How to make a pacifier

From ADISC Answers Wiki

Ideas for Molds/Bases

• Take pacifier of choice, place it in clay/molding substance. Voila, you have a mold.
• Model your own by carving out the mold in clay/something soft that will remain/become hard and not get stuck to the latex. Also make sure you can get the creation out when finished.
• Anything with a rounded end [kinda in the shape of a test tube].
• Model your own by carving something soft, such as soap, and placing it in clay/modeling substance.

Techniques for Creation

• Paint the mold with the latex, in layers. This will allow you to get a more precise control over how the creation goes. One upside is, you can be sure it will dry correctly. Another upside to this method is that you can leave the inside hollow, if desired.
• Fill the mold. This will result in a solid-filled replacement nipple. Use this if you want a firm, solid, yet still rubber nipple to suck on. Please note, this method is only theory. The latex may not dry, and this should be looked into by someone, somewhere down the line. But, as an upside, if the inside doesn't dry, you can just poke a hole in it, drain the inside, and voila! instant hollow nipple! You could fill it in in layers, as necessary, if it isn't thick enough.
• Dip the mold. This applies to the test-tube rounded cylinder method. You can dip it in the latex, then let that layer dry. Afterwards, dip it again, slowly shaping it as you dip it in, by gradually not applying the latex to to the uppermost part, slowly expanding it into the desired shape as you go down. Note that you do not have to worry about the layers being even and smooth with each other. You should also be making the pacifier smaller than you are going to want it in the end, at all places. When letting this method dry, you should have it suspended in the air, with the drips facing away from the end that will be attached to the 'shield' on the pacifier. This will allow the end to naturally form sort of a round shape, and to allow your creation to drip whilst drying, and remain smooth to a point. Don't be afraid to cut it with a utility knife if one part is becoming deformed/out of your liking, as long as this is done before the last few coats. After you have it a smaller version of what you want, and it is built up to how you want it, dip it all into the latex, and let a few layers like this dry. This will allow you to smooth over the ridges from where previous layers dried seperately, thus allowing you to make it one whole smooth nipple. Once it is done, you will have a semi-hollow nipple. You can either fill it as necessary, or leave it open.
• A combination of these methods, or methods not stated here that you think of. For example, with the mold idea, if you don't like the size that your mold came out, or you could only get one smaller than you desired, you could dip it in the latex untill it was your desired size. Remember, this is your creation, you decide how you make it. These are only guidelines and ideas on how to do this. There is no wrong way to make your own creation, unless you don't like it, in which case, just try again.

Suggestions for Variants/Mods

• Before filling, enlarge/adjust the mold. Use some sort of sculpting tool/improvised tool, or whatever you can think of. Use your imagination here! After all, this is going to be your very own custom pacifier, what better a way to express your creativity?
• Play with textures. Whilst enlarging/adjusting the mold, try using different tools. For instance, use a smooth round sphere, for a nice, smooth texture. Or, for other intersting textures, use a rough/slightly ribbed/nubbed/spiked ball, or a pointed piece of metal, or a rounded piece of metal, to modify the mold. The sky is the limit, this is your own unique creation!
• Play with colors. Liquid latex is available in all sorts of different colors, so don't be afraid to let your imagination roam! As I have stated before, this is your very own piece of art, and something that you're going to have for as long as you decide to keep it.
• Experiment with sizes and shapes. While you are making your own, you might as well make it fit just right for you! You can shape your pacifier however you wish, and make it whatever size you wish! One piece of advice would be, if you're not sure what size you want it, to start off small. Once it is done, you can try it, and if you don't like it, just thoroughly clean the surface, and dip it to make it bigger!

Future Ideas

• Addition of ideas to create "shields" [Possibly out of liquid latex as well, although not necissarily]
• Steps on how to replace a standard pacifier's nipple with your new, custom one
• Any standard measurements/calculations/statistics that can be collected, that would be helpful to this process
• Improvements to techniques, as well as new ones

Precautions/Warnings/Disclaimers

• It should be noted, first and foremost: There are many kinds and grades of liquid latex. For this, it is almost certain you would NOT want to use the kind that can be found at a hardware store. That kind contains many things that look dangerous to even use for regular things, without even putting it in your mouth. There is another kind, meant for things such as body paint and costumes and that, which can be ordered online. This is the kind you should be using. Either way, this may not be safe to use either, but it should be. You are responsible to make yourself POSITIVE of whether or not it would be harmful, BEFORE doing this.
• This information is for informational purposes only, currently. None of these exact methods have been tested yet, and methods are, for now, only an educated guide, based on logic and general knowledge of how things react.
• Make sure not to get this on fabrics when doing this. Liquid latex does NOT come out of fabrics. Ever. In light of this, please take precautionary measures not to get it on unintended objects, such as placing down a drip shield/catch when dripping, and some sort of protection for the area you are doing this in.