainment so i would say if the video begins at 0:37 with some infographics like i mentioned before that could be the best. 2) Camera; I believe camera composition could have been better, you could have been more on the left side of the screen or closer to middle. Similar to the frame where you watch content. Its more appealing since the action is already leaning right side of the screen. And these are extra but you could use better lighting, few small lights and better exposure settings could make a huge difference. Think like if the frame was grayscale and it was minimized to 1/10 of scale. Would you be in focus and would there be enough contrast? 3) Misc; I think two distinct logos are unnecessary and takes a lot of focus, i would have placed them where they would be visible but not at the middle of the frame and not two distinctly different spots. I think when you are talking we don't really need to see the video if it does not include the thing you mention. For example when you were talking about scale and it having resin etc on it you could show the frame maybe zoom on the resin on the scale etc. but when that's not the case i would have preferred seeing you full frame or maybe if its informative with included photos, images of the concepts you are talking about. Little extra but you could even use infographics for some of the concepts you are talking about as well. There are a lot of space to convey information in a frame but it has to be informative, short and not be a focus if its not deserving the focus. Otherwise amazing video, i hope you could grow this channel to be your main hobby, income or anything that you hope to achieve with it. Its already really informative and enjoyable. He has another video where he makes some interesting molding choices would love to watch your reaction and opinions on it as well. Cheers from Turkey.🤍
Hello M Akinsarica, Thank you for your very well organized and detailed feedback and suggestions for our editors. We are making progress with each video and I agree with your suggestions. It will take us some time to get sorted out, but we are on our way...and will be integrating suggestions such as yours. My guess is that you do this for a living... correct? Our challenge is that we have multiple lines of content that are not targeted at necessarily the same audience. ShapeShiftersTV is the umbrella for most of them... you can see on our playlists. But I also have two other channels and several websites that each have distinctly different content. I know youtube favors 'one trick' ponies for their algorithms, but I just don't want to roll that way.. with so many things to discuss/address. I hope you will keep an eye on us and continue to share your keen observations...and know that we are implementing as quickly as we can! Much professional appreciation for your valuable time and insights. Cheers from Chicago/Aurora Michael and SSTV Team.
I thought the RTA video was great and it actually turned me on to moulding. I enjoyed your analysis of it too, I found your insights to be very interesting and constructive. I would like to see you do a full end-end series on youtube targeted at beginners. From setting up a small workspace, designing something, mould making, and then getting the finished product. For me, I own a resin printer same as RTA so it would be cool to see how this technology can be utilised in the process. I wouldnt expect you to discuss all the trade secrets but you could share some basic techniques.
Hey NorthernR, Thank you for taking the time to drop a note. I have been thinking about things that may be useful to people newer to mold making. I have to figure out how best to approach. I have limited time to dedicate to the filming how-to videos at the moment..so the reaction videos are a quick plunge for me and relatively easy edits. Currently, I am also sorting through thousands of old job pictures... hoping to be able to access the relevant pictures quickly in order to drop them into the videos. I am going to do a video/s showing all the shops I have set up and/or spent time in over the years. It might be relevant for those setting up shops... from basements to ballrooms. Please keep in touch! Michael
Thanks for watching. We have another RTA video coming out soon. Commentary on his last video... I'm a little more direct with my comments about his design choices. Hope it will be well received! M
Glad you found us. Much more to come... My plan is to share more than just techniques. I am interested to share business experiences also...hoping to share with others how to put some coin in the bank by not making the same biz/fabrication mistakes I have over the past 'way' too many years. Ha. Cheers, Michael
so good, next level advice! so many little bits I caught him doing and you adding upon that had me thinking in a better way on how to handle projects. Thank you so much!
Where have you been all my life?! Instantly subscribed. I like your habit of being very precise about your critique, mentioning the good things too, etc. All in all very calm and such a love to minute details! I never had a mentor either. Maybe I didn't look close enough, maybe I wasn't sure enough about what I was looking for, but in the end I'm very autodidactic. Your channel seems to be a very good spot to improve on my skills. And I think with all the makers diving into 3D printing, mouldmaking is often cheaper. So I do think at least a part of makers will step up their game with this process. Keep it up, I'll definitely keep watching!
Too funny... glad you subscribed. Sounds like you have been in the trenches yourself. True that on about mentors... they are hard to find because it is not like they are out there hollering mentor, mentor. It seems to be a cosmic alignment thing! TH-cam is a great pinch hit on the mentor issue, but the information is distributed more like confetti than a full book of intel. I wish youtube offered more options for sorting content based on some sort of skill setting. So many first timers get the algorithm win. Either way, I am happy to be in the mix and pleased you found us. 3D printing has its place for sure, but at times, printing without mold making skills slows things down. Both processes offer great wins. Even so, printing was never really my thing, I always took the old school approach because I was more fluent with that. I would have printed more had I had the tech aptitudes for it. For me, it was amazing when it worked and smash mouth when it didn't . Lot's more mold stuff posting... Tuesdays and Fridays. Cheers, Michael
I think most people that haven't endured some engineering design review meetings do not understand you were positive about his process. Great to see knowledgeable folks sharing information. Thank you
You are right... this is what I keep alluding to about those working in a TH-cam bubble... their feedback loop is very small and it can make good feedback land on them or loyalists like an insult when it is not. Thank you for putting attention to this thought! Cheers, M
This was an incredibly helpful review and critique. Really mindful of his process while also gently adding tips that will help refine, refine and refine for little time loss and headache. Thanks for giving these tips because I know getting these tips in other crafts is like large gold nuggets. It takes 10 years in other crafts to mine all these sorts of nuggets from what I've found; and you've given them for free. Thank you!
Hello Jmob, Thank you for the kind words! We have lots more mold making commentary videos coming up...each one (even if not focused on modern methods/high tech) will still have some useful tidbits embroidered into them. Personally, I want to get into talking about the business side of being a fabricator/mold maker outside of a TH-cam maker/crafts bubble. Viewers like you keep us encouraged on our goal. Not so say RTA isn't doing an exceptional job, it's just that the real world business construct puts a different pressure on achieving profitable success than a lab environment does. He/RTA does a great job with his videos and makes my small additions relevant through his examples. I hope you will stay with us as there is some really cool stuff scheduled for release. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Thanks for the detailed info! You have my following and attention. I watched more of your videos, and they were, again, great. Definitely anticipating the videos on the profitable means of mold making/manufacturing too. Cheers!
I thought you were going to rip him a new one lol I watched his original video and you added some solid tips and commentary to his project! Would love to see more videos - Thx man
@@KUDRARACING Just in time.! We post a new RTA commentary tomorrow morning. It's a long one w focus on design issues vs tech nit picking. Also, plenty of common sense thoughts and a story about rock eating monkeys. Fun stuff. I hope you are able to find the time to watch it. Thanks for joining in! Michael
when i clicked I thought it would be just an old-timer critiquing some BS nitpicking and useless. BUT this is actually super well done, the examples and stories are on point and very helpful. Glad I clicked and watched. Thank you.
I have achieved old timer status. =) Glad there was something in there for you. From my side, I can never guess what will be helpful or useless to another maker / mold maker type. As you know, each person comes in with their own shop/eq set up, their own project directives and their own problem solving sills/approach. These days, I look at TH-cam videos like I used to look at technical books. As long as I even get one or two things from the read, it is worth it.... especially over time in an accumulative respect. I am hopeful this channel will have the same accumulative impact over the years. Please stay connected. Michael
I'm a self taught product designer and I manage a manufacturing company over here (UK), this was fucking awesome. Showing and explaining tacit knowledge at this level is incredible, I've learned a lot, thank you so much. I hope the RTA dude doesn't take any of this the wrong way, it's obvious that you want to push him to do better.
Hi Joe, Thanks for joining in! What kind of design/manufacturing work do you do? Glad the video had some useful moments. I was just glancing off some quick bits...but as you know, in manufacturing, there is always another layer worth mentioning. I critiqued RTA's latest video recently and will upload soon. In this one, I am a little more strongly reflective on why he may have made some design decisions that I thought added extensively to the labor process. I chime in on what I thought might be /have been some helpful solutions. It is a long conversation, so I am guessing only the hardcore makers will give it the time. I hope you will find some of it useful for yourself or a contemporary. =) Agreed.. I hope RTA guy is chill with this as well. Please stay connected. M
@@ShapeShifters-TV We're the largest manufacturer of spare wheel covers in the UK! Aquarius Manufacturing. We vacuum form, screen print, cut and sew. The sister company in the same factory extrudes the plastic sheets we vacform. I actually got the job trying to source plastic for a vacuum former I built for a business I tried to get going. I do a fair bit, develop new products/ moulds (solidworks, vetric, CNC router), make sure the orders get out, do the graphic design (Adobe Illustrator) for the custom screen printing, I'm trying to implement modern D2C E-Commerce stuff to the business at the moment (good website, social media marketing etc), it's fun! I basically want to design and make cool shit, sell lots via ecommerce, make lots of money. I think a lot of the stuff on youtube is surface level, I think there's an appetite (at least from me) for in-depth detailed explanations of manufacturing, processes etc. I'm self taught with all of this but I'm completely averse to the amateur, I struggle with "makers", I wanna know how to make something good! Your channel is awesome for this, I love finding out how things are actually made, how things work, and what mistakes I can avoid. Please keep it up, I feel like I have a mentor (I'm 33). I never comment on youtube, but I'll keep up with yours. Thanks for getting back to me.
movie prop/model/mould maker here with almost 25 years of experience. At most things you've said, you're perfectly right, at small, not so important parts, you're not, like the 3D printers nowadays. I also had issues with my Form printers a few years back, but the fresh new cheap chinese and large (and fast) SLA printers are now completely different... This guy is making -and shooting- beautiful stuff, while building his own community and fan-base according the modern day marketing requirements; -that should be the answer for several parts you didn't get. Anyway, I'm glad I've found your channell, I wish I had a mentor like you when I started, as I had none. I almost had to invent warm water for myself too.
25 years... that is a lot! We would have practically been contemporaries at that time. The film industry is one of the industries that I did not tangle with. I could not get my mind around the burnout potential and constant rush deadlines. You must be cut from leather. Yes, the new printers are a completely new game. In a few years, one of my shops will upgrade, but for now, our customer base can be serviced on our CNCs. I am grateful TH-cam facilitates community. I hope to draw out many mold makers out from their shops and start sharing. Mold making and casting is such a solo journey for so many. I hope in a few years our channel plays a small part in improving skill sharing. Did you drop into our ShapeshiftersTV dot com website? If not, keep an eye on it as we are adding a lot more to the handufacturing platform in the coming weeks. Thanks for reaching out. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Michael, building a community for mould makers is a wonderful idea, thank you for your efforts establishing it in advance. Yes, the burnout is real and not just a potential -it happens eventually... I'm rebuilding my life and carreer as a stay-in-my-own-workshop contractor as I had enough moving in and out studio workshops and all that exhausting jazz happens when we're handy for the art department people's notorious last-minute genius ideas. Anyway, I'm glad I've found your channel.
