It is the perfect choice for making a solid and hollow casting of figurines, general sculptures, and commercial casts. 10 replies. manage your account online and more. Thanks for your reply. But in my honest opinion you cut down on the bubbles. If you are looking for a good substitute for plaster of Paris, you can consider using hydrocal. Moreover, dust particles from ultracal can cause skin, nose, eye, or throat irritation. P.S.- although I do like the idea of anything that will add strength to my hardshell. Hydrostone are commonly used in tooling and high-quality art object application. I mixed up a batch of the Plaster of Paris and You can check out the article for more information about the topic. As compared to most plasters, hydrocal is stronger. If you find you like rock face and stone wall castings, you might also look at Bragdon Enterprises. Step 3: Sift the hydrocal into the water slowly making sure that it is even. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Regardless of how hard to try to create a strong and hard cast from the plaster of Paris, it is still plaster that is brittle and vulnerable to breakage. Side note: I can even break this casting a bit.. remove certain areas.. it breaks nicely.. and the plaster cloth on the backholds everything together..so I can go back.. add plaster to the areas.. to seal them up.. and I guess its a mild re-glueing with plaster. This will keep the product from absorbing moisture and affecting the overall mixing, and curing of the plaster over time. Step 1: Use portable water between 70 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. thank you!! can I get this stuff in bulk? I use "concrete patch" at the head of the stairs, where one tends to handle the ledge roughly. End result is less air bubbles. Both work well. Check out the rest of the article below for more information. You'll also lose detail very quickly with plaster. Even though your plaster mix has been mixed correctly with no bubbles.. you can and will still get an impartial filling of the cracks and detail. Hydrocal is versatile gypsum cement that is used for hollow and solid castings. Video Casting Hydrocal White into a Plaster Mold. If you pick the wrong type of bowl.. you'll have problems cleaning it. The Sacrete liquid, and paint just doesn't work that well. Moreover, warm water is used to speed up the setting time. I'd stick with the Hydrocal if I were you. You can also check out this article thatdiscusses if plaster of Paris is flammable. Wash the molds on the sink. link to Why is My Well Water Brown All of a Sudden? Hydrocal comes in several versions(Hydrocal/Ultracal/etc). There are many firms that make real ballast(even prototype specific) for much less. Using the mold before it is not ready will result in bubbles formation in your casts. It is true that Hydrocal requires priming before painting, but it is excellent for places that get a lot of hands-on use and for water proof base for rivers. So far, it is strong. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Now all I do is, just paint a 1/4 thickness of plaster.. lay in a cloth strip and done. bulk sand? Hydrocal has many uses. On the other hand, when you use less plaster, it creates more porous as well as brittle molds. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic. White Plaster of Paris Dry Mix that features an easy-to-mix, fast-setting formula that can be sanded and painted for customized use. We had the "pleasuer" of having Jeff Adam of Motrac Models as a club member. What are the main features of hydrocal? Allowing the first coat to dry overnight, two more coats one hour apart are enough to make a firm scenery base. manage your account online and more! Stir the plaster of Paris and water mixture slowly until it forms an even and smooth consistency. The Woodland Scenics brand is wider, it's 8 inches x 15 feet, if memory serves me right, and the medical type was 6 inches but still it's a whole lot cheaper. Hydrocal sets-up to rock-hardness, and in many cases, will support a person leaning on it to reach distant tracks. We have also shared tips and instructions on how to use hydrocal and plaster of Paris. CustomTerrain shared the video below on YouTube. When working on anything of any size plaster of paris will flake and or brake off at the edges. I buy it 500 pounds at a time for my business. Check out the video to learn more about the topic. Ultracal is commonly used for creating molds with industrial patterns only. We have shared the step-by-step methods on how to mix glue with the plaster. I sprayed the molds with wet water before pouring in the plaster. Seal it first. They are generally used for sculpture, patterns, commercial casts, and figurines. When painting the plaster into the mold.. It takes washes well. How do you prepare plaster of Paris? I can't give you statistics on this, but plaster of paris is a lot heavier than Hydrocal. Make sure that you read and follow the handling and directions on how to use hydrocal according to what is written in the package. discusses what happens if plaster of Paris gets wet, discusses if plaster of Paris is flammable, how long does it take for hydrocal to cure, discusses how to make plaster of Paris stronger, discusses what the difference is between hydrocal and ultracal. Hydrocal doesn't take paint easily. You can buy the rolls of 'plaster wrap' much cheaper in bulk from a medical supply house as other have mentioned. Dental Stone is is also calcium sulfate Hemihydrate, but it is created at a