Reproduce Almost Anything : Basic Silicone Mold Making (Video and Workbook) [Paperback]

Ben Ridge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1992

"Reproduce Almost Anything" Basic Silicone Mold Making, Second Edition is a 56-minute videotape(With 3D-Animation.), and a 44-page workbook with National Materials Source-list combination, that shows a beginner, in easily understood techniques, how to make an inexpensive, two-sided silicone rubber mold from almost any original part and then use that silicone rubber mold to make dozens, of exact copies of the original part in metal, plastic, rubber, ceramic, wax or even chocolate. Several minutes of 3D-Animation greatly simplify the learning process for the viewer! The accompanying workbook parallels the videotape adding even more detailed information. This is a "must have" tool for any real creative person!

As the title indicates, "Reproduce Almost Anything" is a basic course in silicone mold making and cannot possibly address every imaginable shape that individuals may come up with. Ridge considers himself a modern version of "Rumpelstiltskin". His techniques can show you how to weave straw into gold. (See the "Entrepreneur" magazine review for proof.)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Crude prototypes won't show you off in the best light. You need a cheap way to build a better one." -- Entrepreneur Magazine, Aug. 2001 (Page 120,121)

"The process that Ben showed us is surprisingly simple...A home business could easily be launched using these mold making techniques." -- Invention to Market News, Sidnee Cox

"These very inexpensive tooling techniques produce metal, plastic and ceramic parts in quantity..." -- American Survival Guide magazine

"This video is frighteningly thorough... is exceptional and gives all the information that you could need. I recommend it wholeheartedly." -- Military Modelcraft International Magazine, Vol.7. No.1 (UK)
October 2002,

"We've been so impressed with this videotape since we saw it...we can't wait to...try it out!" -- British Car magazine, Gary Anderson

From the Publisher

The techniques presented in "Reproduce Almost Anything" have been used by the author, Ben Ridge, for more than thirty years, both as a Plastics Instructor and as an inventor. Virtually every invention that Mr. Ridge has put into production was first developed and fine tuned, using the techniques presented in this video/workbook combination.

Ben had taught so many inventors how to use silicone molds over the years that he decided to create a series of videotape/workbook combinations that any creative person could use silicone molds to inexpensively exploit their own ideas. "Reproduce Almost Anything" is the first of this series.

Several of Ben's former students are inventors, Special Effects Technicians, and Special Effects Directors in the movie industry.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 44 pages
• Publisher: Cherokee Accessories; 2nd edition (January 1992)
• ISBN-10: 0963426702
• ISBN-13: 978-0963426703
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,280,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A good start, BUT--, October 16, 2001

By 

Gregory A. Mckinney "modspell" (Chatsworth, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Reproduce Almost Anything : Basic Silicone Mold Making (Video and Workbook) (Paperback)

skimpy on the details. I was hoping for more, but instead got an overview. For instance, the video did not describle how he made his first item for mold-making: the very box he uses for the silicone mold. Too much is glossed over, and he repeatedly mentions his "advanced" course that should really get you up to speed. This should have been a freebie included in the series. The piece he makes (yes, one example) is so simplistic it doesn't even come close to explaining what I need to do for my project.

All in all disappointing... keep looking.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars promises a lot, August 31, 2000

By 

Richard B. Main (Livermore, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reproduce Almost Anything : Basic Silicone Mold Making (Video and Workbook) (Paperback)

Disappointing. I was lead to believe I'd learn how to cast low temperature metals and plastic lenses in silicone. I'm trying to restore cars that have impossible to find parts. I spoke with Ben Ridge before purchasing, and thought his video and workbook would be packed with hours of instructions and hundreds of pages of support. Not. Too bad. You could learn more surfing the web. What you get is a brief video with one example, and a workbook that is really thin. The video itself is done by some production company, and Ben should get his money back. It would have been far better if he just let his video camera roll while he made and explained things.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressed Customer, May 13, 2004

By 

Bob Krolick (San Rafael, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reproduce Almost Anything : Basic Silicone Mold Making (Video and Workbook) (Paperback)

I taught courses in plastics technology at San Francisco State University for twenty years and I'm sure that my students throughout those years would have found this videotape and workbook of great value. Part of our curriculum involved mold making with silicone elastomers for prototypes and short run production. If Mr. Ridge's program were available at that time, I would have used it for our laboratory work. Mr. Ridge has absolutely captured the most important core concepts and has communicated those concepts with uncommon clarity and good instructional technique. There is no doubt that the use of 3D animation makes the process of information transfer just that much more easily understood. I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants a good basic introduction. Its the perfect way to get started, especially for those with little or no experience. Mr. Ridge does an especially good job with safety and material handling. Also, there are valuable references for advanced study and more complicated mold and prototype projects. This program is perfect for inventors, craftsmen, artists, and hobbyists in addition to industrial and commercial use. An excellent value that can be used by anyone interested in learning about mold making and casting methods for fun and profit !