This was worth the watch just for the bit about pressure casting into unpressured silicone.. I never would have thought of that and am looking into getting a pressure setup Appreciated
There is a lot to be said about pressure casting even though it is a relatively simple process. I would also recommend taking the time to build a simple frame for your tank so it can be used horizontally... with shelves inside. This will give you so much more room to do multiple castings at the same time. I like RTA videos and in fact just filmed another reaction to his final episode in the phone charger series. In that video, I added some comments about his pressure casting, but perhaps I should just make a short video where I talk about the pressure cast process. Would something like that be helpful?
@ShapeShifters-TV sideways with shelves is also a good idea. I've mostly watched Robert Tolones casting/molding vids which are fantastic (especially his mold making skills). Im super new to this ive only done one project so far which was one where I lay flat a whole bunch of model kit parts onto a board and made a flat silicone mold so I had plenty of parts for kit bashing. My first silicone pour failed but I think it was down to me not mixing it well. My 2nd went much better and it was bubble free enough that like 95% of the parts would be usable. Actually casting was also a steep learning curve, especially because I was using easycast urethane resin that had a 2 min work time. Eventually I found the best method, rather than trying to pour it into each cavity, was to pour a bunch in the center and use a silicone spatula to spread it into the mold, I actually think this led ultimately to less bubbles, and because they were open molds it meant that I ended up with minimal flashing. But yeah.. Having a way to eliminate bubbles and keep fine details would be better as I probably would end up with about 80% usable bits. More than enough to be useful but still wasteful. It's not suitable for anything complex and I'd like to be able to do more complex shapes. I make a lot of the tools I use as I'm on a pension but Im not planning on doing that with the pressure vessel as it's essentially a bomb so some info on selection criteria, good and bad seal, valve and fitting types would be great. Also what pressures to use for what jobs. I'm currently looking into an airbrush compressor for painting and was hoping it could do double duty but responses ive gotten have been a bit uncertain. I think your tips about having lots of trays and things around to hold tools and parts is a good idea.. Often if im under a deadline or getting tired I start getting slack and just leaving crap all over the place and letting stuff fall on the floor.. And then have to spend half my time looking for bits and cleaning up.
@@ShapeShifters-TV I only just stumbled across your channel so I need to have a look at your back catalog anyway and then I'll probably have even more questions :p
@@oem42 Thanks for your great feedback and backstory on your projects. Actually, there is another way to get great castings of small parts without pressure casting. Basically, you need to make a really good flat backed / open face silicone mold...tin or platinum...doesn't matter. You just need a clean surface/back of mold with detail so you can level it perfectly. Take your finished mold, empty... just it with baby powder and blow out extra with low pressure. do outside or somewhere dust wont bother... Next, take a medium set urethane resin and mix small amount (if small parts) and then pour cleanly into open mold. Strike your mold with a clean metal edge... fettling knife is great. try not to drag material out of the cavity into another... just do it slowly. Let the resin set. you should have really great castings for your bashing. We will be getting into how to soon... I will demo plenty. M ps.. pressure casting really only needs 40psi. You need a higher flow volume compressor than airbrush just so the tank fills quickly. The only tank that ever blew up on me was one I made out of PVC. it was like a canon! not good. Stay with commercial paint pots.
Volume production experience is a knowledge set that's worth sharing. You know your sh!t, and it's awesome for you to put out your constructive perspective. Any master knows they can be better. If they didn't, they wouldn't be masters.
Hey Mafic! Thanks for sharing your thoughts-it’s always great to hear from someone who really gets it. Balancing craftsmanship and courtesy is such a delicate act, isn’t it? I think a lot of us in the mold-making and casting world are in our own little bubbles, and sometimes it’s easy to think an idea is solid when working solo. ... so true about the pressure that comes from timelines, clients, and collaborations-it definitely forced me out of my own head and into business saving problem-solving mode. As you already know, there’s a big difference between experimenting in a private studio and working on a project with real financial risks. Those moments can be intense, but they really push us to grow. Thanks for commenting. Michael
This is pretty cool. I shape sheet metal, and been able to work along side some masters. One of the best ways for myself to learn is to watch but also be watched and corrected.
I'm fairly new in the mold making industry but through the past 2 years of works all the molds I'm making have small holes with a length double the diameter sometimes more 24:14 i agree with you that for his specific case it is a bad idea but in my work using a high viscosity silicone is not enough to not trap air inside the small holes i need to deal with and the step he did is crucial and consistent and effective in my case Another point i agree that coloring silicone's part A helps with confirming it is well mixed but transparent silicone really helps me confirm there is no air trapped inside holes since i can see the air bubbles through it Thank you for the informative content
Hmm... curious bubble issue. You are de-airing before pouring right? How much air pressure are you casting with in your tank? What silicone are you using? I can try to come up with some helpfulness if you would like to follow up. Michael
I actually really like your video and I think you have very valuable advice. His video is both a "how it's made" video and also an extended commercial for both his own niche product and the printer that he's using. I think this context makes some of his decisions make more sense.
Thank you for your kind words. Re; 'how it's made' .... Yes, I agree. Re: commercial.... The cost to make content is a real issue. I can appreciate his position and am happy he is making so many videos no matter what the money/sponsor blend is. My only grunt is the maker's TH-cam bubbles seldom can address real production shop issues... so those parts of the discussion often fall short. For me, it's like watching a very cool experiment, but clearly not a scalable process as presented. I understand... that was not his goal, but he does talk about production efficiencies, so I think he is interested in it?? Thanks for tuning in! Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TVWhat I love about this, and your critique is the amount of growth that can take place not only for the reviewer but the builder as well. What would be cool is for you and him to collaborate and publish that.
Brilliant constructive feedback. Honest, fair, and not tied up with emotion. I don't know if he has self taught, or if he has learnt any through college/university, but it is very impressive, great to watch and he is clearly a skilled lad. I have a degree in product design, and I see this as more of an experimentation and research project, with hope of a possible marketable product at the end. And I think he may well do. ((not sure if he ever said the project intention?)) But still... Really good to see his product developing at a really high standard. I'm hoping to set up my own Product design company in the next year or so, and this would be one of the services I would offer. So thank you for your knowledge on the subject. (and to RTA as well) Looking forward to browse through your other videos.
Hello Alex! Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. I'm excited to see you setting up your own company-documenting that journey would be amazing! The mold-making world on TH-cam is fascinating; it really does seem like many creators are working in solitude. Maybe it’s the way the videos are edited, but a lot of them give off this feeling of scaling the technical mountain solo. I’ve noticed that with RTA's videos too-there’s a beauty in the production, but there’s also this sense of quiet loneliness, and I can’t recall ever seeing him crack a smile or a joke! TH-cam can feel like a controlled bubble sometimes, which is why I’m so eager to create a community here, where we can learn, create, and share the stupid moments. It might take some time, but I’m all in for building something that brings a little more joy into the process. Hoping to make this journey as enjoyable as it is educational! Michael
Hi Michael, Thank you for your kind reply! Yes, I would like to - a bit of TH-cam extra income would be beneficial aha! I'm trying to squeeze in as much learning from my current job role about silicones, fillers, catalysts, additives etc. I've had mostly successful experiments (80-90% correct, with minor issues) which has been really encouraging. Very true, most seem to be isolated, I assume once people find their flow with small products, a team may not be necessary? Great idea, a community channel would be awesome, looking forward to see it progress! You may have already seen Eric Strebel? I think his channel is brilliant for silicone moulds and resin work. Educational with great detail, shows mistakes with explanations, range of materials, variety of products/projects... also laughs and smiles! haha - highly recommend. 😊
Love the recommendation on a stone benchtop, but I am curious as to why you wouldn't use stainless steel? Surely a commercial food preparation bench would be the most cost effective?
@@aidensommerville4384 Steel is ok as long as you have a very good quality table. Most of the affordable steel tables have tops that buckle or flex easy. For me, it was easier to get custom stone tops than custom steel tops....but the metal idea is fair game. I also used to have many wood top table and would put thin masonite on top...when the tops got too scuzzy, I could swap out cheaply.
This is actually a big deal. A person can blow a good casting by messing up the post finish work with a nic or ding. I think only seam lines should be the concern, not overall surface finish.... as you mentioned. Sanding resin models is not fun. Exhausting for sure. M
@@ShapeShifters-TV I would like you to react to vantiki, nice guy and nice work, also Robert Tolone and Crafsman would be awesome to see in this channel!
I remember working with family making boat molds as a boy. It was a very different process and time back then but everything you said rings true. We used to pigment our omega molds red and kept them in an entirely separate building that only a couple of people had access to. The masters were blue and the regular molds were green. The blue part of the shop was the best because that’s where people were creating new designs.
It always amazes me how such different process can share common denominators. What kind of boat molds? Yes, we keep some of our masters in safe keeping... they are valuable objects for sure! Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV We were a small shop in southeast Louisiana making anything from Pirogues to Lafitte Skiffs. The shop washed away during Katrina but there are a few of us left making model boats for crawfish boils. I would say some of the best mold makers have a little OCD in them like my grandfather did and I'm sure you do. Love the videos!
I love this! reminds me of when I started at a lab thinking I was hot stuff only to learn that I had so much more to learn from guys that have been in the industry for years! Can you make a video covering fiberglass molding and VARTM. Thank you !
Too funny.... For those of us who have been in many other shops, the hot stuff TH-cam bubble becomes obvious. Even so, I am very grateful so many makers are taking the time to create/edit videos and share them with everyone. I wish there had been videos to watch during my learning process eons ago... would have fast tracked me for sure! Re: fiberglass... I did not work with it much as I was too sensitive to the resin. I did work with other shops who were doing it daily and can share my insights about that, but very little tech tips to share. VARTM is not my hustle either. I watch some videos per your comment, but I would not have anything to add. It is fascinating, but I have not seen enough videos to understand why the DIY people are doing it. Car parts? Other? ... what should I search under to get the full picture? Cheers, Michael
It appears to me now that most things you mention about cleanliness and efficiency are reflected in easycomposites' videos. Didn't spot that in the past. Also, I've just put my resin measuring scale into a plastic bag 🙂
Yes... correct. In the early videos I bark about the same things. In the newer videos we are getting into work flow... and after that, we are heading into stories about operating a business. Hope you will stick around! Cheers, Michael
I love this. Vey cool video, I hope RTA sees it, a bunch of things he can implement to hsi process. If I'm not mistaken he always did one of's of the things he does for the videos, so this phone holder seems to be a first attempt at mass producing something. I'm enjoying his journey with this and enjoyed this video aswell.
Thank you for watching. RTA gives a great platform for commentary as he is on a cool journey with tech and mold logic. It's fun to see him sort it out... and his videos are very beautiful to watch. I am grateful he takes the time to make information and processes available to so many. We will do our best to continue to discover other talented makers. Cheers, Michael
You mention super glue inhibiting the cure of platinum cure silicone, however, I found that the light cured resin used in sla is terrible for inhibiting the platinum silicone. I found that I had to either paint the inside of the master mould or use tin cured silicone.
That’s a good observation… I have found that resin cure affects platinum silicone more than any glue. I was never too good with paints... glad you got it to work. Yes... your idea to make a tin cured mold, then cast into resin, then go to platinum. We used to do that all the time, but it is tricky to stay dimensionally stable going from mold to resin to mold back to resin. You can loose 1% quickly.. gotta start with a larger part once you have calculated your predicted shrinkage.
Great video. I had a very similar opinion when I saw this guys channel. Agree with you on the FDM printing, clean and efficient if you don't need the surface finish. The resin technology for reliability, build size, cleaning and cost is miles ahead of what it was 8 years ago your should take another shot at it sometime if only for interest if you don't need it for your shop.
