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IMAG0430

Posted by Bill Harbour on July 25, 2011 at 8:25am
This is a natural plastic made from milk and vinegar. It's called casein or Galalith. The ratio is 1 cup milk to 1 tablespoon vinegar. Use a tea strainer to seperate the clumps from the clear liquid. The clumps harden into plastic. I plan on making a nut out of this stuff...like bone in density.
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Comments

  • Bert the Welder August 8, 2011 at 11:55am
    Thanks again, Bill. Good luck with the nut! I'm going to try this stuff out.
  • Chuck Dubman August 5, 2011 at 7:40pm
    Once used to make clothing buttons, should give you an idea how well it wears.
  • Bill Harbour August 5, 2011 at 2:06pm
    Bert...the stuff can be press into a mold.  I had read though that if it's completly surrounded by a mold, it takes quite a bit longer to dry or cure.
  • Bill Harbour August 5, 2011 at 2:02pm
    Bert...this particular disk is about 2 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick.  I pressed the material into a plastic cup.  I figured I could cut a nut for a CBG out of this diameter and thickness.  Now...I may have some air pockets in the middle...dunno.  That's part of the process of figuring out if this stuff can be used at all.
  • Bert the Welder August 5, 2011 at 1:56pm

    Thanks Bill! So you don't press the solids into shape or into a mold? Just let harden and carve. How much solid material do you get from a cup and a TBSP? Size of a AA battery? Matchbox?

    Thanks again!

  • Bill Harbour August 2, 2011 at 8:33am
    Yes...heat up the cup of milk in the microwave until it is frothy. Mix in one tablespoon of vinegar, then strain off the solids. I patted out as much water from the solids as possible using a paper towel. I suspect it will take at least two weeks to dry completely unless you spread it out into thin sheets.
  • Bert the Welder July 29, 2011 at 8:07pm

    So you add the vin to the milk.......strain it right away?.........do you then pour it in a mold?.........how long until it hardens/cures?

    Thanx in advance!

    B

  • Chris Tinker July 25, 2011 at 2:01pm

    Look forward to seeing more....

     

  • Bill Harbour July 25, 2011 at 12:58pm
    From what I understand, it'll hold up with being hardened by vinegar, but over time mold might get to it.  The formaldehyde made it resistant to breaking down and made it water resistant.
  • Bill Harbour July 25, 2011 at 12:56pm
    Yea...I think the vinegar and formaldehyde do the same thing.  Couldn't find the exact formula for using the fomaldehyde.  It's still got a day or two of drying.  I'll post some pics when it's completely hardened.
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