Milliput

[martin goddard]

Just bought some milliput.
£3 a box.(mangers via Amazon) with free postage.
I think that is very good.

Miliput is a "wonder"material to me.
First released in 1978??
It sands really nicely (better than Duro).
It is really strong when wet.
Can be etched and drilled effectively.
It can vary from sloppy to form if left for a while. Both states have particular uses.
Cheap too.

What a wonderful product.
Just thought i would acknowledge how great it is.

Anyone else have opinions on Milliput.


martin

[Smiley Miley 66]

I used it to fill the joins in my fort the other day. Great for sanding down with. That and Green Stuff I couldn't do half my projects without either of them.
Miles

[Colonel Kilgore]

I like it. It's saved my hide several times when I've broken plates and dishes at home (not so great for fixing glass vases though...).

Excellent value, lasts for years / decades and easy to use.

What's not to like?

Simon

[Smoking gun]

Hi,
I like Milliput, I heard about it soon after it came out in the late 70's and have used it ever since. Any excess putty left over from a filling job I add to a row of sandbags or make a bit of soft stowage. I tried using Duro but couldn't get on with it.

We have, at the railway, used it to repair a metal window frame and tap a screw thread in it.

Just a note of caution if you keep it too long (18 months +) it goes a bit granular and doesn't smooth too well.

Best wishes,
Martin Buck

[martin goddard]

I have tried the special colours of milliput.
I can see they would be great for colour matching on pottery etc.
However all my sculpting world is colour ignorant so I keep using the basic one.
Some sculptors apply milliput in small quantities, let it dry and then sculpt/carve in the detail.
This can give very sharp detail indeed.
This sculpt style is enabled by milliput not having a  grain.
Like cement/concrete it is easier to carve after initial drying and then gets harder and harder (firmness) with age.
As an aside Concrete fortifications are stronger after 10 years than after 5 years.



martin

[Panzer21]

You can use a mixture of Green Stuff / Duro with Miliput; it gets the best properties of each, so for example if wet it retains more structure than pure Miliput. It's less sticky than pure GS.
I don't like that Miliput can be "gritty" and it's not as good as GS for making straps or reins.
Personally, I think GS keeps better; I have really old examples of each and the Miliput has developed a thick skin that is unusable, whereas the GS only is really affected where the two colours meet.
GS takes getting used to; "like sculpting with chewing gum" is one description I've heard.
A lot depends on what technique you use; GS isn't very good for carving and impossible to sand, unlike Miliput which copes well with those methods. However, GS is very good for sharp sculpting with dental tools.
For filling, using a dilute mixture, there is little to choose from but for GS you are better using the ready diluted versions.
Neil

[Colonel Kilgore]

That's a great overview, Neil - thank you.

I have never used Green Stuff, but those insights have been very helpful.

Simon

[Panzer21]

I started with Miliput so when I first tried GS it was a bit of a steep learning curve!
When first mixed it is incredibly sticky so you need to keep any tools wet (quiet at the back!) But as it cures the stickiness lessens but it becomes more difficult to work, and doesn't stick to itself as readily. There seems to be a narrow window where you can get the best out of it.
GS tolerates more water than Miliput which can end up too sloppy if you are not careful. However if GS is wet, nothing sticks to it and it won't stick to a metal figure. Same when it cures. It is smoother than MPut and impressed detail is sharper but trying to file it just produces a mess. To smooth it, a wet finger works well.
The GS/MPut mix was a tip from a friend of mine (sculpts for QRF, Outpost, Warrior and OG UK).
I used it on some IDF Sherman conversions for the turrets. It was ideal as it adhered better than pure MPut but also took a sanding better than GS.
The other one that's interesting to work with is Fimo / Sculpey (bake in oven). I discovered a couple of years ago that Tony Barton sculpts the AB figure range in this material.
Neil

[Smiley Miley 66]

I would love to know where you got your Milliput from Martin? I went on Amazon and paid £3.04 for each tube, not £3 which I was most disappointed with.
I find Milliput and Green Stuff both weather well, as I have and continue to use them for outside projects as well.
Big and small both of these work very well, for there own reasons.
Miles

[martin goddard]

You may just have to accept the 4p difference Miles. Life can be tough at times
Each time I buy Milliput the price changes.
This is why I often do not use the Amazon "buy again", because it directs you back to the initial seller no matter what their price is.
My £3 packs came direct (via Amazon) from Mangers who I think are the owners now?

Anyway Miles, I would not lose too much sleep over the 4p if I were you. It is quite a  small amount.
If I see the £3 price again  (or even lower ) I will e mail you the details.
Hope that helps alleviate matters Miles?

martin

[Smiley Miley 66]

I was only joking, anyway I ve just bought a 3 pack off Amazon £6.88 that makes it £2.30 each. I ve been using Milliput to fill in holes in the construction of my Cabins and Shed. As my "new" cabin was a 2nd hand cabin, so was pulled apart and re constructed. I used Up all that I had, so had to buy some more, I found an offer 3 pack £6.88 or as you say buy again  2 pack £6.08 so for 80pence, I bought the better deal.
Miles