10 replies to this topic

[Rylan]

After using a paint like polymer called Plasti Dip, I realized what it could potentially be used for.
I figured that if I add enough coats to the stefen, it might form a rubber tip that would be softer and safer than a normal stefen.

sorry if the pictures were too big. Let me know what you think

Edit: the ranges are noticeably effected and the plastidip has no effect on the foam
Sorry if revised idea of another individual

Edited by Rylan, 23 October 2011 - 09:47 AM.

[canuck]

So? Did you do any tests on the darts? How are ranges compared to normal stefans? What is the affect on the foam?

I like this idea, but your post lacks substance.

[taerKitty]

http://nerfhaven.com...?showtopic=5402

http://nerfhaven.com...?showtopic=9314

[agc2k]

That is really cool. I will have to try it out.

[Darksircam]

What I'm worried about is the damage done to your brain by breathing in plastidip fumes.

Also, how many coats are you doing? How long does it take to make each dart? What exactly are you doing to make the dart? What blasters does it work in? How are the ranges noticeably affected? There's just not enough information in this to make a write-up in which we would want to go and get some Plasti-dip and do it.

Also know that most people now use slug stefans, which are already pretty painless. And oogoo darts are similar to this in terms of being a flat rubber head.

[Goofy]

What I'm worried about is the damage done to your brain by breathing in plastidip fumes.

Also, how many coats are you doing? How long does it take to make each dart? What exactly are you doing to make the dart? What blasters does it work in? How are the ranges noticeably affected? There's just not enough information in this to make a write-up in which we would want to go and get some Plasti-dip and do it.

Also know that most people now use slug stefans, which are already pretty painless. And oogoo darts are similar to this in terms of being a flat rubber head.

I'd imagine that as long as you use a mask of some sort you should be quite alright, and as far as time per dart, you could probably create a simple rack that you could use to dip the foam into an elongated container to allow more darts to be made per minute.

[KaneTheMediocre]

Most masks aren't capable of filtering gaseous toxins like the volatile solvents found in plasti-dip and PVC cement, or the fumes emitted by melting plastic. They can only mechanically filter out dust particles.


I investigated plasti-dip for similar purposes, and determined that in order to make 1 dart, you'd need to dip once, wait 4 hours for it to set, then dip again, and repeat this process between 10,000 and 20,000 times. I'm sure that if you were clever enough about it to get a good dome shape you could get a well performing dart by doing this every day for 30 years.

edit: Checked out Taers links. Someone appears to have found thicker plasti-dip than what I was using. Still, if you're going to pour rubber into a hole, you'd save yourself a lot of brain damage by using silicone RTV.

Edited by KaneTheMediocre, 26 October 2011 - 02:23 AM.

[238232]

On the masks issue, I'm not sure what standards you guys have, but here in Aus even an entry level half-face respirator with replaceable cartridges can take either particulate or organic vapour cartridges.

I've even seen some of the disposable facemasks being rated for organic vapours, but I didn't look too closely at what standards they followed.

[Darksircam]

I have a chemical respirator that I use when working with fiberglass, bondo, and PVC cement, and use cheaper dust masks for just working with cutting PVC.

A "mask of some sort" often will not work - if you smell the vapour it's not working.

[KaneTheMediocre]

On the masks issue, I'm not sure what standards you guys have, but here in Aus even an entry level half-face respirator with replaceable cartridges can take either particulate or organic vapour cartridges.

I've even seen some of the disposable facemasks being rated for organic vapours, but I didn't look too closely at what standards they followed.

Not many people that I've modded with even have the sort of mask with replaceable cartridges. There are definitely respirators like what you're describing that can protect against those fumes, but I don't think that many people would use them if merely told they need a "mask".

On a related note, using a rack + vat system would vastly increase the surface area and evaporation rate, magnifying the problem substantially. It's not impossible to safely deal with this, but it is difficult and the process would probably be a lot easier with something that doesn't use volatile solvents to set (Such as aforementioned silicone RTV). Mixing is a pain, but no fumes and you probably only need 1 or 2 coats.

[The Nerfaholic]

What are the ranges on these and how thick is the head?