Thanks for your comment. Yes, our resin printing days were when it was the new kid on the block and full of issues. I am not sure my shop will go back to it as we have scale/size issues that the printers cannot accommodate. My sense is we will have to stay with our CNCs for now... as the investments have been made. However, if I did pick up a printer, I would go for the Heygear. I am grateful there are people out there who can afford to experiment in a controlled environment. It makes learning much easier. In our shop, we are always committed to deliveries based on known time lines and existing training of staff. It makes for profitability, but can pinch the excitement of new processes and equipment. Many thanks for tuning in. Michael
FDM is a million times easier for sure. But it can't come close to resin quality in finish and detail, not even today with the layers on FDM getting down to almost resin sizes. And even when it does come close the print times are insane compared to resin. For this reason, I personally have both in my workshop. That said I'm also NOT a mold maker or doing anything with molds lol. All my resin printers are used to print out figurines to paint and display/sell. I've tried multiple times to replace them with FDM and it just isn't there on the surface quality even with the best FDM printers. Resin printers have indeed come a LONG way but the general PITA nature of them remains. I hate it, but its the price you pay for that amazing output. The HeyGears in this video essentially produces prints that are injection mold quality and its amazing.
I am not a mold maker, nor do I do anything with molds. I print resin figurines and busts mostly, to paint and sell. Resin definitely has its challenges and I hate it, but it simply can't be replaced for me at least. I very much appreciate your thoughts in general on workflow, and it made me think about how I might be able to make changes in my workshop to streamline what is by nature a very messy process.
Miniatures and paint.... you must have good eyesight!! I think that a good pressure casting set up (if you don't already have) would make your resin life from struggle to paradise. Yes, organization is critical. I think it's important to mention .... at least for me ... when I was working in messy shops, my brain was operating at lower capacity because i was always subconsciously distracted with the visual noise. Clean shops with things in uniform containers stored neatly on shelves... always helped me feel like my shop was welcoming me into my happy place. ! Thanks for tuning in, lots more on the horizon. Cheers, Michael
@@jacobdunning8373 thank you for catching and commenting...I will add link. Links are usually in our description. Not sure why it got missed. Cheers, Michael
Can I ask a financial question- you seem to have a nice home- where did you make the most money per year? Certainly not on just being a mold maker? Wise investments? Real estate? Thanks.
So you're right about resin print clean up being a pain but the printing community has been pretty good at informing new users in ways to reduce the amount of resin getting into the environment. For instance I use 99% isopropyl alcohol to wash in a automatic washing station and I do two cycles, a wash which gets most of the gunk then a rinse in a seperate fresher solution. Ones the wash one is starting to lose effectiveness ill stick the whole container into my cure station or in the sun and that converts all the uncured resin into plastic then I run the whole batch through a filter which gets the plastic out of the isopropyl. I can then bag the plastic to go into hard waste and the iso is reusable at least for the wash cycle. Ive seen people with much better filters be able totally clean the iso for reuse. I also try and catch any drips or spills on paper towel or silicone mats, and in metal dishes which can all be put in the sun or cure station and then into hard rubbish
I totally agree with you about shop workflow and organization. Funny as it seems but in my years of mold-making, I have just realized how organization saves so much of my time. I've wasted lots of time trying to find pins, bolts, etc., or even remember which goes to which when I could've just organized them into trays. Now I have different stations in my shop where even the tiniest tool has its own home. Here's two things I've done to organize my mold-making shop so far: 1. Eliminated pegboards and tool racks. Tools should be placed on the table where you use them the most and not mixed with other tools that are irrelevant to the job. Having tools on display seems nice but you'll find yourself having to run around the shop to get them and then once again for putting them back. 2. Tables are organized based on the stage of workflow. Now I don't have to walk around the shop just to put a finished mold on the farthest edge of my shop. Post-processing booth is now alongside my drill press, grinder, sander, etc. Every post-processing tool is now within reach without having to stand up again and fiddle around drawers on the opposite side of my shop. Another useful tip I could add is to use glass panels or smooth tiles as countertop. They're easy to clean and you don't have to clean them on a daily basis. I actually intend to clean them only after a week so I could just scrape the cured resin drippings with a razor scraper. Far more efficient than having to place a plastic sheet on your table every single time. For digital scales, I just put them in ziplocks as well.
You are at KungFu level with the organizing. I wish I had realized the importance earlier in my shop career. I would have been so much better off. Thank you for outlining the tips.... I am sure others will appreciate as do I. ps. Early on, I also used thick glass. It was good for awhile, but stone was so much more durable given the larger scale projects I had to deal with. Just a heads up... some Tin cured silicones can bond to glass... so just an fyi. Thanks for tuning in and sharing. Cheers, Michael
Yes, I have seen several of his videos... mixed reactions on a few. Mostly safety stuff that makes me cranky if a beginner were watching, but he always seems to have a plan and achieve workable results. I have scheduled two of his videos for commentary. They will be a few weeks out because other vids are already scheduled for release. What's your name? I will try to give a shout. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV I'm fine don't need a shout-out. Learnt a little of everything in my apprenticeship and have a interest in all kinds of manufacturing processes. Haven't tried any casting except for small seals from silicone. Would love to have a general overview over common castable resins and their hazzards or properties. Every time I consider casting something I don't know what resin to choose and reading up on some of them I'd rather not deal with the more hazardous stuff.
In the early 90s, in trade schools of drafting and design, they would program you to think as executor: a tool maker, construction guy, and ao on and so forth... lastly, you would learn how to design
When I was in art school early 90s... a big part of me wished it had been more like a trade school. So much poor craftsmanship was acceptable because they were focused on ideas alone. It pushed me to hunker down into my pursuit of mold making because I wanted the production 'fruits' of the process... ie to be able to make editions of my sculptures. I was the pain in the ass guy who kept building the same piece again and again because I was trying to figure out How To. I did and it freed me to have much more creative freedom in future art endeavors for sure! If your curious... MichaelJoyArt dot com has a lot to see. Personally, I think there is room for design skills/efforts/experiments early on, but only as self discovery...hardly in a paying job environment....too dodgy. Thanks for connecting. Cheers, Michael
The RTA guy is an easy watch... very Zen stuff.... but super loud off camera! I have seen some of his other videos and had more thoughts, but didn't want it to seem like I was hounding him. I like his style and work. Thanks for dropping in. Michael
You will enjoy this. I am using the clip in an upcoming video. since you are chef bro... This was my world for years.. not cooking, but behind the curtain. y2mate.com - Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie 2023 Best of_1080p
Hello, Sorry to have missed this comment for so long. Sadly, I am not sure where to go to learn these specific skills. Depending on your location, certain colleges have design/fabrication departments that have some excellent equipment. If cost is an issue, community colleges are well equipped. As for my story, we learned on the fly in our business environment. This is the expensive way to go... trial and error. What type of mold making are you specifically interested in? Maybe I can offer better advice... Cheers, Michael
"It's an easy sentence to say but a pain in the ass to do" :) So true. Very helpful Tipps. You don't dump the whole SLA washing liquid after each print. You can reuse it a certain time and then filter it out and cure it at the sun. Till this time the thrown away support material is way more material.
The old printers were a rough ride. The new ones look pretty great. If my shop was doing small scale stuff, I would pick up a few. We run mostly CNC these days for the Cannabis Industry. As I get older, I am much more sensitive to my trash footprint...especially chemical. I know the wash can be used again, but its a bummer to toss regardless. Necessary, but a bummer. I always was eager for a soy based elastomer and resin system. Some day... maybe. Thank you for tuning in. I hope you will drop in on some of our low tech process videos too. They have some interesting content mixed in with otherwise simple processes... business comments, pictures from old jobs etc. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Yes, These days it's easier to start specially with the low prices. Started two years ago. Biggest learning so far: You need to keep the temperature up :) I think after this video I watched 6 more so far :) Also recommended your channel to a mold maker from Berlin. We also use a CNC sometimes for cutting shapes directly into Plaster. Its nice to skip some steps this way :)
Gold?! That's awesome. Sometimes it feels more like aluminum... but gold is very encouraging! Thanks for your support. Please watch the follow up video to RTA ... it has some gold goods in it too! Michael
Some cool tips but I hope you reached out to RTA before offering production advice on something that's clearly a passion project. That focus on quality from him is what lead me to buying one of these products. His process are what make him relatable and marketable (to me). You're giving advice as if he's running a large job shop. Apples and oranges.
The advice was not for him, it was for other makers who are looking at other inputs on an already good story. I know his shop is not production, but he is discovering some important efficiencies of a production shop. I have run both types of shops, production and artisanal and the value of both overlap on an hourly basis. It is also why in the video I commented that his finished output was a sculpture more than a product. Apples and Oranges... yes, but people eat them both to stay healthy. Cheers, Michael
Im not a mold maker, i make one-off projects mostly for myself....but i also work in manufacturing medical implants. most of your gripes about RTAs work flow is what we call "5S", which we borrowed from the Japanese and means: sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. its the small things that add up to saving time and money. anyway, i have watched RTAs videos in the past, and i think you took a very good-faith approach to reacting to his process. i look forward to more of this!
Hi Chris, Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Anyone who has been in high stakes production knows how critical compartmentalizing of stepped process is. Clear understanding of efficiencies in workflow also helped us greatly with quality control.. because every person had a keen sense of ownership. A one person shop is a different beast... I did that for years and it was an echo chamber of fatigue! I am grateful for RTA video quality and admire his ability to do both the project and the video production. Double high five to him. I hope you will watch some of our low/tech rubber mold and ceramic videos as well as we are starting to weave in some business history and legacy photos... so even if the process is not your thing, some of the story telling might be... at least I hope. Cheers, Michael
Glad it did not come across as rude. Some people focus on the minutia and miss my broader agenda of trying to help others save time and money. As you likely know, my ideas are not really targeted at RTA himself, they are for the watchers like us!
Yup... but simple is not always the fun way. In business, the fun way is not often a legit option, but in a youtube bubble, the pleasure of the build moments are celebrated. Both worlds are fun to look in on. I would sleep on it too... very helpful thing... the subconscious mind!
Too funny.... Glad you found us. There are a bunch of other videos...hopefully they will be enjoyed at all levels of consciousness! There are many more funky topics on the channel besides mold making. Lots to discover if curious. Thanks for commenting! Michael
Your comments on 'designing for production' are similar to my advice for system implementations and business transformations (my professional gig). Lots of solutions are great on paper, but add so much complexity to deliver initially, or to execute in practice, they are simply unusable. My mantra over time is "only as complex as it must be, and as simple as it can be". (external factors like regulations [material properties & physical constraints in production design] will make things complex, but that just means you need to simplify EVEN MORE elsewhere)
Hi Tony, Thank you for your thoughtful comment. For those of us who have been compressed with the realities of production, certain issues jump out and slap us. As you know, it starts with very good design...which for many is hard to simplify when designing is such an artistic pleasure. Per your comment... Complicated precedes simple in most instances and it takes a design bully to swing the machete. Usually that bully is the same one who has to make the shop profitable! Until next comment....Cheers, Michael
A super high quality build video, reviewed by someone with decades of experience? This is great content. I do think your thumbnail could do a better job of reflecting how constructive this video is. The version I saw implies you'll go broke if you listen to MTA, which got me in the door, but is not great for that channel's brand. Apply your quality mindset to the title and thumbnail too. We got you.
