How to Weep Out Polyurethanes & Keep Studio Surfaces Clean?

KastEZ Resin is a two-part polyurethane casting system. KastEZ Resin is mixed one-to-one by volume and cures at room temperature. KastEZ polyurethane resin produces a lower exothermic temperature than most comparable resins. KastEZ begins to gel in 1.5 minutes and cures to an ivory white color in 7-10 minutes. KastEZ Resin is used to make casting from rigid and flexible molds.

The world of mold making and casting opens up a veritable treasure trove of materials – each with their own specific characteristics, methods and usage. The commonly used options are clay, wax, alginate, moulage, plaster, gypsum, concrete, polyurethanes, rubbers, etc. Artists can try their hand at different materials and play around with different options depending on the type of mold or cast they are making.

Life casting is not easy, but it is not rocket science either. Knowledge of the materials, the process and the application is essential, but you will not get the hang unless go ahead and give it a stab.

Silicone and latex are both rubbers, then what makes them different from each other? Actually, there are many variables at play here, right from the formulation to the properties to the usage.

Silicone rubber is a man-made elastomer that is composed of silicone with carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. This inorganic rubber-like material is used extensively across various industries - rail, aerospace, automotive, food/beverage and artworks to name a few. The superior benefits of resistance to high temperatures, weather and abrasion coupled with chemical stability and electrical insulation make it a popular and commonly-used rubber for varied applications.

Polyurethane resin is the material of choice for making figurines, giftware, point-of-purchase displays, rapid prototypes, special effects and sculpture reproductions. Some formulations are suitable for jewelry casting, encapsulation and even for life casts. This material is very easy to use and can be cast in both rigid and flexible molds.

Life casting is a specialized art of making a three dimensional copy of the human form with a high level of realism and detail. Highly skilled molding and casting techniques are used to capture the finest of features of the human body; it can be any part from the face, hands and feet to the torso or the entire body.

When a woman is pregnant there is nothing that she desires more than to see and measure the growth of her child inside her tummy. Now, this can be done with Maternity EZ Cast Kit. Watch the difference every month with fresh casting. Treasure it to share the moment with your child when they grow up. The feeling is magical.

Before making a mold or cast, the model or mold has to be prepped for the job. This includes applying a coat of release agent as this will aid in easy demolding. The same goes for body molds as well.

Life casting is a wonderful means of reproducing the human body in all its glory. Artists can create a three-dimensional likeness of the entire body or just the part that is desired. People usually prefer a life cast of their face or torso. Life casts of hands are also very popular – ranging from a single hand holding a treasured item to couples or families clasping/intertwining their fingers to even the tiny hands of newborn babies.

Resin castings tend to trap air which show up as warts on the surface. The solution for blemish-free resin casts is to cast them in a pressure pot which compresses the trapped air and gives beautiful results!

Latex rubber pips all other mold making materials to the post and emerges as the most popular choice of mold makers. Following are some handy tips that will ensure better results when making latex molds.

Silicone rubber is considered the material of choice for making both molds and casts. The rubber is suitable for making molds of all kinds – from reproducing figurines and giftware to making automotive parts, toys and other prototypes - and gives quality results every time. Moreover, it is easily workable, flows well and is non-exothermic in nature. The rubber always cures uniformly, irrespective of the thickness.

The process for making molds and casts from silicone rubber is quite simple and straightforward. The material is easy to use and delivers excellent results when made in the appropriate manner.

Plaster is a versatile substance that is commonly used for making molds and casts. It is easy to work with and the molds and casts usually have a long life even after multiple usage. Plaster molds can be made from different types of models which are then used to make metal and other casts. In fact, plaster casting is a popular metal fabrication process for making intricate and complicated solid shapes with high degree of dimensional accuracy.

CastRite Art Casting Stone may seem similar to plaster of Paris, but the material is specially heat treated for fine art casting. This makes it a gypsum-based plaster of Paris that will create hard casts that can hold great detail without chalking or chipping in the future. Even though it sets fairly hard, the cast can be carved or tooled as desired.

Castings are a lovely form of reproducing an original model that has captured the imagination or is calling for duplicates. The beauty of castings is that they don’t have to follow the same material of the original. Casting artists have the liberty to play around with the material and can make the cast with different products like plaster, gypsum, polyurethane resin, latex rubber, silicone rubber, etc.

When it comes to making a mold, artists usually find themselves confused about whether they should choose polyurethane rubber or silicone rubber. Both are excellent materials that capture details well and deliver sound durability apart from resistance to the elements. Using a vacuum chamber will further enhance the efficiency of the mold by making it bubble-free.

Enter the world of oil-based clays – named plasteline, plasticium, plasticine or plastilina clay! Made with wax and oil with clay flour as the binder, the special feature of these clays is that they do not dry or shrink. This makes them the perfect medium for sculptors and mask makers for artistic, special F/X and even prototype modeling. The mold will never harden and remains reusable as well. In fact, the clay will always remain the same consistency as it was when first used!

Alginate is an organic, water-based material that is considered ideal for making body molds for life casting projects as it is safe for the skin. It is mixed with water to form a creamy paste that can be applied on the hands, feet, face and other body parts to capture a detailed negative impression of the same. These are single-use molds that can be used to make one or two life castings at most before they shrink out of shape.

Making a mold seems like a cut-and-dried formula – mix the material, apply it on the mold using the chosen technique and let it set. Once cured, the mold can be used to make the cast.

There are a number of uses of silicone paints and it is not just limited to the art and craft industry. Given the longevity of the paints, they also have commercial uses. When used with the right medium, these paints can work as excellent coating agents.

Art is the language of the soul. The supreme satisfaction of creating an artwork stands head and shoulders above other regular endeavors. The genre of mold making, casting and life casting is equally exciting!

Sculpting is an age-old art form that involves creating three dimensional figures by hand. Clay is the common medium for sculpting as it is malleable and can be shaped with the fingers into the desired shape and form. Just holding clay in the hands can ignite creativity and the mental image can easily be transformed into a physical piece.

Silicone rubber lends itself well for a variety of applications with different benefits to its name. While silicone molds and casts will take a day to cure properly, there is an option for making a quick mold.