The processes involved when I make stuff: sculpting, programming, electronics, carving, moulding, etc. Mostly puppets, automata, sculpture, occasionally furniture, interactives, food, etc. Usually fairly detailed and image-led. Please reuse any ideas, tips, thoughts and approaches.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Making an Arduino power supply cable look wooden
With nice wooden plugs an ugly black plastic lead is not really what anyone wants!
The black lead on the left was revamped into the lead on the right by sawdust coating it using latex as a flexible bonding agent.
Latex and sawdust forms a composite material which is much physically robust than either on their own. The latex provides flexibility and the dust gives bulk and resilience.
Liquid latex from an art supply shop was used, without any thickener adding. It uses ammonia as a suspension fluid which does smell rather strongly. Use in a ventilated space!
Latex was poured into a shallow container
Sawdust was sifted to get a fine powder.
The sawdust was dusted over the wet latex.
This was left to dry, then the process was repeated.
Eventually after three coats it ended up looking rather tasty and root-like!
A close-up of the joint with the mains plug.
Here is the head complete with swanky new cable.
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