RTA video is great production for sure. Yes, decades... started my first mold business at 22 and am now 56 still with 3 businesses including my mold shop 'Chicago CulinaryFX'. Good feedback on the thumbnail... but it really does ring true for me that it is not a profitable approach from a commercial perspective. I know that is not his key motivation... rather just my slant on it. I did notice in a later video of his, he comments on the inefficiency his earlier process. Non-the-less... I do not mean to diminish his strong presentation brand. What suggestion would you have for thumb? Happy to consider... as TH-cam is new for me and I am better at molds than catchy promotion. Many thanks, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV I'm not sure if I was misunderstood or not. I was basically saying that you are the knowledge of the technique that we don't know about. things like putting your scale in a Ziploc bag save time and energy none of us need to waste. I have nothing but respect I am gratitude for the things that you're doing,
@@mrfnk Fully understood. Thank you for following up. I hear a lot from skilled craftspeople out there who have strong words for singularly beautiful productions vs a balance of applicable tips and tricks. I think RTA does a pretty good job of making a typically boring process watchable. =) It was like that in the culinary world... some of my super accomplished chef friends would mention how many views a student would get from their excellent filming of glazing a fake Styrofoam cake vs the exec chefs with decades of experience who are making real cakes for demanding clients that look and taste great, but aren't well visually formatted for insta or YT because they are filmed on the fly in a crazy busy michellin star hotel kitchen. Honestly, Me/We older folk need to step up our tech game...and it is not easy for us. YT is weird that way. Different audiences are hungry for different things. I wish there were a way to sort out instruction content levels based on skill set / experience not just high view counts/recommendations. There is room for everybody and my comment was directed at my selfish statement that even beautiful content can still have significant shortsighted moments. In fact, I have a lot of instructional videos that have such low production quality I won't release because videos fall short of looking good. Info is good, but my skills are basic with film or other. It's a tricky balance. I hope you will stay with us as our Hand-ufacturing story unfolds. High Five, Michael
RTA's process is fun to watch. But like Michael says, the product is not very smart. Most importantly, the mix of all kinds of materials makes this an electronic product that's impossible to recycle. I'm pretty sure the actual product he is making is the video series and not this charger.
The product is exhausting to make. I thought about the non recycle aspect, but forgot to say it... thank you for mentioning. Also, i agree, his other product line is the video. That is fine with me, but it is good if he were to be crystal clear about that goal as well. M
Note to Michael Joy, editing is your friend, not every story adds to a presentation. You obviously enjoy hearing yourself talk. In the beginning you tell a "story" about your use of resin printers back-in-the-day that weren't up to snuff, so you stopped using them, and the maker in video DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUES... What?! This is why your reaction video (for an original coming in under 20 minutes) is 44 minutes long. I hope you can learn something from RTA Fab when it comes to making videos, his style and delivery of information is clean, impeccable. It's really too bad, as you probably have some great information to relay, but why would I spend TWICE the original video to simply hear maybe-related stories? Edit, edit, edit, then edit again. Do this and your subscriber count might go up.
maybe because this is an educational video and not a short form algorithm buzzer? Imagine attending a lecture, then going up to the prof afterwords saying "work on your pacing and maybe someone would listen to you yap yap yap"
Low brow take, it's apparent you've never had a series of mentors throughout your life because this guy is giving a master class using the high quality footage of the other guy with much less experience. If the original creator is able to take criticism then this video is a love letter to him, he can grow by leaps and bounds by taking these criticisms seriously. Your one complaint is he didn't have the same experience. I have friends who got into resin printing and they did, this all recently. It's something to take into serious consideration, he's not saying it's impossible to do, he's just describing the pitfalls that he experienced.
What are you talking about?? This man has been in the mould making buisness for what seems like YEARS and he's offering his own insight and critique on how RTA is producing a product from a mass production perspective. To call his content anything but transformative is ignorant. God forbid you have someone with much more knowledge and technique try to show you where you can improve.
Youre showing just how ignorant you actually are because you know nothing of the state of the art in resin printing. Times change and this tech is an absolute godsend to mold makers. The HeyGears printer is also excellent. Arguably the best. And no it doesnt use lasers. Thats an older tech thats more common for industrial applications but not common anymore with new applications.
bro, ur a real one for this.. im blown away by the honest and extremely useful info.. the breakdown of the pressure pot stuff was amazing, sometimes ai was really at a loss as to why my silicone was pimply no matter what I did no offense to the og guy but hey-- if you're focused on flexing your arms and showing off your LUT color correction for 90% of the tutorial some stuff might fall by the wayside 😭😭😂 The 'looks like his studio is huge' comment got to me-- still in a hoarded garage and seeing how people who can afford studio space don't use it or put anything in the space for the vibes-- i would use every damn square foot i could get out of a workshop.. what are people even paying for.. an off site living room?/??? 😭🫣
Glad some of the intel was helpful. A vacuum chamber is really important for those who are making resin parts. Funny... Yes, he seems to be very self aware of the look. Part of the brand plan maybe....however, I never see him smile..?? Re; studio space. I have had shops in many submarines.. believe me. One of our videos shows pictures of several past places... basements etc. I think its the video of the French guy making the small headless seated statue... thumbnail 'was that valuable' or something like that. The photos sequence is about middle of video. I have had small and large shops and even had to put my shop in my living room one time in an emergency. Not good. Small shops, everything is within reach, but no storage. Big shops with employees... always paying people on the clock to walk around and find things. Organization is key to all sizes. Glad you found us. Stay connected. Michael
36:38 Because he's also a TH-camr. Beautiful and pleasing parts drive viewer satisfaction, even for the molds. And my guess is that the vast majority of his viewers are just enjoying what I call a "build video". And he is attracting possible buyers for the product.
Yup... I like what he is doing. I wish I had the same digital opportunities in my day! It would have been fun to share all the funky stuff that went down in my shops over the years... I like RTA's work and his commitment to telling a story with poetry and peace. He has my high five for sure! Michael
My mind is blown to find this channel at 1.5k subscribers. Seriously insane. I had the good fortune to make some props for money, and I'm so vindicated and happy to haer that the "try-fail-try-fail" process really is standard/to be expected, because I felt like an utter failure. Can't wait to see more, and glad I'm here for the ride.
Try Fail.... I don't know about you, but that method exhausted me as a young mold maker. I was into the process like an extended game of chess, but I wish there had been more easy wins along the way! Like you mentioned, it was hard to feel good about myself when the day was peppered with valuable lessons, but hard financial losses. Sound like we are both past that phase... my hope is to share some good stuff to let younger generation of makers kick butt faster that I ever could. That would make me happy. Thanks for tuning in! Michael
Great analysis of a maker I watch regularly - your comments were gentle and clearly "born of experience" - lots to learn from his video, and then also lots to learn from your personal analysis of it!
RTA is always a nice watch. I have thought about commenting on more of his videos, but did not want it to come across as I was hounding him. If you have a particular video that may be a good candidate for review... I would welcome it. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Robert Tolone cut mould videos are always fascinating - I have used many of his techniques on complicated moulds that I never thought would be possible!
I say the same amd I've seen all his videos. Some parts can be short cutted for profitability. I use all of the technologies the guy uses and yes SLA printing came a long way and does help doing molds faster. One thing should br understood about the RTA guy, he does detailing for cars and this phone charger he designs here is just a limited series for his fans. 👏 Overall both are inspiring.
Your work is the same way I prepare food.
Love all your little points on workflow efficiency. All the little decisions that can end up adding a whole lot more time when summed up.
Yes... all the small things come together and matter. You can have a beautiful car parked in your garage, but if you cant find the keys...!!!
DIY-er here, new to mold making and “handufacturing.” Loved these lessons and look forward to more. Thank you for taking the time to do these.
In a sense, we are all DIY-ers... right?? Thanks for tuning in. We have a lot of cool stuff coming up, including some interviews with other craftspeople and some in house instruction videos. It just takes us some time to pull it all together... I hope you will stay with us for the journey. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV You do have a point! But if it were up to me, I'd rather be a PAY-er and share the headache. Haha! "Nothing ventured. Nothing gained." though, amirite? Here for the journey! 🍻
😂 you remind me alot of my mentor who brought me into cnc machining. People would say he nit picks everything but it was all valid and had reason behind it. I was very fortunate to have a mentor that didn't like cutting corners and was detail oriented. Awesome video . I've never printed anything and was able to follow along here. I'm subscribed.
As a self taught mould maker, it was a pleasure watching this video, great little gems of advise, will definitely bag my scales for next time. Much much respect and please share it makes a difference.
Self taught seems to be the way mold makers roll... with such limited intel in the ethers! Like you, I learned one 'gem' at a time and gradually it came together. Lots more videos coming. Hope you will stay with us for the gem journey. Michael
Insightful video trough and trough. Thank you.
Thank you for watching. More fun stuff around the corner. M
I was ready to call you rude based on your title. But your advice was top notch and I hope he listens and adheres to your experience.
Thanks for watching.
RTA guy is really good and my comments are not targeted towards him personally or expected to have any influence whatsoever in his work practices. I just wanted to express other observations about the same processes/work flow. His videos are great and it can suck to have a couch captain guy bark out things after RTA has done all the hard work. In fairness of contribution, I will be sure to present more of my work history as our channel grows. I have much to share/express and I am expecting there will be some critical commentary on my methods as well. Buckle up! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TVGreat response. Too many people out here beating everyone up and behaving poorly. I like your approach and treatment of the subject.
I see a lot of the commentary as being based on having an established business. I was this kid, at one point. My "shop" was a basement with two electrical outlets and no ventilation. I made high quality parts to both learn, and to establish a customer base. Much of the advice given isn't relevant for that situation; when money is tight, your only option is spending more time doing things, because you have nothing else to spend.
That being said, nearly *all* of the feedback was spot on from an efficiency perspective. If you have the means and control of the workspace, every piece of feedback given in this video is worth implementing. It is so rare to have experienced moldmakers sharing their perspectives!
@@stevewells20 I think RTA guy is doing great. On quite the journey. Loud and clear about the studio situation. He is way ahead of the game.
Two outlets.....you will get a kick out of this. I posted a short studio history montage...
link below....got to 12.56
th-cam.com/video/fd3DCbVXnw8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=4lBwoOuCJFZ4JVJw
Thanks for tuning in. Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Michael,
Oh man, this one is a gem as well! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. The fabrication industry in general, and mold making in particular, tends to be tight-lipped about much of the "secret sauce" that separates the amateurs from the pros. Really cool seeing people succeed, then share back with the community!
Sometimes youtube throws you a random 60k channel's video that is amazing quality, cinematography and informative. Then it throws you another video from a 1k channel, that has immense knowledge, expertise and amazing tips & tricks. I found Engineer Guy like this around 9 years ago and there are many more channels like this. Now, RTA and your channel. Great work and would love to see what you create in the future. Small tips that could improve the viewer experience;
1) Intro; In an age where short form video content with around 30 seconds of video length is the prominent content consumed by many, i think 40 seconds intro and after that another way better intro for 30 seconds is too long for viewer retention. I would have kept the first 10 seconds of the video and scrap the 30 second montage and go directly to you explaining who you are, what are we doing in this video meanwhile a small popup could show more details links, socials, producers etc. Or you can change the structure where the start could be you talking about yourself and the topic shortly similar to like 0:37 to 1:19 and you could cut to the intro sequence where your logo and disclaimer is shown. Linus Tech Tips kind a does this decently but their main goal is more entertainment so i would say if the video begins at 0:37 with some infographics like i mentioned before that could be the best.
