Sodium Silicate for Bonding, Sealing and Shell Molds

Posted by EnvironMolds , Labels: , , , , Tuesday, May 17, 2022 2:05 AM

Sodium silicate is a versatile material that is easy on the pocket. It serves different purposes. Artists apply a coating of liquid sodium silicate to seal molds or make shell molds. Read on to find out more.

The compound sodium metasilicate is commonly known as sodium silicate, liquid glass or water glass. This aqueous solution is quite an economical product that finds various applications from ceramics and metal mold making to concrete and plaster sealing and adhesives. The multifarious nature comes to the fore as the same liquid can impart an antique finish to pottery, deflocculate clay and bind sand to form molds. That’s not all – it can also be used to bond metals and other materials apart from sealing concrete and plaster surfaces.
 


Fact is that sodium silicate forms a transparent film after drying. This film is found to display both adhesive and sealant properties.


  • Applying a thin layer on the surface of a metal, fiberglass, paper or other fibrous material before adhering another piece will form a tight inorganic bond between the two items. The adhesion not only stays optimum but is also resistant to moisture and high temperatures.
  • Water glass can be applied on concrete, stucco or plaster surfaces (after the initial cure) to seal the porous materials. The surface also becomes more wearable and water repellent.
  • Some use sodium silicate to preserve food items like eggs, which can then last for a full year.
  • Artists use sodium silicate to make a shell mold for blanket molds. The liquid layer will harden on drying, thus providing firmness to flexible molds. This will also render the mold surface impermeable, thus protecting the integrity of the mold. During casting, the mold will neither absorb the casting material nor leak in any manner.

Artmolds Sodium Silicate is easy to apply and a single coat should do the job most of the time. It dries quickly to form a tight and permanent bond. It is non-toxic and free of odors too.

The best part is that it gives a transparent finish and will not affect the color or detailing of the mold in any manner. However, the silicate film can be made semi-opaque by adding fillers like clay. Using alkali-resistant options like titanium oxide or aluminum pigments will make the coating completely opaque. Artists usually mix titanium oxide to get a white hue, lime-free iron oxide for red, chrome oxide for green, ochre for yellow or ultramarine for a blue hue. Adding grease-free carbon black will make the silicate coat black while umbers or siennas can be used to make it brown.

The brand does not really matter as all sodium silicates deliver the same results. The prime difference is whether it is available as a powder or aqueous solution. In liquid form, the concentration can vary from one product to another. The powder has to be liquified by adding distilled water.

Aqueous water glass can be easily sourced from EnvironMolds at https://www.artmolds.com/artmolds-sodium-silicate.html

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Techniques of Clay Modeling for a Beginner

Posted by EnvironMolds , Labels: , , , Friday, April 29, 2022 4:11 AM

Clay is soft and pliable to the extent that it can be easily fashioned into different forms. There are various techniques for making clay models depending on the size and style to even the dexterity of the artist.

There is art and then there is three-dimensional art! There is something about the latter that appeals to the senses and draws the soul. Creating a three-dimensional figure with your own hands can be deeply satisfying and enriching as well.

And when it comes to three-dimensional crafts, things cannot get more simpler than clay modeling! Clay is an extremely malleable material that can be molded in different ways to create functional or decorative items. Just playing around with clay is enough to unleash the latent creativity even while keeping the mind engaged and productive.

In general, clay in any form can be sculpted. However, professional artists prefer plasticine clay as it is oil-based and non-drying. This is best for making molds as well. Pottery and self-hardening clays are also commonly used for ceramics and other sculptures.



Sculpting techniques


Simply put, clay figures are fashioned mostly with the thumb and forefinger; intricate pieces involve the use of the full palm as well. The three major forms are slabs, coils and pinch pots that are then used to make the desired piece from the clay. It takes a lot of kneading, squeezing, pulling, pinching and rolling to conjure up varied forms and shapes from clay. The clay will have to be smoothed at various junctures and separate pieces may have to be joined together as well.

These small and delicate models can be gently created by hand itself. The potter’s wheel is a famous instrument for making pots and pans. However, it lends itself well for fashioning elaborate and tricky shapes as well. The pieces are generally glazed and baked in ovens or kilns to give them a better finish along with durability.

When it comes to bigger sculptures, the artist will have to create an armature to provide structure and support to the figure. This is like an internal skeleton that helps in building the clay model which may otherwise collapse under its own weight. It can be made with bent wires or better still, aluminum.

