I don't know if this idea has been put forward on the forum before.

I was fiddling with some dismantled puzzles (something I shouldn't be doing at the moment!), when I had an idea.

Has anyone used plastic from floppy discs to make their customs!

I cut up a few and the plastic seems perfect. It is quite thin, but that wouldn't be a problem for a puzzle that was going to be filled with milliput. It's easy to work with, it can be cut with a craft knife. You can get old discs really cheap!

I think this is a better source than my first idea - plastic from old video cases! Mind you video cases are a bit more substantial.

Anyway, just a thought.

Max

Credit cards.
I ordered 500 blank black credit cards for something like $30. Its so much plastic, and its PERFECT

I used the DVD jewel case out of desperation (ran out of the medical card).

Where did you order the blank CC's? I would have preferred using one of my cards, but with the numbers/letters stamped in they weren't flat enough.

I've failed miserably in my attempts to find Milliput in the Minneapolis area. Using their own website's "find a store near you" feature yielded no reply. Is there a major chain that routinely carries the stuff, or a good, cheap, reliable online source?

An expired proof of medical insurance card and then used pieces of a DVD jewel case, the black interior part. I found that if I scored it with a knife pressed against a straightedge and then carefully snapped the piece, the plastic would break off acceptably. Afterwards I fill the cracks with milliput and/or magic sculp and then file/sand the edges anyway, so I didn't need the pieces to be perfect.

i dotn even remember, just search for it

i think carter gave me this site, i may be wrong...
http://www.restorersupplies.com/

I have switched to Magic Sculpt. But here are some potential Milliput sources that were provided by the Milliput people:

Michele Otey
6040 Myers Road
Clinton
Ohio 44216
fax 330 882 6169
http://www.thisolddoll.com
e mail: Argomo@aol.com
Superfine White Milliput only

Lawrence Bradshaw
Restoration and Conservation of Fine Ceramics
P.O. Box 18521
Asheville, NC 28814
phone: (828) 253-1829
fax: (828) 281-4798
website: http://ceramicbooks.com
email: info@ceramicbooks.com
Superfine White Milliput only

The VLS Corporation, 4 types available
Lincoln County Industrial Park,
1011 Industrial Court,
Moscow Mills,
Missouri 63362.
tel 636 356 4888
fax 636 356 4877
website http://www.vls-vp.com
e-mail vlsmo1@i1.net


Restorer Supplies Inc, P O Box 387, Golden, CO 80402-0387
tel 303 384 9121 e mail RestorerSupplies@aol.com
http://www.restorersupplies.com

http://www.squadron.com

Model Builders Supply from Aurora in Ontario are distributors and supply
to the US - please visit their website http://www.modelbuilderssupply.com and
click on Hobby Stores for a list of stockists.

After having used both products I have to say I much prefer Magic Sculp over Milliput.

1. Less messy - Milliput is initiall very sticky when it's first mixed. I'm not sure why it is but it tends to stick too easily when you first start kneading it together. Sure I can use water to keep it off my fingers, but I don't need to with Magic Sculp.

2. Stays softer longer - It's just plain much easier to work than Milliput. Kneading together large quantities of Milliput would tire my fingers almost to the point of cramping. Magic Sculp requires much less effort.

3. Dries harder faster - Not very scientific, but Magic Sculp tends to become almost rock hard in several hours vs. Milliput which seems to require an overnight wait and then some before it will be very hard and easily sandable.

4. Cost - Magic Sculp gives you about 8 Times more material to work with than Millput for your money.

Drawbacks:

1. I think Magic Sculp only comes in a single color, which is a sickly gray/green slightly transparent hue.

2. It doesn't smell as pleasant as Milliput, but the odor isn't overpowering or particularly offensive.

3. It's ALMOST too soft initially. It might have difficulty retaining its shape if you spread it too thin, but then if you're making puzzles this shouldn't be a big concern.

Just a thought on the cutting of things like floppy disks... it may be difficult to cut into those things and it concerns me the safety around it (I have been thinking a lot about safety issues lately).

I'd recommend a very good qualtity and very sharp knife set. If you have add lots of pressure into the cut, chances are there will be accidents.

The scoring idea is a good one, going over the cut lines several times.

Just wanted to know, the few tubs I bought were all creamy yellow/beige kinda shade, if there is indeed ready made black colour milliput, it would be nice, saves on painting work!!

I posted the reply to this in a new thread.

Max