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So, I am thinking I will be making a Table Top skirmish game, and while I am NO WHERE NEAR the point of even wanting to craft models, I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't poison everyone in my house by melting down the Sprues (the left over frame bits) for plastic to mold.

Haven't tried anything yet, just doing my research.

Also, what would be the best way to go about doing such? How expensive is it to make models by yourself (much like Sersi's Slaaneshi daemons, going to find link).

Edit: Here is link: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/235930.page

Melting plastic will give off really toxic fumes, plus there is no way you will get good results. Really, honestly, and finally.

If you get to a point that you want/need to cast things, your two 'real' options are going to be resin or white metal/pewter. It isn't an incredibly involved process (search youtube for resing 28mm for some basics) until it comes to things like cost and production efficiency.

Sad. Guess I can just throw those peices away then.

I figured as much, but wanted to make sure. Thank you for your information, gentleman.

To clarify a little, plastic sprue can be melted down and reused... but you needs some specialist equipment to do it.

You can't just melt it down and pour it into a mould.


Sersi's Daemons are cast from polyeurathane resin, not from polystyrene (which is what GW's models are made from).

It should be noted that resin and white metal pose certain health hazards.

In some ways white metal is the safest, as the danger is basically similar to what you have when cooking. There are no toxic fumes involved.

Nonetheless, if you take proper care, both resin and white metal can be used by the home hobbyist.

Casting figures can be fun and profeitable but I just want to echo louder:
Take care when working with molten lead!
Make sure no children or pets have access to your work area.
It may be helpful to visit a shop where casting is done to see the procedure in action before attempting it at home.
Hint: dont attempt this in your room or kitchen. A workshop or garage is much safer.

Plastic moulding is expensive, very expensive. Sprues are created with thermosetting plastic, so once it is cured using extreme heat and pressure, it won't melt back into a liquid again, it's a fully chemical change, so I wouldn't bother. Resin on the other hand.....

Thanks everyone

Kilkrazy wrote:It should be noted that resin and white metal pose certain health hazards.

In some ways white metal is the safest, as the danger is basically similar to what you have when cooking. There are no toxic fumes involved.

Nonetheless, if you take proper care, both resin and white metal can be used by the home hobbyist.

Ok, White Metal is the safest, and so if I get to that stage, that's what I am going with. Safety first.

You can, however, use your sprues for other stuff. Chop it up with clippers and you have instant Sprue Rubble for bases.

Here's what I made with MY old sprue!

Slarg232 wrote:Thanks everyone

Kilkrazy wrote:It should be noted that resin and white metal pose certain health hazards.

In some ways white metal is the safest, as the danger is basically similar to what you have when cooking. There are no toxic fumes involved.

Nonetheless, if you take proper care, both resin and white metal can be used by the home hobbyist.

Ok, White Metal is the safest, and so if I get to that stage, that's what I am going with. Safety first.

It's the safest in the sense that you are only dealing with molten lead.

If you can roast a joint, boil a pan of sprouts, and deep fry some chips without injuring yourself or setting the kitchen alight, you should be able to deal with casting metal. I made a big lead casting for a Boy Scouts badge when I was about 10. You just have to observe some basic safety precautions.

Of course in those days you could go to the chemist and buy all kinds of lethal chemicals to make explosives and stuff without any problem. A "chemistry set" was a standard toy for boys. My dad used to help us make fulminate of mercury for "landmines" for wargames in the garden. Great days, great days indeed.

winnertakesall wrote:Plastic moulding is expensive, very expensive. Sprues are created with thermosetting plastic, so once it is cured using extreme heat and pressure, it won't melt back into a liquid again, it's a fully chemical change, so I wouldn't bother. Resin on the other hand.....

wrong on the plastic ,its called injection molding, not thermosetting. Nice try though. We ( I do not work for GW ) re-use miss-cast and other bits of our plastic all the time once we get done with the injection process. If you where unable to use the plastics in the process you would never have the "recycled from..." items and model kits. Depending on the type(s) of resin you use and what you mix it with can really determine the safety as well as toxins released. If you went with FW style resin you could mix in some PP material to really help with its flexibility and breakage.