Concrete Statue Beaver - Part 2 - Making a fiberglass shell and the first duplicated statue

The latex rubber mold for a statue will need support to hold its shape from wet concrete. Sand in a box or bucket is a cheap method, but sand is time consuming and unpredictable for retaining the full figure. The best and preferred method is to build a fiberglass shell, a mother-mold that will allow the concrete to set in the latex and cure. This is the second video in the 2-part series on a complete duplication of a statue.
Watching how to duplicate and make a garden statue mold will teach you the steps to this amazing project. Concrete garden statues and other art, whether animals, gnomes, or other figurines, enhances the garden, patio, or yard, it lasts forever, and it also makes an ideal gift. This is a 2-part video, guiding you from start to finish on duplicating a statue. The first walks through the preparation and latex mold process, with the second part showing how to make the fiberglass mother mold with the end result of a beautiful garden statue.
In addition, Andy highly recommends looking at the 3-part series from his video library for how to deal with seams and other challenges, too.
Backyard Adventures with Andy Wright is a channel devoted to all-thing gardening and yard care, along with random "adventures" that include statue making, smoking meat and pizza oven fun, home entertainment tips, and more. Tune-in for some inspiration and instruction on all things home and yard!
Focus Questions: How does one make a fiberglass mother mold for a latex rubber mold to create a concrete statue?

[@offgridislandcabin]

Great videos! I'm just getting into this whole thing, and you've been very helpful. Thanks!

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thanks for sharing and this hobby can lead to some fun results with family, friends, and more!

[@IAbulldogs]

You are a great person and good teacher

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thank you! Such kind words and thanks for watching!

[@n64victor30]

Love the videos. Grat information. I am just about to get into statuary crafts. Could you please include a product list of the supplies used in your video?

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Products I used include a piece to copy, latex rubber, paint brushes, a board to make the mold on, hot glue to attach the piece onto, playing cards and tape for seam making, fiberglass and resin, blue tape, Vaseline, and stuff to put do the fiberglass. Then, there will be some bolts and nuts, a drill, and concrete.

[@n64victor30]

@@backyardadventureswithandy Thankyou

[@jeremiahblundon4877]

Good stuff! So funny that you picked a beaver to do as I decided to do a beaver myself. Just got done painting my first one. Yours is a tad bit bigger than mine tho :D

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

I am de-molding my second beaver in the morning. I think these will be a hit, and the lack of seams could make this super easy to make. Are you painting yours, and is this a hobby or what? Thanks for watching...

[@jeremiahblundon4877]

Yeah it’s my Covid hobby that turned into a little side hustle. This will be my third year doing it, I’m up to like 12 molds I think now. I watched your first series the most to make my first mold. Always enjoy watching your videos!

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Nice. I haven't been selling as much the last couple years, but I am gearing getting some ready to sell again. My best money maker (and also desirable gift) was a large tortoise, but I now need to remake that mold as it finally wore out. A few others were not so popular, but oh well. Enjoy!

[@HaveANiceDay-pb6nb]

Hi Backyard Adventures! Thank you for all the care and attention to detail in your videos! I was wondering with concrete sculptures how might adding lettering/words fare? Ie a concrete sculpture that said something like "Home Sweet Home" with a little house on it. Might be a helpful potential future video. Also an editing technique you could add to create even more flair to your wonderful videos is a zooming in and out every few seconds. It captures the viewers attention and I notice larger channels do this a lot with their videos. Let's get you to 100k subs! Thank you for all you do! Have a nice day! Australia.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Hello Australia, Thanks for the input and observations, I'll chew as I continue to learn and experiment. Also, regarding the lettering, it is totally doable, but for me as a hobbyist, I'm a bit selective as I only make a couple each year. I wonder if there is a way to have an insert, where different letters or even address numbers could be customizable without redoing the whole mold. Hmmm... Anyway, thanks for supporting and for your words. -Andy

[@HaveANiceDay-pb6nb]

Thanks Andy all the best !@@backyardadventureswithandy

[@joseantronius4385]

Gracias por compartir. Eso me da una idea para negocios. que tal quedarían con una flameada, tal vez adquiere diferentes de tonalidades de color. Si se le espolvorea colorantes cerámicos y se flameas... bueno se me ocurren ideas, voy a ponerlo en práctica.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

I think a lot of different finishes and effects can work. The nice thing is that once a mold is made, you can practice on concrete statues without a huge cost of money. I hope your business ideas work out!!

[@Cj19944]

can this be done with much bigger size objects? Thanks great channel

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Yes, the expert people with large lions, planters, etc. use fork lifts.

[@Cj19944]

thanks @@backyardadventureswithandy

[@tezzasbigbuz3933]

Is it just painters tape? Usually green in my country

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Yes, painter's tape!

[@niccolealdrich4890]

I wonder if mineral oil would work as a mold release 🤔 Is that cloth made out of fiberglass? Sorry, I must have missed it.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Yes, the cloth is a fiberglass cloth. It works well! Also, the use of mineral oil might work, makes sense to me!

[@grahammoss5373]

Just use a spray can of silicon CRC808, Nothing else is needed, no tape, Vaseline or PVA and it takes 10 seconds.

[@lolitabonita08]

nice of you for sharing knowledge...suggestion KILL the annoying music in the background..that hurts the video....specially in the parts that u are talking...slow down the speed...

[@sydneth_]

I love the jazz! Especially during the timelapse parts, better than sitting in silence! It’s fun 🎉

[@lolitabonita08]

when he is not talking the music is fine...but when he is talking the music gets on the way...way way too fast speed on the video...when he can make a part 3 @@sydneth_

[@markkevin7245]

Brilliant.. is that just masking tape u use?

[@christopherbaby3842]

so many people do this. I think it has something to do with the algorithm.

[@lolitabonita08]

i do not agree with your statement...what pumps the algorithm is how often u post videos ...the more u post the better. I think that is the syndrome of monkeys see monkeys do...and many utuber use music and don't even know how to manage it...instead of focusing in the content...which is what brings subscribers to hang out in their channel...@@christopherbaby3842

[@johnrocha1099]

I have a question before you apply the first coat of rubber does one need to put a coat of gasoline on whatever statue their molding . I just wonder what keeps it from sticking . I have a couple that aren’t finished I’d like to mold what can I do to keep the rubber from sticking thank you for your time

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Good question. The latex rubber will peel off most things without problem if the items are dry, but if the item is more porous, it can be more challenging. Be careful not to put a chemical that will affect latex. Usually, I do NOT put anything on the statue. If I feel the need to, I might put a spray on sealer and ensure it dries all the way. Also, just to give some understanding, when I put latex rubber on wood, such as plywood, it sticks more, but with careful lifting, it will peel off.

[@johnrocha1099]

@@backyardadventureswithandy I meant Vaseline not gasoline.😂

[@johnrocha1099]

@@backyardadventureswithandy thank you very much my morrell mushroom are very porous so maybe I’ll do a rest area thanks again you make it look fun