2) Camera; I believe camera composition could have been better, you could have been more on the left side of the screen or closer to middle. Similar to the frame where you watch content. Its more appealing since the action is already leaning right side of the screen. And these are extra but you could use better lighting, few small lights and better exposure settings could make a huge difference. Think like if the frame was grayscale and it was minimized to 1/10 of scale. Would you be in focus and would there be enough contrast?
3) Misc; I think two distinct logos are unnecessary and takes a lot of focus, i would have placed them where they would be visible but not at the middle of the frame and not two distinctly different spots. I think when you are talking we don't really need to see the video if it does not include the thing you mention. For example when you were talking about scale and it having resin etc on it you could show the frame maybe zoom on the resin on the scale etc. but when that's not the case i would have preferred seeing you full frame or maybe if its informative with included photos, images of the concepts you are talking about. Little extra but you could even use infographics for some of the concepts you are talking about as well. There are a lot of space to convey information in a frame but it has to be informative, short and not be a focus if its not deserving the focus.
Otherwise amazing video, i hope you could grow this channel to be your main hobby, income or anything that you hope to achieve with it. Its already really informative and enjoyable. He has another video where he makes some interesting molding choices would love to watch your reaction and opinions on it as well. Cheers from Turkey.🤍
Hello M Akinsarica,
Thank you for your very well organized and detailed feedback and suggestions for our editors. We are making progress with each video and I agree with your suggestions. It will take us some time to get sorted out, but we are on our way...and will be integrating suggestions such as yours. My guess is that you do this for a living... correct?
Our challenge is that we have multiple lines of content that are not targeted at necessarily the same audience. ShapeShiftersTV is the umbrella for most of them... you can see on our playlists. But I also have two other channels and several websites that each have distinctly different content. I know youtube favors 'one trick' ponies for their algorithms, but I just don't want to roll that way.. with so many things to discuss/address.
I hope you will keep an eye on us and continue to share your keen observations...and know that we are implementing as quickly as we can! Much professional appreciation for your valuable time and insights. Cheers from Chicago/Aurora Michael and SSTV Team.
I thought the RTA video was great and it actually turned me on to moulding. I enjoyed your analysis of it too, I found your insights to be very interesting and constructive.
I would like to see you do a full end-end series on youtube targeted at beginners. From setting up a small workspace, designing something, mould making, and then getting the finished product. For me, I own a resin printer same as RTA so it would be cool to see how this technology can be utilised in the process.
I wouldnt expect you to discuss all the trade secrets but you could share some basic techniques.
Hey NorthernR,
Thank you for taking the time to drop a note. I have been thinking about things that may be useful to people newer to mold making. I have to figure out how best to approach. I have limited time to dedicate to the filming how-to videos at the moment..so the reaction videos are a quick plunge for me and relatively easy edits.
Currently, I am also sorting through thousands of old job pictures... hoping to be able to access the relevant pictures quickly in order to drop them into the videos. I am going to do a video/s showing all the shops I have set up and/or spent time in over the years. It might be relevant for those setting up shops... from basements to ballrooms. Please keep in touch! Michael
Great tips! I appreciate what you're doing and all the tips you shared! Keep it up.
Thank you Robert! I hope you stay with us for all the good stuff coming up! Michael
So glad to find this channel. I had seen the channel you are reacting to and this was an awesome perspective!
Thanks for watching. We have another RTA video coming out soon. Commentary on his last video... I'm a little more direct with my comments about his design choices. Hope it will be well received! M
This is why I love TH-cam, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’ve learned a lot.
badah bing!
Amazing video - just packed with useful tips. Greatly appreciated.
Also, safety first!
Thanks for the kind words! It's all about sharing knowledge and keeping safe.
I am so so glad I clicked on this video. Thank you for sharing your experience, I'd love to hear more! Thank you, Michael
Glad you found us. Much more to come...
My plan is to share more than just techniques. I am interested to share business experiences also...hoping to share with others how to put some coin in the bank by not making the same biz/fabrication mistakes I have over the past 'way' too many years. Ha. Cheers, Michael
so good, next level advice! so many little bits I caught him doing and you adding upon that had me thinking in a better way on how to handle projects. Thank you so much!
I hope the intel helps. Stay connected, Michael
Where have you been all my life?! Instantly subscribed.
I like your habit of being very precise about your critique, mentioning the good things too, etc. All in all very calm and such a love to minute details!
I never had a mentor either. Maybe I didn't look close enough, maybe I wasn't sure enough about what I was looking for, but in the end I'm very autodidactic. Your channel seems to be a very good spot to improve on my skills.
And I think with all the makers diving into 3D printing, mouldmaking is often cheaper. So I do think at least a part of makers will step up their game with this process.
Keep it up, I'll definitely keep watching!
Too funny... glad you subscribed. Sounds like you have been in the trenches yourself. True that on about mentors... they are hard to find because it is not like they are out there hollering mentor, mentor. It seems to be a cosmic alignment thing! TH-cam is a great pinch hit on the mentor issue, but the information is distributed more like confetti than a full book of intel. I wish youtube offered more options for sorting content based on some sort of skill setting. So many first timers get the algorithm win. Either way, I am happy to be in the mix and pleased you found us.
3D printing has its place for sure, but at times, printing without mold making skills slows things down. Both processes offer great wins. Even so, printing was never really my thing, I always took the old school approach because I was more fluent with that. I would have printed more had I had the tech aptitudes for it. For me, it was amazing when it worked and smash mouth when it didn't .
Lot's more mold stuff posting... Tuesdays and Fridays. Cheers, Michael
Holy wow this is GOLD. It is FANTASTIC to see critique and feedback like this from someone who _clearly_ knows their shit.
High Five to Wildgophers! Thank you for your kind words. I hope to live up to the standards moving forward. Cheers, Michael
I think most people that haven't endured some engineering design review meetings do not understand you were positive about his process. Great to see knowledgeable folks sharing information. Thank you
You are right... this is what I keep alluding to about those working in a TH-cam bubble... their feedback loop is very small and it can make good feedback land on them or loyalists like an insult when it is not. Thank you for putting attention to this thought! Cheers, M
This was an incredibly helpful review and critique. Really mindful of his process while also gently adding tips that will help refine, refine and refine for little time loss and headache. Thanks for giving these tips because I know getting these tips in other crafts is like large gold nuggets. It takes 10 years in other crafts to mine all these sorts of nuggets from what I've found; and you've given them for free. Thank you!
Hello Jmob, Thank you for the kind words! We have lots more mold making commentary videos coming up...each one (even if not focused on modern methods/high tech) will still have some useful tidbits embroidered into them. Personally, I want to get into talking about the business side of being a fabricator/mold maker outside of a TH-cam maker/crafts bubble. Viewers like you keep us encouraged on our goal.
Not so say RTA isn't doing an exceptional job, it's just that the real world business construct puts a different pressure on achieving profitable success than a lab environment does. He/RTA does a great job with his videos and makes my small additions relevant through his examples. I hope you will stay with us as there is some really cool stuff scheduled for release. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Thanks for the detailed info! You have my following and attention. I watched more of your videos, and they were, again, great. Definitely anticipating the videos on the profitable means of mold making/manufacturing too. Cheers!
I thought you were going to rip him a new one lol I watched his original video and you added some solid tips and commentary to his project! Would love to see more videos - Thx man
@@KUDRARACING Just in time.!
We post a new RTA commentary tomorrow morning. It's a long one w focus on design issues vs tech nit picking. Also, plenty of common sense thoughts and a story about rock eating monkeys. Fun stuff.
I hope you are able to find the time to watch it.
Thanks for joining in! Michael
when i clicked I thought it would be just an old-timer critiquing some BS nitpicking and useless.
BUT this is actually super well done, the examples and stories are on point and very helpful.
Glad I clicked and watched.
Thank you.
I have achieved old timer status. =)
Glad there was something in there for you. From my side, I can never guess what will be helpful or useless to another maker / mold maker type. As you know, each person comes in with their own shop/eq set up, their own project directives and their own problem solving sills/approach.
These days, I look at TH-cam videos like I used to look at technical books. As long as I even get one or two things from the read, it is worth it.... especially over time in an accumulative respect. I am hopeful this channel will have the same accumulative impact over the years.
Please stay connected. Michael
I really appreciate your insights into these react videos.
Thank you. i hope you will catch our other RTA video that was uploaded couple weeks ago. Did you see that one? Dinosaur Philosophy?
Great video!
Thank you! I hope you are able to catch the follow up video to this one. th-cam.com/video/maf8lCF983w/w-d-xo.html
Cheers,M
I'm a self taught product designer and I manage a manufacturing company over here (UK), this was fucking awesome. Showing and explaining tacit knowledge at this level is incredible, I've learned a lot, thank you so much. I hope the RTA dude doesn't take any of this the wrong way, it's obvious that you want to push him to do better.
Hi Joe,
Thanks for joining in! What kind of design/manufacturing work do you do?
Glad the video had some useful moments. I was just glancing off some quick bits...but as you know, in manufacturing, there is always another layer worth mentioning.
I critiqued RTA's latest video recently and will upload soon. In this one, I am a little more strongly reflective on why he may have made some design decisions that I thought added extensively to the labor process. I chime in on what I thought might be /have been some helpful solutions.
It is a long conversation, so I am guessing only the hardcore makers will give it the time. I hope you will find some of it useful for yourself or a contemporary. =)
Agreed.. I hope RTA guy is chill with this as well.
Please stay connected. M
@@ShapeShifters-TV We're the largest manufacturer of spare wheel covers in the UK! Aquarius Manufacturing. We vacuum form, screen print, cut and sew. The sister company in the same factory extrudes the plastic sheets we vacform. I actually got the job trying to source plastic for a vacuum former I built for a business I tried to get going. I do a fair bit, develop new products/ moulds (solidworks, vetric, CNC router), make sure the orders get out, do the graphic design (Adobe Illustrator) for the custom screen printing, I'm trying to implement modern D2C E-Commerce stuff to the business at the moment (good website, social media marketing etc), it's fun! I basically want to design and make cool shit, sell lots via ecommerce, make lots of money.
I think a lot of the stuff on youtube is surface level, I think there's an appetite (at least from me) for in-depth detailed explanations of manufacturing, processes etc. I'm self taught with all of this but I'm completely averse to the amateur, I struggle with "makers", I wanna know how to make something good! Your channel is awesome for this, I love finding out how things are actually made, how things work, and what mistakes I can avoid. Please keep it up, I feel like I have a mentor (I'm 33). I never comment on youtube, but I'll keep up with yours. Thanks for getting back to me.
Excellent video. There's so much useful information here.
Glad it was helpful!
movie prop/model/mould maker here with almost 25 years of experience. At most things you've said, you're perfectly right, at small, not so important parts, you're not, like the 3D printers nowadays. I also had issues with my Form printers a few years back, but the fresh new cheap chinese and large (and fast) SLA printers are now completely different...
