Possibly strangest question asked

[Mikew123]

Hi

I'm not a plumber but need some advice on the materials you use.

I need to make a mould for some parts on a car I'm building and want to use pipe insulation as the mould material.
This mould will be sacrificial.
The parts are going to made from carbon fibre but the shape means I need to dissolve the mould.

Can anyone tell me what can dissolve pipe insulation.
I've tried cellulose thinners and acetone to no effect.

I suppose I'm asking "what's the worst thing to come into contact with pipe insulation" and as far as how will it effect carbon fibre then I will test that myself.

Hope you can help.

Mikew

 

[SimonG]

Mice they love it.

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

A super fire 2 will melt pipe insulation or maybe a heat gun.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Foam insulation is expanded polyuthethane, and once its cured, I don't know of an off-the-shelf solvent. I saw a posting on another site which suggested hot caustic soda or methylene chloride.

Would you not be better to use wax, or some other more conventional sacrificial material.

 

[kay-jay]

Freeze it and scrape it off

 

[PETE 123]

Paint stripper

 

[lame plumber]

if your using carbon fibre, as with fibre glass shouldnt you be using a mirror image fibrfe glass mould with a release layer between the two. Any solvent to remove the pipe lagging wont be doing your carbon fibre any good

 

[Ermintrude]

Petrol. Use polystyrene we used to dissolve bolt cones with petrol!