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Beautiful DIY hide...so you would think

G

gob144

New member
Me and my Fiancee had a great idea for a DIY hide. We took a cast of a purchased hide using clay casting metal bought a dollar store for 2 bucks. After we had it shaped we used self drying clay bought at the same dollar store for 2 bucks. Everything looked like it was going to be great and very nice looking. heres a look.

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Buuuuut after it dried the clay shrunk cracked like crazy and flaked off like old chalk. Does all clay do this or was it because i bought such cheap stuff. Any ideas on how to make this work.
 
its been a few years sense ive played with clay and it didnt to that to me. im not sure if its safe to use this or not but it just poped into my head try doing it out of bondo its used for cars but when it dries its as hard as a rock and u mite be able to use fiberglass too. if u use one of this u can make some crazie hids. but like i said befor im not sure if its snake friendly or not i havnt tried it yet but its an idea. I know u can pick up a small can of bondo for around 20-30 bucks with buying the mat.
 
Hobby Lobby sells resin casting kits, for doing stuff like this. If your serious about this project, I'd look in to those. They all work a bit differently, so some trial and error will be needed. Basically you pour rubber over an item, let it dry, pull the original, and then pour in some 2 part epoxy/resin. Let dry, sand fill paint...

Edit... By the way, you can print online store coupons to get these kits at like 40-50 % off. Otherwise, they can get a bit pricey.
 
The clay you used appears to be the type that needs to be fired in a kiln, which is why it flaked off like that. I've made some free-form hides out of sculpy or super sculpy which you can bake in the oven. It's actually more like a plastic than a ceramic.
 
I second the sculpy, I love that stuff. I need to find the casting metal you have so I can make some nice natural looking hides!
 
thanks for the idea. I fiber glasses some cars so i know how to use the stuff but I wonder how i could find out if its reptile friendly. Iv never heard of sculpy but ill definatly look it up.

you can buy that casting metal and any art store.
 
what I did when I did soemthing like that (has a whole closet full of projects that I wanted for my snakes, and thought they didnt work) apparently grout really works.. and has for me, then you put some kind of sealent over the outside, but if the tank is going to be dry, you really dont need it..
 
I get sculpy at walmart in the craft section. They also have plaster of paris which can be used to make stuff just not as easily as sculpy.
 
Sculpty is a great project to use, can make just about anything with it. Another favorite of mine though is apoxie clay but its expensive and ive not tried it with animals. It dries to a hard non toxic surface though from what i understand and its rock hard and durable. Also its air dry after you mix it.
 
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