This guy is making -and shooting- beautiful stuff, while building his own community and fan-base according the modern day marketing requirements; -that should be the answer for several parts you didn't get.
Anyway, I'm glad I've found your channell, I wish I had a mentor like you when I started, as I had none. I almost had to invent warm water for myself too.
Deleted my completely incorrect reply because my tired brain read DLP not SLA haha.
25 years... that is a lot! We would have practically been contemporaries at that time. The film industry is one of the industries that I did not tangle with. I could not get my mind around the burnout potential and constant rush deadlines. You must be cut from leather.
Yes, the new printers are a completely new game. In a few years, one of my shops will upgrade, but for now, our customer base can be serviced on our CNCs.
I am grateful TH-cam facilitates community. I hope to draw out many mold makers out from their shops and start sharing. Mold making and casting is such a solo journey for so many. I hope in a few years our channel plays a small part in improving skill sharing. Did you drop into our ShapeshiftersTV dot com website? If not, keep an eye on it as we are adding a lot more to the handufacturing platform in the coming weeks.
Thanks for reaching out. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Michael, building a community for mould makers is a wonderful idea, thank you for your efforts establishing it in advance.
Yes, the burnout is real and not just a potential -it happens eventually... I'm rebuilding my life and carreer as a stay-in-my-own-workshop contractor as I had enough moving in and out studio workshops and all that exhausting jazz happens when we're handy for the art department people's notorious last-minute genius ideas.
Anyway, I'm glad I've found your channel.
You are a great learning experience.
If only i could get my wife to say those words.
Even though I myself don't do any kind of fabrication or mold making, both RTA and your videos are super interesting to watch. Keep it up!
Awesome, thank you!
This was worth the watch just for the bit about pressure casting into unpressured silicone.. I never would have thought of that and am looking into getting a pressure setup
Appreciated
There is a lot to be said about pressure casting even though it is a relatively simple process. I would also recommend taking the time to build a simple frame for your tank so it can be used horizontally... with shelves inside. This will give you so much more room to do multiple castings at the same time.
I like RTA videos and in fact just filmed another reaction to his final episode in the phone charger series. In that video, I added some comments about his pressure casting, but perhaps I should just make a short video where I talk about the pressure cast process. Would something like that be helpful?
@ShapeShifters-TV sideways with shelves is also a good idea. I've mostly watched Robert Tolones casting/molding vids which are fantastic (especially his mold making skills). Im super new to this ive only done one project so far which was one where I lay flat a whole bunch of model kit parts onto a board and made a flat silicone mold so I had plenty of parts for kit bashing. My first silicone pour failed but I think it was down to me not mixing it well. My 2nd went much better and it was bubble free enough that like 95% of the parts would be usable. Actually casting was also a steep learning curve, especially because I was using easycast urethane resin that had a 2 min work time. Eventually I found the best method, rather than trying to pour it into each cavity, was to pour a bunch in the center and use a silicone spatula to spread it into the mold, I actually think this led ultimately to less bubbles, and because they were open molds it meant that I ended up with minimal flashing. But yeah.. Having a way to eliminate bubbles and keep fine details would be better as I probably would end up with about 80% usable bits. More than enough to be useful but still wasteful. It's not suitable for anything complex and I'd like to be able to do more complex shapes.
I make a lot of the tools I use as I'm on a pension but Im not planning on doing that with the pressure vessel as it's essentially a bomb so some info on selection criteria, good and bad seal, valve and fitting types would be great. Also what pressures to use for what jobs.
I'm currently looking into an airbrush compressor for painting and was hoping it could do double duty but responses ive gotten have been a bit uncertain.
I think your tips about having lots of trays and things around to hold tools and parts is a good idea.. Often if im under a deadline or getting tired I start getting slack and just leaving crap all over the place and letting stuff fall on the floor.. And then have to spend half my time looking for bits and cleaning up.
@@ShapeShifters-TV I only just stumbled across your channel so I need to have a look at your back catalog anyway and then I'll probably have even more questions :p
@@oem42 Thanks for your great feedback and backstory on your projects.
Actually, there is another way to get great castings of small parts without pressure casting. Basically, you need to make a really good flat backed / open face silicone mold...tin or platinum...doesn't matter. You just need a clean surface/back of mold with detail so you can level it perfectly.
Take your finished mold, empty... just it with baby powder and blow out extra with low pressure. do outside or somewhere dust wont bother...
Next, take a medium set urethane resin and mix small amount (if small parts) and then pour cleanly into open mold. Strike your mold with a clean metal edge... fettling knife is great. try not to drag material out of the cavity into another... just do it slowly. Let the resin set. you should have really great castings for your bashing.
We will be getting into how to soon... I will demo plenty. M
ps.. pressure casting really only needs 40psi. You need a higher flow volume compressor than airbrush just so the tank fills quickly. The only tank that ever blew up on me was one I made out of PVC. it was like a canon! not good. Stay with commercial paint pots.
Volume production experience is a knowledge set that's worth sharing. You know your sh!t, and it's awesome for you to put out your constructive perspective. Any master knows they can be better. If they didn't, they wouldn't be masters.
Hey Mafic! Thanks for sharing your thoughts-it’s always great to hear from someone who really gets it. Balancing craftsmanship and courtesy is such a delicate act, isn’t it? I think a lot of us in the mold-making and casting world are in our own little bubbles, and sometimes it’s easy to think an idea is solid when working solo.
... so true about the pressure that comes from timelines, clients, and collaborations-it definitely forced me out of my own head and into business saving problem-solving mode. As you already know, there’s a big difference between experimenting in a private studio and working on a project with real financial risks. Those moments can be intense, but they really push us to grow. Thanks for commenting. Michael
This is pretty cool. I shape sheet metal, and been able to work along side some masters. One of the best ways for myself to learn is to watch but also be watched and corrected.
Sheet metal... yipe. Very important to learn quick with others helpful words rather than at the expense of fingers! Cheers, M
❤ wonderful to find a liked-minded inner voice.
I'm fairly new in the mold making industry but through the past 2 years of works all the molds I'm making have small holes with a length double the diameter sometimes more
24:14 i agree with you that for his specific case it is a bad idea but in my work using a high viscosity silicone is not enough to not trap air inside the small holes i need to deal with and the step he did is crucial and consistent and effective in my case
Another point i agree that coloring silicone's part A helps with confirming it is well mixed but transparent silicone really helps me confirm there is no air trapped inside holes since i can see the air bubbles through it
Thank you for the informative content
Hmm... curious bubble issue. You are de-airing before pouring right? How much air pressure are you casting with in your tank? What silicone are you using? I can try to come up with some helpfulness if you would like to follow up. Michael
I actually really like your video and I think you have very valuable advice. His video is both a "how it's made" video and also an extended commercial for both his own niche product and the printer that he's using. I think this context makes some of his decisions make more sense.
Thank you for your kind words.
Re; 'how it's made' .... Yes, I agree.
Re: commercial.... The cost to make content is a real issue. I can appreciate his position and am happy he is making so many videos no matter what the money/sponsor blend is. My only grunt is the maker's TH-cam bubbles seldom can address real production shop issues... so those parts of the discussion often fall short. For me, it's like watching a very cool experiment, but clearly not a scalable process as presented. I understand... that was not his goal, but he does talk about production efficiencies, so I think he is interested in it?? Thanks for tuning in! Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TVWhat I love about this, and your critique is the amount of growth that can take place not only for the reviewer but the builder as well. What would be cool is for you and him to collaborate and publish that.
Brilliant constructive feedback. Honest, fair, and not tied up with emotion.
I don't know if he has self taught, or if he has learnt any through college/university, but it is very impressive, great to watch and he is clearly a skilled lad.
I have a degree in product design, and I see this as more of an experimentation and research project, with hope of a possible marketable product at the end. And I think he may well do.
((not sure if he ever said the project intention?))
But still... Really good to see his product developing at a really high standard.
I'm hoping to set up my own Product design company in the next year or so, and this would be one of the services I would offer.
So thank you for your knowledge on the subject. (and to RTA as well)
Looking forward to browse through your other videos.
Hello Alex! Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. I'm excited to see you setting up your own company-documenting that journey would be amazing! The mold-making world on TH-cam is fascinating; it really does seem like many creators are working in solitude. Maybe it’s the way the videos are edited, but a lot of them give off this feeling of scaling the technical mountain solo. I’ve noticed that with RTA's videos too-there’s a beauty in the production, but there’s also this sense of quiet loneliness, and I can’t recall ever seeing him crack a smile or a joke!
TH-cam can feel like a controlled bubble sometimes, which is why I’m so eager to create a community here, where we can learn, create, and share the stupid moments. It might take some time, but I’m all in for building something that brings a little more joy into the process. Hoping to make this journey as enjoyable as it is educational! Michael
Hi Michael, Thank you for your kind reply!
Yes, I would like to - a bit of TH-cam extra income would be beneficial aha!
I'm trying to squeeze in as much learning from my current job role about silicones, fillers, catalysts, additives etc. I've had mostly successful experiments (80-90% correct, with minor issues) which has been really encouraging.
Very true, most seem to be isolated, I assume once people find their flow with small products, a team may not be necessary?
Great idea, a community channel would be awesome, looking forward to see it progress!
You may have already seen Eric Strebel? I think his channel is brilliant for silicone moulds and resin work.
Educational with great detail, shows mistakes with explanations, range of materials, variety of products/projects... also laughs and smiles! haha - highly recommend. 😊
26:55 I think gloves are necessary to prevent your fingerprints from getting on the mold and being replicated by the polyurethane on the final piece.
Could be. We never had issues, but maybe others have. Thanks for taking the time to connect. Best, Michael
Love the recommendation on a stone benchtop, but I am curious as to why you wouldn't use stainless steel? Surely a commercial food preparation bench would be the most cost effective?
@@aidensommerville4384 Steel is ok as long as you have a very good quality table. Most of the affordable steel tables have tops that buckle or flex easy. For me, it was easier to get custom stone tops than custom steel tops....but the metal idea is fair game.
I also used to have many wood top table and would put thin masonite on top...when the tops got too scuzzy, I could swap out cheaply.
You are a great presenter. Great stuff.
High Five! Thanks for tuning in. Michael
What is the link to your mold making education platform?
I totally agree when your part comes out of the mold you should not be left with a lot finish work.
This is actually a big deal. A person can blow a good casting by messing up the post finish work with a nic or ding. I think only seam lines should be the concern, not overall surface finish.... as you mentioned. Sanding resin models is not fun. Exhausting for sure. M
Acojonante, alguien tenía que decir lo que vemos algunos. Great video
RTA makes some great videos. But there is always something to look at in another way for sure. Thank you for watching! Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV I would like you to react to vantiki, nice guy and nice work, also Robert Tolone and Crafsman would be awesome to see in this channel!
This is how it should be like, well done!
High Five!
Listening to an experienced maker at 3am was not on my list to do, but I do appreciate this insight.
I appreciate your late-night watch! Hope there was something in there for you! Cheers, Michael
I remember working with family making boat molds as a boy. It was a very different process and time back then but everything you said rings true.
We used to pigment our omega molds red and kept them in an entirely separate building that only a couple of people had access to. The masters were blue and the regular molds were green. The blue part of the shop was the best because that’s where people were creating new designs.
It always amazes me how such different process can share common denominators. What kind of boat molds?