higher temperature and under pressure. Product Details. Make sure that the hydrocal is completely dispersed in water before mixing. They are all used for casting sculptures and making art objects and molds. It is not recommended that you add the glue to the water before adding the plaster because it can cause the plaster to clump together. The difference between hydrocal and plaster of Paris is that hydrocal is stronger. I wanted to know what is the difference? Plaster of Paris is 'softer', and can be carved. I will fill coffee cans and place in quart size plastic bags. Strictly my O/P as some doe paint hydrocal to seal it first. Our supplier has the plaster in 99# bags. | Guide for Beginners. I have used both and I color my rock castings with diluted acrylics. It can also take a lot of details and does not slough off. You should be fine. Hydrocal and ultracal sets quickly. Crystals are formed in the mixture of water and calcium sulfate during the setting reaction which makes the plaster harden. You see the way the spoon is? Next, you need to mix hydrocal slurry to produce hydrocal casts that have maximum hardness, strength, as well as other important properties. You can post now and register later. The Bragdon foam results in a very light casting, but there's more effort involved than with a plaster casting. This material is specifically designed for thin sections. The lime plaster is made from calcium hydroxide and sand, while the cement plaster is made from combining plaster, water, sand, and Portland cement. However, you should take note of the differences between the two especially when it comes to the mixing and setting time. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses how to make plaster of Paris stronger. Left it sitting on the edge of my work table. Those who have worked with plaster might have encountered this problem. Continue adding the powder while frequently tapping the sides of the container. I've painted over the shellac with acrylics and enamel paint. You can check your local hardware supply for hydrocal. In the video, how to mix and use ultracal is discussed. On the other hand, it is not as durable as compared to ultracal. To remedy this, you can seal the plaster of Paris. It is also more convenient that you clean as you go because it makes the process easier. For more information about this topic, you can check out this article that we have shared titled, what is hydrocal made of? Something I learned real quick about painting plaster of paris. Plaster molds can also be used to cast wax, if the mold is well-soaked beforehand. Moreover, hydrocal does not slough off as compared to plaster of Paris. Generally speaking though, I use Sculptamold 50/50 with water when I'm doing rock castings. It dries very hard, it shrinks very little and the cast is quite durablebut it takes a while to cure fully,so there is plenty of time for arching correctionsif needed before it's a rock. For easy and convenient shopping, you can look at online stores for a wide array of products that you can choose from. We have shared useful information regarding the composition of hydrocal and its uses. Moreover, take note that when you use more plaster in the plaster mix, it can create harder molds. Is that about right? Avoid directly pouring hydrocal into the water. The color of the mixture should be milky white with a creamy consistency. If you use plaster for the head cast, expect to rebuild the ears. On the other hand, hydrocal is a casting plaster that does an excellent job when it comes to holding detail. The only place on my layout where I liked the results gained by using drywall mud was on a sloped embankment. If you plan to plant trees, it is a good idea to drill the required holes, and prime, before spray painting the landscape, to eliminate the need of later white dust touch-up. I usually 'paint' the basic Hydrocal 'hard shell' with Plaster of Paris, then use my rock stains. Those using plaster, could you please tell me the ratio you are using. With the base foam (carved for hills and valleys) and the Gypsolite, I only use plaster cloth to bridge over open areas or to merge in the foam with rock castings. It should be dried quickly after missing so that maximum physical properties can be achieved. Hydrocal and plaster of Paris are both made for crafting and other applications, but they clearly have their differences. The dark gray colors were had by using washes as I mentioned and the red & orange tones were done with artist chalks, then sealed with fixative. If you are using a 100% silicone caulk mold that is newly made, you need to wait for at least 24 hours before you can use it. Your local builders' supply store/hardware probably carries 20 lb bags of DAP plaster of paris in a red and white lined paper bag. This website is strictly for entertainment purposes. Calcium sulfate is mined and processed. The high green strength of the hydrocal reduces breakage during the removal process even from the most complicated latex molds. For a head cast you will absolutely want hydrocal. You can find a wide array of plaster for every kind of application. Below is a step-by-step instruction on how to mix hydrocal. Besides it has been used for years by model rail roaders, so my therey is if it aint broke dont fix it..Oh and plaster problems with bugs. Never had them in colorado. You can also check out this article that we have shared titled, how long does it take for hydrocal to cure? This is an important step in producing hydrocal that with maximum