HirstArts Molds Supplies?

[yastobaal]

Hello there,

Just arrived at my home are five lovely HirstArts molds. So now I'm trying to work out what to use to make my bricks. Looking over the HirstArts website he recommends using dental plaster and suggests "surfactant" (http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/advanced.html) to improve quality. Being in the UK I'm having to source the stuff myself rather than using his links and I'm having issues.

So, can anybody recommend plaster. I have found this (http://www.specialplasters.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=304) which seems to be good quality at a good price, is it? However, I can't find surfactant cheaper than £7 a bottle plus £12 delivery. I don't want to pay £20 for something that small. Two questions come from this. Does anybody think that surfactant is a required purchase? If so, can you recommend a cheaper supplier for a UK based person?

[UndeadDan]

Casting as we speak...

The surfactant is nice but you don't NEED it. You can make your own "wet water" by adding some rinse agent (the type used in dishwashers) and then putting the mixture in a quality spray bottle.

For stone try here (http://www.precident.co.uk/Die-Keen.html)

[Gdufner]

I agree, make your own surfactant....I use JetDry....

For casting, I use Durham's Rock HArd Water Putty....*Shrug*....I never cast 50lbs worth of molds, so it makes more sense for me than dental plaster....

[demi_morgana]

haven't you considered casting terrain in resin?

[yastobaal]

Thanks for the advice about the surfactant. I'll be making my own up soon.


haven't you considered casting terrain in resin?

Hadn't thought of that. What would be the advantage over quality plaster?

[demi_morgana]

resin cast is ready to use in 7-15 mins after mixing both components so you can have many casts in short time :)

[komabai]

Finding a good source of resin for a decent price has been an issue for me. Smooth-on stuff is nice, but I sure would like find a source for larger quantities. I've got a couple of projects that would take a gallon or two of the stuff.

Komabai

[Guitar Guy]

Casting in resin is more durable but you need some casting experience to be able to work with it. Resin heats and absorbs moisture in the mold as it sets so you need to use a mold release spray to prevent the resin from sticking to the mold and damaging it. Resin will greatly reduce the life of your Hirst Arts molds. I would recommend making a set of copy molds if you intend to go this route. More expensive in materials cost but at least your Hirst Arts molds will stay in great condition.

G.G.

@PG_Komabai- If you have a Hobby Lobby in your area they sell 28oz Alumilite casting resin and about every other week they have a coupon for 40% you can use to buy it. That's how I buy my resin since I don't use enough to justify a 1 gallon purchase that will just go bad before I can use it.

[demi_morgana]

Casting in resin is more durable but you need some casting experience to be able to work with it.
have it :)


Resin heats and absorbs moisture in the mold as it sets so you need to use a mold release spray to prevent the resin from sticking to the mold and damaging it.
not always - I think it depends of combiation of what resin you use and what rubber molds are made of;
although I have such sprays just in case ;)


Resin will greatly reduce the life of your Hirst Arts molds. I would recommend making a set of copy molds if you intend to go this route. More expensive in materials cost but at least your Hirst Arts molds will stay in great condition.
I've never used Hirst's molds but thanks for the tip - might be VERY useful one day :)

[Seasonman]

try Crystal Apha k its what i use and it works fine for me never any problems you can get it from most plaster suppliers or Travis Perkins diy outlets uselly stock it . Hope this helps. If I can be of any more help pm me . Where about uk are you i have some you can have to try if that helps .

[yastobaal]

Thanks for the offer but I bought plaster from my link in the OP and it's working well for me so far.

[DoktorVivi]

The Hirst Arts site actually has a section on different casting materials:

http://hirstarts.com/casting/dental.html

http://hirstarts.com/casting/plastic.html

I bought the Excalibur stuff based on his recommendation and it works great (it's similar to the Die-Keen). I think the smallest size it came in was 15 pounds though, lol, so you'll be set for quite a while. It makes a nice heavy, durable casting. I love the stuff.

[whatawookie1]

I bought the Excalibur stuff based on his recommendation and it works great (it's similar to the Die-Keen). I think the smallest size it came in was 15 pounds though, lol, so you'll be set for quite a while. It makes a nice heavy, durable casting. I love the stuff.

The places I was looking into purchasing Excalibur from only sold it in blocks of 50lbs, which cost a small fortune just to ship. I ended up using some fairly durable and cheap plaster called "permastone" which I picked up from a local Michaels. Worked out just fine.

Also, in regards to resin, I have experience with both but greatly prefer the plaster to the resin for what I do. I use Hisrtarts molds to construct building ruins and rubble, which often means casting then intentionally breaking the cast pieces (and artfully assembling/decorating bases). Plaster and dental die-cast break much more like stone, brick, and mortar would and looks nicer as rubble.

[howlingfang]

I use dental plaster for my Hirst molds. I bought a 50lb box like 7 years ago and it is still going. It wasn't really very expensive either. And the quality of the bricks you get out of it is fantastic. You can get dental plaster from dental supply shops where you live. I just asked my dentist where he got his and I think the box only set me back like $70.

[WarSmith7]

That's awesome. I've been using plaster of paris and it's super chalky and prone to breaking. Although just sealing your projects in a coat of latex paint goes a long way to help keeping your builds intact.

[Kromac]

I like dental plaster, especially for finicky molds like the graveyard one. I went with Merlin's Magic plaster but I couldn't find a UK supplier to link to.

However, when I was searching I did find a discussion with some UK links: http://hirstarts.yuku.com/topic/365/t/Where-to-find-plaster-resin-and-other-casting-products.html?page=3

[DocMerc]

I used regular plaster of paris.
Works fine, although it is a bit brittle.
I think that it is VERY cost effective for mass castings.
Probably better to use dental plaster for all perimeter blocks that way there is some durability.
As to painting, I know some people paint it with a latex paint, but I found that a can of high gloss spray paint seals it nicely, and since the paint gets absorbed by the plaster it looses the gloss finish, but still allows you to paint over it.

[carnage4u]

I use Jetdry for we****er and it works great
Once you start getting Hirsts arts molds I recommend using the stonger material. I use Excalibur and I love it. I am lucky though and a local place in madison can order it for me, and I can sometimes pick it up from their office, so I can skip the shipping costs. I would still bite the bullet and pay the shipping though. I want my materials to last longer and nto chip.