Yes, we keep some of our masters in safe keeping... they are valuable objects for sure! Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV We were a small shop in southeast Louisiana making anything from Pirogues to Lafitte Skiffs. The shop washed away during Katrina but there are a few of us left making model boats for crawfish boils.
I would say some of the best mold makers have a little OCD in them like my grandfather did and I'm sure you do. Love the videos!
Great review. Great tips.
Thanks for watching!
Is he using Laser Stereo Lithorgaphy or LED panel?
I think Heygears is LED... not sure. I may have spoke too quickly previously.
I love this! reminds me of when I started at a lab thinking I was hot stuff only to learn that I had so much more to learn from guys that have been in the industry for years! Can you make a video covering fiberglass molding and VARTM. Thank you !
Too funny....
For those of us who have been in many other shops, the hot stuff TH-cam bubble becomes obvious. Even so, I am very grateful so many makers are taking the time to create/edit videos and share them with everyone. I wish there had been videos to watch during my learning process eons ago... would have fast tracked me for sure!
Re: fiberglass... I did not work with it much as I was too sensitive to the resin. I did work with other shops who were doing it daily and can share my insights about that, but very little tech tips to share. VARTM is not my hustle either. I watch some videos per your comment, but I would not have anything to add. It is fascinating, but I have not seen enough videos to understand why the DIY people are doing it. Car parts? Other? ... what should I search under to get the full picture? Cheers, Michael
Thanks for the open and honest opinion. I follow this creator and its great to help eachother like this👍
Yes, I am grateful...as are many that RTA makes such quality videos!
It appears to me now that most things you mention about cleanliness and efficiency are reflected in easycomposites' videos. Didn't spot that in the past.
Also, I've just put my resin measuring scale into a plastic bag 🙂
Yes... correct. In the early videos I bark about the same things. In the newer videos we are getting into work flow... and after that, we are heading into stories about operating a business. Hope you will stick around! Cheers, Michael
I love this. Vey cool video, I hope RTA sees it, a bunch of things he can implement to hsi process. If I'm not mistaken he always did one of's of the things he does for the videos, so this phone holder seems to be a first attempt at mass producing something. I'm enjoying his journey with this and enjoyed this video aswell.
Thank you for watching. RTA gives a great platform for commentary as he is on a cool journey with tech and mold logic. It's fun to see him sort it out... and his videos are very beautiful to watch. I am grateful he takes the time to make information and processes available to so many. We will do our best to continue to discover other talented makers. Cheers, Michael
You mention super glue inhibiting the cure of platinum cure silicone, however, I found that the light cured resin used in sla is terrible for inhibiting the platinum silicone. I found that I had to either paint the inside of the master mould or use tin cured silicone.
That’s a good observation… I have found that resin cure affects platinum silicone more than any glue. I was never too good with paints... glad you got it to work.
Yes... your idea to make a tin cured mold, then cast into resin, then go to platinum. We used to do that all the time, but it is tricky to stay dimensionally stable going from mold to resin to mold back to resin. You can loose 1% quickly.. gotta start with a larger part once you have calculated your predicted shrinkage.
Great video. I had a very similar opinion when I saw this guys channel. Agree with you on the FDM printing, clean and efficient if you don't need the surface finish. The resin technology for reliability, build size, cleaning and cost is miles ahead of what it was 8 years ago your should take another shot at it sometime if only for interest if you don't need it for your shop.
Thanks for your comment. Yes, our resin printing days were when it was the new kid on the block and full of issues. I am not sure my shop will go back to it as we have scale/size issues that the printers cannot accommodate. My sense is we will have to stay with our CNCs for now... as the investments have been made. However, if I did pick up a printer, I would go for the Heygear.
I am grateful there are people out there who can afford to experiment in a controlled environment. It makes learning much easier. In our shop, we are always committed to deliveries based on known time lines and existing training of staff. It makes for profitability, but can pinch the excitement of new processes and equipment. Many thanks for tuning in. Michael
FDM is a million times easier for sure. But it can't come close to resin quality in finish and detail, not even today with the layers on FDM getting down to almost resin sizes. And even when it does come close the print times are insane compared to resin. For this reason, I personally have both in my workshop.
That said I'm also NOT a mold maker or doing anything with molds lol. All my resin printers are used to print out figurines to paint and display/sell. I've tried multiple times to replace them with FDM and it just isn't there on the surface quality even with the best FDM printers.
Resin printers have indeed come a LONG way but the general PITA nature of them remains. I hate it, but its the price you pay for that amazing output. The HeyGears in this video essentially produces prints that are injection mold quality and its amazing.
I am not a mold maker, nor do I do anything with molds. I print resin figurines and busts mostly, to paint and sell. Resin definitely has its challenges and I hate it, but it simply can't be replaced for me at least.
I very much appreciate your thoughts in general on workflow, and it made me think about how I might be able to make changes in my workshop to streamline what is by nature a very messy process.
Miniatures and paint.... you must have good eyesight!! I think that a good pressure casting set up (if you don't already have) would make your resin life from struggle to paradise. Yes, organization is critical. I think it's important to mention .... at least for me ... when I was working in messy shops, my brain was operating at lower capacity because i was always subconsciously distracted with the visual noise. Clean shops with things in uniform containers stored neatly on shelves... always helped me feel like my shop was welcoming me into my happy place. ! Thanks for tuning in, lots more on the horizon. Cheers, Michael
Would be nice seeing you review Robert Tolone.
coming up.
great breakdown and positive critique, I feel like the original should probably be linked in the description
@@jacobdunning8373 thank you for catching and commenting...I will add link. Links are usually in our description. Not sure why it got missed. Cheers, Michael
Can I ask a financial question- you seem to have a nice home- where did you make the most money per year? Certainly not on just being a mold maker? Wise investments? Real estate? Thanks.
I left previously deleted answer up for a couple days and took down. I hope you saw it. Yes, money was made via mold making businesses.
@@ShapeShifters-TV ok. nice job.
So you're right about resin print clean up being a pain but the printing community has been pretty good at informing new users in ways to reduce the amount of resin getting into the environment. For instance I use 99% isopropyl alcohol to wash in a automatic washing station and I do two cycles, a wash which gets most of the gunk then a rinse in a seperate fresher solution. Ones the wash one is starting to lose effectiveness ill stick the whole container into my cure station or in the sun and that converts all the uncured resin into plastic then I run the whole batch through a filter which gets the plastic out of the isopropyl. I can then bag the plastic to go into hard waste and the iso is reusable at least for the wash cycle. Ive seen people with much better filters be able totally clean the iso for reuse. I also try and catch any drips or spills on paper towel or silicone mats, and in metal dishes which can all be put in the sun or cure station and then into hard rubbish
@@oem42 You are the golden standard!
Can I read your comment publicly on an upcoming video?
I totally agree with you about shop workflow and organization. Funny as it seems but in my years of mold-making, I have just realized how organization saves so much of my time. I've wasted lots of time trying to find pins, bolts, etc., or even remember which goes to which when I could've just organized them into trays. Now I have different stations in my shop where even the tiniest tool has its own home.
Here's two things I've done to organize my mold-making shop so far:
1. Eliminated pegboards and tool racks. Tools should be placed on the table where you use them the most and not mixed with other tools that are irrelevant to the job. Having tools on display seems nice but you'll find yourself having to run around the shop to get them and then once again for putting them back.
2. Tables are organized based on the stage of workflow. Now I don't have to walk around the shop just to put a finished mold on the farthest edge of my shop. Post-processing booth is now alongside my drill press, grinder, sander, etc. Every post-processing tool is now within reach without having to stand up again and fiddle around drawers on the opposite side of my shop.
Another useful tip I could add is to use glass panels or smooth tiles as countertop. They're easy to clean and you don't have to clean them on a daily basis. I actually intend to clean them only after a week so I could just scrape the cured resin drippings with a razor scraper. Far more efficient than having to place a plastic sheet on your table every single time. For digital scales, I just put them in ziplocks as well.
You are at KungFu level with the organizing. I wish I had realized the importance earlier in my shop career. I would have been so much better off. Thank you for outlining the tips.... I am sure others will appreciate as do I.
ps. Early on, I also used thick glass. It was good for awhile, but stone was so much more durable given the larger scale projects I had to deal with. Just a heads up... some Tin cured silicones can bond to glass... so just an fyi.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing. Cheers, Michael
Really interesting. Havent checked yet (there might already be some) but i'd love some commentary on erik strebels work.
Yes, I have seen several of his videos... mixed reactions on a few. Mostly safety stuff that makes me cranky if a beginner were watching, but he always seems to have a plan and achieve workable results.
I have scheduled two of his videos for commentary. They will be a few weeks out because other vids are already scheduled for release. What's your name? I will try to give a shout. Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV I'm fine don't need a shout-out. Learnt a little of everything in my apprenticeship and have a interest in all kinds of manufacturing processes. Haven't tried any casting except for small seals from silicone. Would love to have a general overview over common castable resins and their hazzards or properties. Every time I consider casting something I don't know what resin to choose and reading up on some of them I'd rather not deal with the more hazardous stuff.
A lot of this is transferable, it's all about vigilance, preperation and attention to detail. Thanks.
Yes. Even with high tech tools, organization, workflow and attention to detail wins the day. Thanks for tuning in. Michael
In the early 90s, in trade schools of drafting and design, they would program you to think as executor: a tool maker, construction guy, and ao on and so forth... lastly, you would learn how to design
When I was in art school early 90s... a big part of me wished it had been more like a trade school. So much poor craftsmanship was acceptable because they were focused on ideas alone. It pushed me to hunker down into my pursuit of mold making because I wanted the production 'fruits' of the process... ie to be able to make editions of my sculptures. I was the pain in the ass guy who kept building the same piece again and again because I was trying to figure out How To. I did and it freed me to have much more creative freedom in future art endeavors for sure! If your curious... MichaelJoyArt dot com has a lot to see.
Personally, I think there is room for design skills/efforts/experiments early on, but only as self discovery...hardly in a paying job environment....too dodgy.
Thanks for connecting. Cheers, Michael
Really good video
The RTA guy is an easy watch... very Zen stuff.... but super loud off camera! I have seen some of his other videos and had more thoughts, but didn't want it to seem like I was hounding him. I like his style and work. Thanks for dropping in. Michael
Having been a builder chef and lawyer mise en place controls. I try to think as if i was a fighter pilot everything shouud be at hand.
You will enjoy this. I am using the clip in an upcoming video. since you are chef bro...
This was my world for years.. not cooking, but behind the curtain.
y2mate.com - Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie 2023 Best of_1080p
Where to learn all these mold making skills proffessionaly
Hello, Sorry to have missed this comment for so long. Sadly, I am not sure where to go to learn these specific skills. Depending on your location, certain colleges have design/fabrication departments that have some excellent equipment. If cost is an issue, community colleges are well equipped. As for my story, we learned on the fly in our business environment. This is the expensive way to go... trial and error. What type of mold making are you specifically interested in? Maybe I can offer better advice... Cheers, Michael
"It's an easy sentence to say but a pain in the ass to do" :) So true. Very helpful Tipps. You don't dump the whole SLA washing liquid after each print. You can reuse it a certain time and then filter it out and cure it at the sun. Till this time the thrown away support material is way more material.