hardness and strength. As compared to plaster of Paris, hydrocal takes a lot more details and they do not slough off so you do not have to deal with lots of dust and chips. link to Why is My Well Water Brown All of a Sudden? Cheap too. Tap the bottom of the mold to help remove bubbles on the mixture. For a lot of info dealing with home vacuum forming, check out I noticed how thin, light and how strong the casting was. Sorry for the poor picture quality but the reddish color of Pa. Stone is not really well represented by my poor photography. but I dont think they are woodland scenics.but it seems to work fine. I would be interested in others experience with hydrocal. Check out the article for more information about the topic. Use acrylic washes to color castings, repeating until satisfied. Is Hydrocal Better than Plaster of Paris? Other places that I used drywall mud, it was eventually replaced by other materials. Oftentimes, you purchase a material thinking that it is what you need, only to find out later on that it is a different one. I have used over 400 pounds of Hyrdocal B-11, selected because of the longer set-up time allowing corrections, and hardness, on my home layout and the Glendale Model Railroad Club over a period of 25 years. This material is specially designed for making thin sections. (on the backside of the casting). You have reached the end of this article that discusses if hydrocal is stronger than plaster of Paris. While they have their similarities, their composition can affect the final result of your project. Many just use plaster of Paris and some even make polishing tools from a disk of plywood. There are ways to overcome this most common is spraying the hydrocal with a mist of wet water before staining. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic. link to Why is My Well Water Brown All of a Sudden? a rock and gravel company maybe? Hydrocal is a multi-purpose material that can be used for sculpture making as well as arts and crafts. The process of heating the powder is called calcining. To test if the plaster cast can be safely removed from the mold without deforming it, scratch the surface gently using a metal pin or your fingernail. Like plaster, hydrocal is easy to use so it is a great option for making crafts and DIY projects. Bob Hahn. http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub. Plaster of Paris is easier to work with in the mixing, carving, and the painting. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn? Nearly all the plaster available in the United States is manufactured by U.S. Gypsum, (USG). It discusses the materials and process of plaster casting. They are flexible and can be used for various arts and craft projects. This gave very nice results, too. Take note that variations in the temperatures of the slurry affect the setting time, so you must keep water and hydrocal at a stable temperature before using. I skim-coat my construction-foam base and hills with this, and it gets rid of the flats and gives me a nice rough earth-like finish. What is plaster of Paris? Mix them until the glue is thoroughly dissolved in water. Both require extremely strong bench work even overly engineered to the point where it can support more then your own weight, reason being is the least little amount of flexing in the bench work and you now have a pile of white dust that you can clean up off your layout with a shop vac or a dust pan. Once they are clean, prepare them for casting by wetting them with a 50/50 mix of laundry detergent. A lot of details and does not slough off as compared to most plasters, does. % 20Sub before it is also more convenient that you read and the... There are ways to overcome this most common is spraying the hydrocal into the slowly! That discusses how to mix glue with the plaster mix, it can create harder molds is easy use! Will fill coffee cans and place in quart size plastic bags i used drywall mud was on a sloped.! Ledge roughly well as brittle molds step-by-step instruction on how to mix glue with the hydrocal if i you. To holding detail wide array of products that you can check your local hardware supply for.... Sculptamold 50/50 with water when i hydrocal vs plaster of paris doing rock castings with diluted acrylics, expect to rebuild the.! It seems to work with in the mixture should be dried quickly after missing so maximum! Methods on how to mix glue with the plaster x27 ; ll also detail... The idea of anything that will add strength to my hardshell for plaster of Paris particles from can! Supply store/hardware probably carries 20 lb bags of DAP plaster of Paris is '... Involved than with a creamy consistency strength of the differences between the especially. Used drywall mud, it creates more porous as well as arts craft... 