Resin question...

[mebucko]

Casting 101...

I was wondering if any of you here have ever tried casting in any kind of resin?
If so, I'd love to see some, and if not, has anybody had a bad experience with it...?
I'll try to be different and make this short, but I am curious, 'cause my long range plans
are to (hopefully) do some stuff cast in some sort of resin. I'm not necessarily dumb
about the subject, (well, maybe..) but would really like to hear something firsthand.
I guess I should explain what I kind'a have in mind...

I want to sculpt figures (kind'a like Di's street man) but about 1/6th scale.
I want to sculpt (probably with plasticene) a figure that is intricate in nature, that of
course would have major undercuts.
Picture a man standing with his arms and legs outstreched.
If I can make a cast from that, I can probably make a cast from anything.
I want to be able to make copies of that.
Please, if you could give me a quick run down on what the best process would be, without
going the lost wax method, if possible.

Another way I could do it is use Super Sculpey, but that stuff shrinks even though they say
it doesn't, and it can be a nightmare to fix.
I could do this and even with an armature cut it up into castable pieces.
Cast a negative mold...
Cast a positive mold
Cast a Master negative mold?
Go to resin...
Clean and paint to suit.

Am I correct in all of this?

Any method that y'all can come up with will be appreciated.

-Randy-

[max nelson]

Randy..you remind me of a neighbor. He's also an artist, but makes everything from 'scratch'. He built an adobe house with adobes he made himself. I swear he even made the dirt to make the adobes. So making the art and doing the casting youself is a little like that. Lot's do..but after taking a moldmaking workshop for a week, I am leaving everything but 'very simple' molds to the professionals. But if you insist, and I believe you will...the first suggestion I would make is to check out the Polytek link and order their catalogue. $10 bucks, refundable with first order. It not only list their products (a long list) but is one of the best primers on mold making around. You might also check out the Carousel Horse I posted..it is in resin/porcelain. I had it professionally cast but same process. As far as using resin, have no experience with the stuff but know that it has many disagreeable characteristics. You have the fundamentals: 1 make a flexible mold of the positive work. 2. BEFORE REMOVING from work, make a mother mold (with what you have laid out, you will probably need at least a 3 piece mother mold). 3. Cast into the flex/mother mold for your reproduction.
With the Polytek40 you will not have to worry about undercuts, since it can go on thick enough to eliminate all but the most severe ones. If you want the name/number of the foundry I used for this email me and will provide. This is a very inexpensive casting process after the mold is made and they can turn out 1 to 1000 for you. Good luck and no cussing.:D Max

[mebucko]

Max: I'll definitely check more into it, I was wanting the quick and easy waay out!
I have also already been there and saw your carousel horse.
Thanks alot for the info.
After looking at it, it made me sick...
-Randy-

[jhusel]

Ok, finally I found this site!!! I knew I had seen this somewhere on the net. Anyway, Randy I think this will answer most of the questions you may have. And it serves as an AWESOME casting tutorial with great tips and pics.

http://home.houston.rr.com/dpstudios/workshop.htm

Go here and scroll down to the Articles section and you will find what you are looking for. If you have any questions just contact the guy, he is very nice.

Hope this helps!

Jason

[mebucko]

Thank you Jason, I will!
-Randy-

[jhusel]

Good deal, let me know how you liked it!

Jason

[max nelson]

Jason..I checked it out also, great site. Thanks for posting this.
Max

[diane555]

Hi Randy

I don't have experience with the resins yet....but I did get a starter kit from Smooth-on that included everything for doing flexible molds and resin for casting. I haven't tried the resin yet. Polytec, as Max mentioned, also sells similar products. I received an order from them this week also. I posted the web site for polytek in the tools resources but I'll include them both here. The smooth-on site also has a very good How-to section. Good luck. And by the way, I kind of like the idea of trying to do it all myself to! except fabric...I have NO desire to weave that yet! heheheh

Smooth-on:
http://www.smoothon.com/
Polyteck:
http://polytek.com/

I also have several sites that have great information & progress pics of various types of casting and mold making. I'll go through them and see what might be helpful for you.

Have a good one,
Di :)

[jhusel]

Thanks Diane555, I have heard good things about Smoothon. Thanks for the info! ;)

Jason

[mebucko]

Thanks for that link Jason!
That is a very good one, I have done searches for that kind of stuff for months, and that is up there with the best of 'em!
-R-
Thanks Di for the smooth-on place too, I have been before, and (also bare metal foil) went there again after your link.
-R-
Max: I want to say that when I said that I was sick after looking at your horse, I meant with envy, you did know that, right? O.K.... I kind'a screwed up on the post, you could've not seen it the way it was meant. Anyway, thank you for the insight on the resin, I might not go that way, I'm not sure yet. There's one thing that I don't have, and that's a 'safe' place to do 'fumey' stuff. I also have 4 birds in the house and the finch will die from the littlest things...
Thank you though, I'll see what the best way for me and the birds is!
-Randy-

[frank]

Some links:
http://www.sculptshop.com/
http://www.silpak.com/
http://smooth-on.com/
http://www.polytek.com/
http://www.synair.com/
http://cementex.com/
http://www.abatron.com/Home010.htm
http://kumo.swcp.com/a-1/
http://www.chavant.com/index_main.shtml
I have more info than experience in resin casting. Some problems I've come across are bubbles, release agents not allowing paint to adhere to piece, fillers like micro balloons causing foaming, and ordering the resin that sets up in the time period that is comfortable for you.
To fill bubble holes and any other imperfections I've used Aves Apoxie, Smooth-on recommends cleaning resin cast works with acetone, applying a metal primer and then painting which didn't work for me but I found that instead of a metal primer, I use Krylon clear acrylic sealer, paint and seal again with the Krylon there is less chance of paint chipping off, I think my foaming problem is moisture in my filler and the resin set up time I like is from 7 to 10 min.
Attached is a recent resin high relief cast.

[kjsspot]

Frank, I LOVE this relief! This is great! It would be great as an outdoor ornament like above a door.

I need to learn casts and molds. I've got the info, just waiting for the time and $$ to take the first plunge. Until then, I'll stick to waterclay that can be fired. <g>

[diane555]

Thanks Frank for all the links and the information! There are a few there I haven't found yet so this will save me the trouble of hunting for them :) By the way, she is quite lovely!

Di

[frank]

Thanks for the compliments.
This forum has gone from very slow to quite active and there are several people that seem to be in the middle of figureing out the same things I am trying to, namely moldmaking and casting. I hope the activity continues because there is alot of good info being presented. It's just kind of hard to keep track of it all.
Frank