. . .You know where to put the Caulk
March 24, 2009 7:40 AM Subscribe
After a long haul on a plane, I'm wanting to make my very own noise blocking in-ear headphones, as per here. The otherwise awesome directions call for using a relatively slow setting epoxy putty. I shudder at the idea of putting noxious putty in my ears for any time at all. Please suggest a better material thats easy to work with, is non toxic and sets in a reasonable amount of time.
Something like this maybe? Basically find some moldmaking material that is designed for use on skin.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:24 AM on March 24, 2009
posted by backseatpilot at 8:24 AM on March 24, 2009
Response by poster: Backseatpilot, I'm looking for a non toxic silicone-like material...
[Meanwhile, Devnull manages to recommends *precisely* the headphones that motivate me to make my own custom molded earpieces]
posted by Fupped Duck at 8:33 AM on March 24, 2009
[Meanwhile, Devnull manages to recommends *precisely* the headphones that motivate me to make my own custom molded earpieces]
posted by Fupped Duck at 8:33 AM on March 24, 2009
You can use the stuff that dentists use to take molds of teeth. The name of the product escapes me but it is afaik non-toxic and is quick to harden. It can be costlier than epoxy though.
posted by watercarrier at 8:36 AM on March 24, 2009
posted by watercarrier at 8:36 AM on March 24, 2009
@Fupped Duck What can I say? They're good :) Surprisingly good on planes too. In fact I can't wear them if walking - I wouldn't hear a car coming.
posted by devnull at 8:50 AM on March 24, 2009
posted by devnull at 8:50 AM on March 24, 2009
My brother used to have to wear these soft wax earplugs when he went swimming as a kid. Looks like the perfect thing to make a mold out of.
posted by sanka at 8:53 AM on March 24, 2009
posted by sanka at 8:53 AM on March 24, 2009
The sillicone putty that dentists use to take moulds of teeth sounds ideal. You get a tub of putty and a tube of activator to mix together; they set into a rubbery solid. If it's safe enough to go in your mouth, I'm sure it'll be non-toxic in your ear. I haven't handled any for a few years, but I remember it feeling pretty robust.
I'm not sure where you can find it; maybe ask your dentist if he can spare you a blob? It's also used by the conservation departments in some museums to cast replicas of items in their collections and/or as a substrate to mount pieces in while rebuilding broken items. If you happen to be friendly with a conservator, they might be able to give you some. I think it was called sillicone alginate... or maybe sillicone rubber?
Also, have a look through this site about making casts of the human body. At a glance they seem to have an enormous amount of information on the various lotions and potions you could use to make a plug to perfectly fit your ear canal.
Finally -- and I'm sure you've considered this -- think about the anatomy of your ear canal before putting something in there that'll set solid. The canal is typically pretty straight, so the solidified plug shouldn't end up hooked around anything in there. But anything that makes a snug fit might also be airtight. If so, pulling it out could create a vacuum behind it which would make your eardrums hurt and conceivably lead to a perforation. I imagine you'll be fine if you don't put it in too deep: like most of the rest of your body, your eardrums are pretty tough. IANAD, of course.
posted by metaBugs at 10:08 AM on March 24, 2009
I'm not sure where you can find it; maybe ask your dentist if he can spare you a blob? It's also used by the conservation departments in some museums to cast replicas of items in their collections and/or as a substrate to mount pieces in while rebuilding broken items. If you happen to be friendly with a conservator, they might be able to give you some. I think it was called sillicone alginate... or maybe sillicone rubber?
Also, have a look through this site about making casts of the human body. At a glance they seem to have an enormous amount of information on the various lotions and potions you could use to make a plug to perfectly fit your ear canal.
Finally -- and I'm sure you've considered this -- think about the anatomy of your ear canal before putting something in there that'll set solid. The canal is typically pretty straight, so the solidified plug shouldn't end up hooked around anything in there. But anything that makes a snug fit might also be airtight. If so, pulling it out could create a vacuum behind it which would make your eardrums hurt and conceivably lead to a perforation. I imagine you'll be fine if you don't put it in too deep: like most of the rest of your body, your eardrums are pretty tough. IANAD, of course.
posted by metaBugs at 10:08 AM on March 24, 2009
There's this crayola stuff that a friend of mine used for making fake teeth for a halloween costume. Obviously non-toxic, and cures hard enough so you don't have to worry about body heat melting the product. I just emailed her to find the exact name of the product and I'll update when I have that info.
posted by 8dot3 at 10:30 AM on March 24, 2009
posted by 8dot3 at 10:30 AM on March 24, 2009
Best answer: I did precisely this a few months back using Shapelock plastic. The "free sample" offer here for $4.95 has more than enough for lots of plugs, and extra to play with.
posted by piro at 10:52 AM on March 24, 2009
posted by piro at 10:52 AM on March 24, 2009
How about Silicone? I've never stuck it in my ears but it's great to work with.
posted by Ookseer at 10:58 AM on March 24, 2009
posted by Ookseer at 10:58 AM on March 24, 2009
Follow up: the product I mentioned is called Crayola Model Magic.
posted by 8dot3 at 3:14 PM on March 24, 2009
posted by 8dot3 at 3:14 PM on March 24, 2009
Silicone putty: Douglass & Sturgess has Silputty, which is nice stuff, and will probably last a lot longer. Even nicer are the staff, who are very supportive and helpful, particularly on selecting a method and materials for your project.
Some of these (Body Double, Dermasil, et al) are brush ons, not firm like putty. So if you use that, you'll have to have something to keep it from it pouring out of your ear (or running too deep into your ear, I'd guess).
I wouldn't use it, but FYI, epoxy will naturally release from skin - the oils don't let it stick for long. But I doubt that something that hard would ever be comfortable to wear for long. More importantly, some people develop an allergic sensitivity to it after having it on their skin for too long - even a single exposure. And trust me, that's a real drag.
Finally, remember that any of these materials are going to stick to the hairs in your ear, which could make it painful to pull it off. If you use it, the Smooth-On Body Double appears to have both a skin cream mold release and a new additive that prevents the hair from sticking in the first place.
posted by buzzv at 3:46 PM on March 24, 2009
Some of these (Body Double, Dermasil, et al) are brush ons, not firm like putty. So if you use that, you'll have to have something to keep it from it pouring out of your ear (or running too deep into your ear, I'd guess).
I wouldn't use it, but FYI, epoxy will naturally release from skin - the oils don't let it stick for long. But I doubt that something that hard would ever be comfortable to wear for long. More importantly, some people develop an allergic sensitivity to it after having it on their skin for too long - even a single exposure. And trust me, that's a real drag.
Finally, remember that any of these materials are going to stick to the hairs in your ear, which could make it painful to pull it off. If you use it, the Smooth-On Body Double appears to have both a skin cream mold release and a new additive that prevents the hair from sticking in the first place.
posted by buzzv at 3:46 PM on March 24, 2009
Fupped Duck if you use the shapelock product please report back on how it worked out.
posted by Mitheral at 9:43 PM on March 29, 2009
posted by Mitheral at 9:43 PM on March 29, 2009
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posted by devnull at 7:52 AM on March 24, 2009