anybody use apoxie sculpt?

[Proteus]

Ever since the discussion on the caves and being agreed that the handmade caves are the best for the plecos, I started to wonder about getting my own clay and I stumbled upon this material. I also wanted to make logs for the catfish, as finding a hallowed logs is just tricky for me as well as finding specific shaped holey rock that won't affect the water parameters because I do find them very cool!

Apoxie Sculpt

It looks okay to use but has anybody used those stuff? It does say aquariums uses those stuff and its really easy medium to work with in my opinion and looks quite much better than a clay when one can manipulate it to their liking as I already have zillion of ideas and no wonder why the exhibitions look really awesome.

http://www.avesstudio.com/Products/Apox ... culpt.html

[L number Banana]

I use it for gourds and have entertained the same idea for fish caves. I just don't know about the off-gassing or whatever might be released into the water at some later date. It's supposed to be inert but I'm too chicken to try it in my tanks. Maybe I'll try it in a goldfish pond. There was an article in a craft magazine that talked about safely storing your supplies because kids can get into some dangerous things and it specifically mentioned apoxysculpt because that what was touched off the article. Someone's child ate some and with the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) of the product, the docs determined that it was fine and would simply go through!

It does work as well as the manufacturer suggests and the site you linked to has by far the best prices/service. I wouldn't deal with anyone else because the product can be effected by bad storage etc. You can request the MSDS from the company.

If you try it, please post your results.

Pure aquarium silicon can be sculpted into various things too. Just imbed something into a slab of it on waxed paper, let it dry, chop it or mold it into whatever and recoat the seams. Voila.

[Proteus]

I'm not sure if I want to give it a go until I hear in person that any aquariums like the shedd has been known to purchase this stuff and use it for their underwater portions of the exhibitions. Then I'll give it a go lol.

[Richard B]

It sounds ok. As their website indicates it has been used by public aquaria & hobbyists , they should be able to provide contact details in order for you to check the validity of their claims & the users experiences.

Milliput http://www.milliput.com/prod.htm is definately safe to use, but is more of a product to join things together than sculpt items

[Hitch]

There was a very nice DIY on Plecofanatics about using apoxie sculpt to make caves. Many have used it, including one of my friends. And it works amazingly with no ill affects.

[Proteus]

There was a very nice DIY on Plecofanatics about using apoxie sculpt to make caves. Many have used it, including one of my friends. And it works amazingly with no ill affects.

That was the first place I looked into, I am not sure if its the search feature keeps giving me no hits or it simply doesn't like my computer.

do you remember how old the thread was or who was the author of the thread so I can go to that member's thread history and get a hit on that thread?

[Proteus]

It sounds ok. As their website indicates it has been used by public aquaria & hobbyists , they should be able to provide contact details in order for you to check the validity of their claims & the users experiences.

Milliput http://www.milliput.com/prod.htm is definately safe to use, but is more of a product to join things together than sculpt items

Never seen it before however its a great thing to know about.

[Hitch]

after a long search...I realised that it was my friend who originally posted the DIY.

It was on zebrapleco.com: http://www.zebrapleco.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2533

and here are more pics of them in use: http://gtaaquaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5970

[Richard B]

Jumping back to the original post, you mention wanting hollow logs - have you thought about cutting a log lengthways then removing/hollowing the interior, then fixing the 2 halves back together - it works really well

Plus you can insert flat slate into the hollow to help weigh it down. If you are a bit of a DIY fan, the only limits to this sort of thing is your imagination

[Haavard Stoere]

The material seems interesting for creating smaller caves. For my own purposes the material is way to expensive. For me it really needs to be based on concrete in some way. My biggest caves are rather large. About the potential toxicity of the apoxi I know nothing. One thing I am wondering about is how can we mix two putty like components 100%? Liquids are ok to mix, but less fluid materials are more difficult if the exact relationships between the components are important.

[L number Banana]

Haavard Stoere:

The material seems interesting for creating smaller caves. For my own purposes the material is way to expensive. For me it really needs to be based on concrete in some way. My biggest caves are rather large. About the potential toxicity of the apoxi I know nothing. One thing I am wondering about is how can we mix two putty like components 100%? Liquids are ok to mix, but less fluid materials are more difficult if the exact relationships between the components are important.

Hi Haavard,
I mix the putty's evenly by having two identical 'containers'. For tiny amounts, I use the indents from empty eyeshadow, larger amounts = empty lipstick tube (easy to push out as well ) Small measuring cups are available from chemists or pharmacies too. Larger amounts can be measured with measuring cups from baking.

The secret is to knead well. Many people use an old pasta roller. Fold and press/fold and press. This also eliminates the air bubbles and you end up with slabs of whatever thickness the pasta roller is set at. For design ideas, look up Fimo or Sculpy. Apoxie sculpt handles the same and has about the same consistency. Apoxie doesn't have to be baked like the others but it gives you an idea of how many different things can be done with it. It holds the imprint of everything, even your fingerprints. Different gloves could make interesting 'rock' surfaces.

Even fractals! http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article ... mofractals
Or shoes...scroll down a few pics http://www.elvenwork.com/elvsamp1.html

Hope you try it!!

[Haavard Stoere]

Very nice As mentioned it seems to be a good material for smaller designs. These days I am searching for a concrete formula that can be used without sealing for large designs. The Apoxy seems to be the material we have been missing, but size and price is an issue.

[Proteus]

Jumping back to the original post, you mention wanting hollow logs - have you thought about cutting a log lengthways then removing/hollowing the interior, then fixing the 2 halves back together - it works really well

Plus you can insert flat slate into the hollow to help weigh it down. If you are a bit of a DIY fan, the only limits to this sort of thing is your imagination

I'm not good with tinkering with tools. I have to learn the art of patience and the art of tools as well as someone to teach me how to use them appropriately. I near broke a jig-saw just cutting pvc pipes.. Still did a crappy job cutting those PVC pipes anyhow. lol.

To manipulate clay with my hands might be a better go for what I imagine in my head instead of trying anything else with tools again hah.

[Proteus]

after a long search...I realised that it was my friend who originally posted the DIY.

It was on zebrapleco.com: http://www.zebrapleco.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2533

and here are more pics of them in use: http://gtaaquaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5970

Thanks for the links! this actually was the best info I had the whole time I have been trying to figure out this stuff and to find out someone did a background in their cichlid tank just sealed the deal for me.

checked out both threads and the last link had a member post a thread leading to PF for the same thread so you were right about reading it in PF as well...

now will be putting my plans together to visualize what colors I will need then place the order FYI probably will be ordering tons of black.

[2wheelsx2]

This seems ideal. I might order some up and give it a go. Thanks for all the info.