The old printers were a rough ride. The new ones look pretty great. If my shop was doing small scale stuff, I would pick up a few. We run mostly CNC these days for the Cannabis Industry.
As I get older, I am much more sensitive to my trash footprint...especially chemical. I know the wash can be used again, but its a bummer to toss regardless. Necessary, but a bummer. I always was eager for a soy based elastomer and resin system. Some day... maybe.
Thank you for tuning in. I hope you will drop in on some of our low tech process videos too. They have some interesting content mixed in with otherwise simple processes... business comments, pictures from old jobs etc.
Cheers, Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV Yes, These days it's easier to start specially with the low prices. Started two years ago. Biggest learning so far: You need to keep the temperature up :) I think after this video I watched 6 more so far :) Also recommended your channel to a mold maker from Berlin. We also use a CNC sometimes for cutting shapes directly into Plaster. Its nice to skip some steps this way :)
I didn't know someone would be handing out gold today.
Gold?! That's awesome. Sometimes it feels more like aluminum... but gold is very encouraging! Thanks for your support. Please watch the follow up video to RTA ... it has some gold goods in it too! Michael
Me watching at 5am, never made a mold in my life or planing to to lol
Too funny. I could recommend so many other things to watch at 5am! Hope your sleep pattern improves. =) Michael
Some cool tips but I hope you reached out to RTA before offering production advice on something that's clearly a passion project. That focus on quality from him is what lead me to buying one of these products. His process are what make him relatable and marketable (to me). You're giving advice as if he's running a large job shop. Apples and oranges.
The advice was not for him, it was for other makers who are looking at other inputs on an already good story. I know his shop is not production, but he is discovering some important efficiencies of a production shop. I have run both types of shops, production and artisanal and the value of both overlap on an hourly basis. It is also why in the video I commented that his finished output was a sculpture more than a product. Apples and Oranges... yes, but people eat them both to stay healthy. Cheers, Michael
Recently discovered RTA and am addicted to his video...Hes a great artist
His art is both in the making of the parts and the making of the videos. I enjoy his work very much. He is on a cool maker path of discovery.
Because he’s got a TH-cam channel he gotta make your stuff look as professional as possible and overbuilt your showman
He does make everything look good... showman 10/10, efficiency.. not 10/10. But that is ok. I can still enjoy the show! Thanks for joining in. Michael
What’s an omega mould!?
An omega is a mold of a master mold. It is when you need to scale production extremely fast.
Im not a mold maker, i make one-off projects mostly for myself....but i also work in manufacturing medical implants. most of your gripes about RTAs work flow is what we call "5S", which we borrowed from the Japanese and means: sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. its the small things that add up to saving time and money. anyway, i have watched RTAs videos in the past, and i think you took a very good-faith approach to reacting to his process. i look forward to more of this!
Hi Chris, Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Anyone who has been in high stakes production knows how critical compartmentalizing of stepped process is. Clear understanding of efficiencies in workflow also helped us greatly with quality control.. because every person had a keen sense of ownership.
A one person shop is a different beast... I did that for years and it was an echo chamber of fatigue! I am grateful for RTA video quality and admire his ability to do both the project and the video production. Double high five to him. I hope you will watch some of our low/tech rubber mold and ceramic videos as well as we are starting to weave in some business history and legacy photos... so even if the process is not your thing, some of the story telling might be... at least I hope. Cheers, Michael
I didn't take you as rude at all. Every comment was constructive feedback on how to improve. You never once said a negative thing.
Glad it did not come across as rude. Some people focus on the minutia and miss my broader agenda of trying to help others save time and money. As you likely know, my ideas are not really targeted at RTA himself, they are for the watchers like us!
KISS - Keep it simple stupid. I always sleep over a design and ask me, do I need this feature, can I make it simpler?
Yup... but simple is not always the fun way. In business, the fun way is not often a legit option, but in a youtube bubble, the pleasure of the build moments are celebrated. Both worlds are fun to look in on. I would sleep on it too... very helpful thing... the subconscious mind!
Man, what a channel name for you to stumble onto when baked. That was an awesome and fascinating video to watch! I shaped my algo brick by brick.
Too funny.... Glad you found us.
There are a bunch of other videos...hopefully they will be enjoyed at all levels of consciousness! There are many more funky topics on the channel besides mold making. Lots to discover if curious. Thanks for commenting! Michael
Your comments on 'designing for production' are similar to my advice for system implementations and business transformations (my professional gig). Lots of solutions are great on paper, but add so much complexity to deliver initially, or to execute in practice, they are simply unusable. My mantra over time is "only as complex as it must be, and as simple as it can be". (external factors like regulations [material properties & physical constraints in production design] will make things complex, but that just means you need to simplify EVEN MORE elsewhere)
Hi Tony,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. For those of us who have been compressed with the realities of production, certain issues jump out and slap us. As you know, it starts with very good design...which for many is hard to simplify when designing is such an artistic pleasure. Per your comment... Complicated precedes simple in most instances and it takes a design bully to swing the machete. Usually that bully is the same one who has to make the shop profitable! Until next comment....Cheers, Michael
why 3 water marks
A super high quality build video, reviewed by someone with decades of experience? This is great content. I do think your thumbnail could do a better job of reflecting how constructive this video is. The version I saw implies you'll go broke if you listen to MTA, which got me in the door, but is not great for that channel's brand. Apply your quality mindset to the title and thumbnail too. We got you.
RTA video is great production for sure. Yes, decades... started my first mold business at 22 and am now 56 still with 3 businesses including my mold shop 'Chicago CulinaryFX'. Good feedback on the thumbnail... but it really does ring true for me that it is not a profitable approach from a commercial perspective. I know that is not his key motivation... rather just my slant on it. I did notice in a later video of his, he comments on the inefficiency his earlier process.
Non-the-less... I do not mean to diminish his strong presentation brand. What suggestion would you have for thumb? Happy to consider... as TH-cam is new for me and I am better at molds than catchy promotion. Many thanks, Michael
10% knowledge and 90% technique
Ouch bro... we are all doing the best we can. High Five to all the makers. I hope you will find some value in both videos.
@@ShapeShifters-TV I'm not sure if I was misunderstood or not. I was basically saying that you are the knowledge of the technique that we don't know about. things like putting your scale in a Ziploc bag save time and energy none of us need to waste. I have nothing but respect I am gratitude for the things that you're doing,
@@mrfnk Fully understood. Thank you for following up. I hear a lot from skilled craftspeople out there who have strong words for singularly beautiful productions vs a balance of applicable tips and tricks. I think RTA does a pretty good job of making a typically boring process watchable. =)
It was like that in the culinary world... some of my super accomplished chef friends would mention how many views a student would get from their excellent filming of glazing a fake Styrofoam cake vs the exec chefs with decades of experience who are making real cakes for demanding clients that look and taste great, but aren't well visually formatted for insta or YT because they are filmed on the fly in a crazy busy michellin star hotel kitchen. Honestly, Me/We older folk need to step up our tech game...and it is not easy for us.
YT is weird that way. Different audiences are hungry for different things. I wish there were a way to sort out instruction content levels based on skill set / experience not just high view counts/recommendations. There is room for everybody and my comment was directed at my selfish statement that even beautiful content can still have significant shortsighted moments.
In fact, I have a lot of instructional videos that have such low production quality I won't release because videos fall short of looking good. Info is good, but my skills are basic with film or other. It's a tricky balance.
I hope you will stay with us as our Hand-ufacturing story unfolds. High Five, Michael
sounds like a formlab printer 👀
@@henryyuqing8757 yup.
RTA's process is fun to watch. But like Michael says, the product is not very smart. Most importantly, the mix of all kinds of materials makes this an electronic product that's impossible to recycle. I'm pretty sure the actual product he is making is the video series and not this charger.
The product is exhausting to make. I thought about the non recycle aspect, but forgot to say it... thank you for mentioning. Also, i agree, his other product line is the video. That is fine with me, but it is good if he were to be crystal clear about that goal as well. M
A lot of things here are for show
TH-cam is a fickle beast... 'show' matters... but so do other things... as you allude to.
Thanks for dropping in. Michael
Note to Michael Joy, editing is your friend, not every story adds to a presentation. You obviously enjoy hearing yourself talk. In the beginning you tell a "story" about your use of resin printers back-in-the-day that weren't up to snuff, so you stopped using them, and the maker in video DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUES... What?! This is why your reaction video (for an original coming in under 20 minutes) is 44 minutes long. I hope you can learn something from RTA Fab when it comes to making videos, his style and delivery of information is clean, impeccable. It's really too bad, as you probably have some great information to relay, but why would I spend TWICE the original video to simply hear maybe-related stories? Edit, edit, edit, then edit again. Do this and your subscriber count might go up.
maybe because this is an educational video and not a short form algorithm buzzer? Imagine attending a lecture, then going up to the prof afterwords saying "work on your pacing and maybe someone would listen to you yap yap yap"
Low brow take, it's apparent you've never had a series of mentors throughout your life because this guy is giving a master class using the high quality footage of the other guy with much less experience. If the original creator is able to take criticism then this video is a love letter to him, he can grow by leaps and bounds by taking these criticisms seriously. Your one complaint is he didn't have the same experience. I have friends who got into resin printing and they did, this all recently. It's something to take into serious consideration, he's not saying it's impossible to do, he's just describing the pitfalls that he experienced.
*cough formlabs cough*
@@highvis_supply You guessed it!!
Talking a little isn’t reacting it’s just stealing someone else’s content.
What are you talking about?? This man has been in the mould making buisness for what seems like YEARS and he's offering his own insight and critique on how RTA is producing a product from a mass production perspective.
To call his content anything but transformative is ignorant.
God forbid you have someone with much more knowledge and technique try to show you where you can improve.
Youre showing just how ignorant you actually are because you know nothing of the state of the art in resin printing. Times change and this tech is an absolute godsend to mold makers. The HeyGears printer is also excellent. Arguably the best. And no it doesnt use lasers. Thats an older tech thats more common for industrial applications but not common anymore with new applications.
HUH?!!! what the F is this?! Why would I watch a video of you watching a video?! and who are you?!
Lol
bro, ur a real one for this.. im blown away by the honest and extremely useful info.. the breakdown of the pressure pot stuff was amazing, sometimes ai was really at a loss as to why my silicone was pimply no matter what I did
no offense to the og guy but hey-- if you're focused on flexing your arms and showing off your LUT color correction for 90% of the tutorial some stuff might fall by the wayside 😭😭😂
The 'looks like his studio is huge' comment got to me-- still in a hoarded garage and seeing how people who can afford studio space don't use it or put anything in the space for the vibes-- i would use every damn square foot i could get out of a workshop.. what are people even paying for.. an off site living room?/??? 😭🫣
Glad some of the intel was helpful. A vacuum chamber is really important for those who are making resin parts.
Funny... Yes, he seems to be very self aware of the look. Part of the brand plan maybe....however, I never see him smile..??
Re; studio space. I have had shops in many submarines.. believe me. One of our videos shows pictures of several past places... basements etc. I think its the video of the French guy making the small headless seated statue... thumbnail 'was that valuable' or something like that. The photos sequence is about middle of video.
I have had small and large shops and even had to put my shop in my living room one time in an emergency. Not good. Small shops, everything is within reach, but no storage. Big shops with employees... always paying people on the clock to walk around and find things. Organization is key to all sizes.
Glad you found us. Stay connected. Michael