Thermoplastic - Wonderflex ® Heat Activated Molding Material (Price per Sheet)

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SKU
CA-04193
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From $16.00

Wonderflex ® Thermoplastic is a unique molding material which initially resembles stiff plastic sheeting. It is great for masks, costumes, millinery, castings & hand molded sculptural pieces. When heated it becomes soft, allowing it to be molded and shaped by hand or on a mold or block. Once cooled it retains the molded shape. This process of heating and cooling can be repeated until the desired shape is acquired. Both sides of the Wonderflex ® sheet becomes sticky when heated so fabrics and materials can be stuck to one or both sides of the sheet, or the sheets can be finished with paint/sprays/etc. The sheets are approximately 1mm thick and sold in variety of sizes (see below).

Product Measurements

The sheets are approximately 1mm thick and sold in units of 37.25 x 24.75cm (1/16 of a full sheet). Please note that we will supply a continuous sheet if more than one quantity is purchased. Refer to the table below for sizing and pricing information.

Size Dimensions Order QTY
1/16th Sheet 37.25cm x 24.75cm 1
1/8th Sheet 49.5cm x 37.5cm 2
Quarter Sheet 74.5cm x 49.5cm 4
Half Sheet 99cm x 74.5cm 8
Full Sheet 149cm x 99cm 16
If other colours are available for this product, these are listed in the table below. Please note colour variations may occur especially on naturally occurring products and those that have been dyed. We try our best to ensure colour consistency but cannot guarantee that two different products with the same colour description will have the same colour.

Wonderflex ® Thermoplastic is a unique molding material which initially resembles stiff plastic sheeting. It is great for masks, costumes, millinery, castings & hand molded sculptural pieces. When heated it becomes soft, allowing it to be molded and shaped by hand or on a mold or block. Once cooled it retains the molded shape. This process of heating and cooling can be repeated until the desired shape is acquired. Both sides of the Wonderflex sheet becomes sticky when heated so fabrics and materials can be stuck to one or both sides of the sheet, or the sheets can be finished with paint/sprays/etc. The sheets are approximately 1mm thick and sold in variety of sizes.

BLOCKING/MOLDING:
Wonderflex ® makes for an excellent blocking material alternative to buckram. The outer surface is capable of stretching, particularly along the bias once it has been heated (see below for heating instructions).  Molding can be done using tight insulated gloves and can also be done with bare hands once it is cooled to an acceptable temperature although care must be taken not to burn oneself. 

COVERING/FINISHES: 
Wonderflex ® has a 'smooth' and 'scrim' side and when heated, both sides become sticky enough for other materials such as fabric, leather and straw clothes to stick to its surface. Note the 'smooth' side is stickier than the 'scrim' side. This 'stickyness' allows the Wonderflex to stick to itself, but always make sure two opposite sides are stuck together e.g. 'smooth' to 'scrim', NOT 'smooth' to 'smooth' or 'scrim' to 'scrim'. Similar to Fosshape ®, Wonderflex ® can be sanded, hand painted, spray painted, and coated with other finishings.

HEATING: 
Heating is recommended using either industrial hot air guns, boiling water or a conventional oven as these are all capable of breaking the 70-80 degree celcius threshold however care should be taken to avoid overheating with excessive temperatures as this may cause the material to burn. Hair Dryers and Irons can also be used but may take longer to heat the sheets. Small areas can be sculpted using a soldering iron or hot glue gun as a heat source (particularly useful for seams). Wonderflex ® remains pliable for approximately 2-3 minutes after heating but can be reheated as many times as required to achieve the perfect mold. To prevent it from sticking to the mold, it is recommended to use some form of non-stick barrier such as aluminum foil, baking/release paper or cooking spray.

OTHER APPLICATIONS: 
Other applications for this material include theatrical scenery and stage props, models, headgear, armour, cosplay & costumes and even as a convenient light structural repair item. It is denser and heavier than Fosshape ® and hence is more suited for applications requiring durability. Wonderflex ® can be cut with scrissors/stanley knife, stapled, drilled, bolted and put through a sewing machine. 

COMPOSITION:
This product consists of two different sides; a polyester open weave 'scrim' for structural integrity and a smoother surface ideal for external coating. It features a low melting point of approximately 70-80 degrees Celcius. When heated above this point, Wonderflex ® becomes activated (able to be molded or blocked) and like all thermoplastics, will retain its molded shape once cooled. It is water and mildew resistant meaning that any application of water will not result in loss of structure or integrity (unless the water causes it to exceed the 70-80 degree celcius temperature threshold). It leaves none of the mess associated with other molding materials such as buckram and paper-mache.

PLEASE NOTE: When heated, Wonderflex ® should not be applied directly to bare skin as burns may occur. 

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