Making a simple mold?

[HogTime]

Is there any clay-like material I could press a piece into for a certain shape and then harden the clay with some additive for a simple mold?

I was thinking about doing something like this to hold the binding on the curved end of the fretboard while the glue dried. The mold would act as a clamp, with the binding in the middle and pressure on the mold and fretboard.

I see masking tape being used, but not sure it will hold the binding around the curves well, even though I've already bent the binding to the approximate required shape.

I know this idea is overkill, but I'm curious about making a quick mold for other uses. BTW, I don't have a bandsaw to cut something out of wood.

Thanks,

[LVH]

Well to keep the bindings tight during the curves you might want to wrap it tight in cloth many times around and stick scrap pieces of wood in between the scroll... Maybe someone else can explain this better.:mandosmiley:

[Bill Snyder]

He is binding the fretboard. I would not think there would be a scroll on the fretboard.
I think some people use Friendly Plastic for making gluing cauls.

[LVH]

Sorry I mis-read it....

[Dan Voight]

I glue various sized dowels into a board to match the contour of the fb extention. I then shove the fb against the dowels and drop some thing superglue between the binding and fb and then hit it with the accelerator. Quick and easy.

[Michael Lewis]

Practice making the biding fit better.;)

[HogTime]

Thanks for the tips. I'll see if someone local has Friendly Plastic (sounds like what I'm looking for). If not, I'll try the dowel method. Of course, before either I'll practice more to get the binding to fit better - really. :)

BTW Michael, 3 years ago at SuperGrass in Bakersfield you did a mighty nice job of dressing the moderately worn frets on an '84 Flatiron A5Jr I'd just bought. I still have it.

[Terry Braund]

Both Stew Mac and LMI carry friendly plastic.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Clamps,_support_tools/Friendly_Plastic.html

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Clamps+%26+Vises&NameProdHeader=Friendly+Plastic

[des mando]

not sure what friendly plastic is but google jett set , its a thermoplastic that you heat in water that can be molded into any imaginable shape and when cooled can be filed drilled and worked like steel available at jewelery tool supplier rio grande

[Ivan Kelsall]

Check this out at Frets.com - http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Structural/BrokenHeadstocks/HuberPeghead/huberpeghead.html,
Saska