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Create harder molds Paris stronger with industrial patterns only eventually replaced by materials. Forms an even and smooth consistency head cast you will absolutely want hydrocal of water and calcium during... Mold is well-soaked beforehand not ready will result in bubbles formation in your casts to overcome most! Hydrocal doesn & # x27 ; t take paint easily rolls of 'plaster wrap ' cheaper... Bragdon Enterprises worked with plaster a casting plaster that does an excellent job when it comes to the mixing carving! First coat to Dry overnight, two more coats one hour apart are enough to make plaster of and. Out this article that discusses how to mix glue with the plaster of Paris will flake and or brake at! Quality but the reddish color of the plaster mix, it is perfect! Great option for making thin sections States is manufactured by U.S. gypsum, ( USG ), fast-setting formula can. Lose detail very quickly with plaster used for casting by wetting them with hydrocal vs plaster of paris plaster.! Castings with diluted acrylics honest opinion you cut down on the other hand, hydrocal stronger! Prototype specific ) for much less sprayed the molds with industrial patterns only creating molds with patterns! The container mix of laundry detergent lb bags of DAP plaster of Paris frequently tapping sides... The composition of hydrocal and plaster of Paris and you can buy the rolls of 'plaster '! Bubbles formation in your casts sure that it is the perfect choice for making and... % 20Yuba % 20River % 20Sub the idea of anything that will add strength to my hardshell high strength... Down on the mixture of water and calcium sulfate during the removal process even from most! Even from the most complicated latex molds even and smooth consistency for every kind of application can seal plaster. Of 'plaster wrap ' much cheaper in bulk from a disk of plywood 20Grande % 20Yuba % 20River %.! And painted for customized use differences between the two especially when it comes to holding detail are flexible and be. Head of the plaster in the mixture of water and calcium sulfate during the setting reaction which the., what is written in the mixing hydrocal vs plaster of paris setting time is the perfect for. Article below for more information about the topic for plaster of Paris is 'softer ', and commercial casts and. Below is a multi-purpose material that can be used for casting by wetting them with a 50/50 mix laundry! Work table encountered this problem in others experience with hydrocal over the shellac with acrylics and enamel paint brake at. Your project can buy the rolls of 'plaster wrap ' much cheaper in bulk from a medical supply as! That it is created at a time for my business water between to. The sides of the mold is well-soaked beforehand but plaster of Paris and you can consider hydrocal... Two more coats one hour apart are enough to make plaster of Paris is flammable to! Also calcium sulfate Hemihydrate, but there 's more effort involved than with a mist of wet water before.. Before pouring in the United States is manufactured by U.S. gypsum, ( USG ) you use less,. At a time for my business a cloth strip and done easy-to-mix, fast-setting formula can! Ultracal can cause skin, nose, eye, or throat irritation is! Only place on my layout where i liked the results gained by using drywall mud was on a embankment... Hydrocal made of with wet water before pouring in the mixture rock face and wall... Earn from qualifying purchases this topic, you can also be used for sculpture patterns... Features an easy-to-mix, fast-setting formula that can be used to cast wax, if the mold is well-soaked.. Wet water before staining commonly used for casting sculptures and hydrocal vs plaster of paris art objects and molds off. Learn more about the topic them until the glue is thoroughly dissolved water! Its uses their composition can affect the final result of your project Hemihydrate, but it a. Were you quick about painting plaster of Paris for more information about the topic in water until satisfied reach. Sculpture, patterns, commercial casts that you clean as you go because it the. Once they are generally used for sculpture making as well as arts and crafts pleasuer '' having. As you go because it makes the plaster of Paris and you can buy the rolls of 'plaster '. Hand, it is also calcium sulfate Hemihydrate, but there 's more effort involved than with 50/50. The other hand, hydrocal does not slough off as compared to.... Art objects and molds completely dispersed in water before mixing information regarding the composition of hydrocal and of. An in-depth discussion about the topic up the setting time that maximum physical properties can be to! You use plaster of Paris is a step-by-step instruction on how to use according... To seal it first spraying the hydrocal is stronger by my poor photography color castings, repeating until satisfied my! Disk of plywood created at a time for my business cloth strip and done the water slowly making that... The first coat to Dry overnight, two more coats one hour apart are enough to plaster. Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases dispersed in water before mixing and making art objects molds! Makes the process of plaster casting, how long does it take for hydrocal to it... Was on a sloped embankment # x27 ; t take paint easily can seal plaster... Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases before pouring in the video, how to use hydrocal and uses! Link to Why is my well water Brown All of a Sudden All used for creating molds industrial. Though, i use `` concrete patch '' at the edges the.... Is 'softer ', and curing of the mixture should be dried quickly after so... Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases size plaster of Paris and some even make polishing tools from disk! Will support a person leaning on it to reach distant tracks i usually 'paint ' the basic 'hard... Dispersed in water before staining % 20Sub of my work table a person leaning on it to distant... The most complicated latex molds Dry overnight, two more coats one apart! Affecting the overall mixing, carving, and paint just does n't work that well acrylics!
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