Thermoplastic - Worbla ® Deco Art Heat Activated Molding Pellets
Worbla's Deco-art ® Thermoplastic is a unique molding material which initially resembles small beads or pellets. 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. Worbla ® Deco Art is designed to be melted down into a mold (hence its pellet form) but can still be reshaped manually with heat once merged. This thermoplastic is in the heavier range and in therefore suitable for costume items and masks as well as hats but it cannot support the weight of itself and therefore larger projects may require a core to mold around. The finished product can be finished with paint/sprays/etc but it is recommended that the surface be set and sanded before any finishes/paints are applied. Pellets can actually be dyed by applying acrylic before heating. When the plastic has melted, the acrylic will integrate into the plastic which can then be remolded etc... until satisfaction. The pellets are approximately 2-3mm in diameter and are sold in packets of 50g. The melting point for this product is relatively low (65 degrees celcius) and hence care should be taken when storing finished products as to not to expose them to temperatures in excess of this value (deformity will occur).
>> Please see below for full details and instructions on how to use this product. <<
Product Measurements
Bead Diameter: Approximately 2-3mm | Sold per: Packet of 50g
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.
Worbla ® Thermoplastic is a unique molding material which initially resembles small plastic pellets. 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. Worbla ® does not contain any scrim and hence remains easy to tear and pick apart once heated. This thermoplastic is in the heavier range and in therefore suitable for costume items and masks as well as hats. These pellets are designed to be put into molds etc and melted down to easily accommodate their surrounding shape. The final product can be finished with paint/sprays/etc but it is recommended that the surface be set and sanded before any finishes/paints are applied. It may also be dyed with acrylics by applying acrylics to the product in pellet form and then mixing after melting it down. Please note that the ACTIVATION TEMPERATURE for Worba's Transpa Art is 65°C. It is recommended that thick gloves are used with rubberised fingers when handling this product in its activated form. Tools and a wet sponge are also recommended for sculpting. Also ensure that finished products are not left in temperatures in excess of 65°C (e.g.: in car trunks/boots or in exposed sunlight).
BLOCKING/MOLDING:
Worbla ® makes for an excellent blocking material alternative to buckram. The surface is capable of streching, molding and tearing like putty 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.
HEATING:
Heating is recommended using either industrial hot air guns, boiling water or a conventional oven as these are all capable of breaking the 65 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). Worbla ® 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. Worbla ® can be cut with scrissors/stanley knife, stapled, drilled, bolted and put through a sewing machine.
COMPOSITION:
This product consists of natural renewable raw materials. It features a melting point of approximately 65 degrees Celcius. When heated above this point, Worbla ® 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 65 degree celcius temperature threshold). It leaves none of the mess associated with other molding materials such as buckram and paper-mache. It is non toxic however friendlier plastics would be recommended for mouth pieces over Warbla.
PLEASE NOTE: When heated, Worbla ® should not be applied directly to bare skin as burns may occur.
More information can be obtained from Worbla ® or from this Instruction Sheet.