Apart from fingers and hands, clay modeling artists use different types of carving tools to create details in the sculpture. It is a series of rolling, pinching, carving, smoothing and joining that will slowly shape up the sculpture. Scoring is also a crucial step when joining any two pieces of clay; without this the parts are likely to crack or fall apart while drying.

Irrespective of the technique, the clay model should always be allowed to dry completely before use.

Where to buy?


EnvironMolds offers a broad selection of different types of top-quality clay to serve diverse purposes. It also stocks ballistic clay and gel blocks which is suitable for testing body armor and other terminal ballistic testing.

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Behold! All-in-One Kits for Making Life Casts

Posted by EnvironMolds , Labels: , , , Tuesday, April 19, 2022 4:02 AM

You can buy every single thing you need for making a mold, cast or life cast or you can just pick up a kit while you are out there! The latter removes all the hassles and makes things easy from the word go.

Mold making and casting are fun activities that keep a person hooked on during the entire process. It is fascinating to create a mold of something and then work on making a perfectly detailed cast from the mold. The process becomes even more exciting when the mold is made of a body part, like hands, feet or face before creating an exact replica in the form of a life cast!

However, assembling all the different types of materials, supplies and tools for making the mold and cast is another story altogether. A variety of things are required to shape and form the molds and casts which can get quite taxing, especially for beginners.

Welcome to the world of kits


Art supply manufacturers come to the rescue here by putting together kits that contain everything needed for making a particular type of mold/cast. Let us take the Mold It Hand Imprint Kit for example.

Open the kit and you will find mold making material, casting material and all the small tools and supplies that are needed for making the life cast of a hand. There is no need to list all the different items that will be required for this project, let alone figure out the requisite quantities to purchase. Falling short of material while making the mold or life cast is something that everyone wants to avoid for obvious reasons!

Armed with this kit, a parent can quickly make a life cast of their newborn baby’s hands that will be cherished forever. It can even make for a lovely gift for grandparents or other family members. The kit can also be used to preserve memories of a child or loved one holding a trophy or other cherished item that will become a wonderful keepsake.

What’s more, the kit comes with instructions and other educational material that will make the going easy for people who have never tried their hand at making molds or casts. In fact, the kit is often used by children as a hobby or a family activity while they develop the skill of making different types of molds. In fact, the kit does not have to be restricted to hand life casts and can be used for other purposes too.

Where to get it?


Mold It Hand Imprint Kit comes from the house of EnvironMolds, a leading art manufacturer and supplier, and can be easily sourced from https://www.artmolds.com/. It also stocks a complete range of materials, supplies and equipment for those who want to move to making other types of molds and casts without relying on a kit. In fact, this is the go-to store for professional mold makers and life casting artists as they are assured of both quality and availability!

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A Life Casting Kit for Pregnancy!

Posted by EnvironMolds , Labels: , , , Friday, March 25, 2022 12:19 AM

The pregnant belly is a lovely memory of the beautiful journey of pregnancy. Looking at a replica of this swollen abdomen can bring back touching recollections to the fore every time, courtesy a belly cast.

Pregnancy is a beautiful experience full of ever-lasting memories. While the culmination is the most precious gift possible, the journey itself is something to be cherished forever. People try to capture the wonderful moments with pictures and other favored measures. However, hardly anything can do justice to the treasure trove of delights like a life casting!

Indeed, one of the best ways to preserve the experience is making a three-dimensional representation of the pregnancy in its full glory – in the form of a belly casting.

Come to think of it, capturing the shape of the pregnant abdomen is one of the easiest aspects of making a life casting. It does not even call for an expert hand – pregnant couples easily manage to do it by themselves. And a home kit makes the process all the more simple and straightforward, given that itcontains all the materials needed to create a beautiful belly casting work of art!

Getting Inside the Maternity Life Casting Kit


The Maternity EZ Cast Kit is characterized by quality materials and easy to understand directions.Each kit contains:

  • 90 yards of 4' plaster impregnated bandages-precut (6 rolls)
  • 3 ounces MoldEZrelease agent
  • 1 pair surgical grade rubber gloves
  • 1 plastic drop cloth

To begin with, spread the drop cloth on the floor, don the rubber gloves and get going. Keep in mind that while most other kits come with around 4 rolls of plaster bandages, this one provides 50% more material. This will be more than sufficient for a 160 lbs. model and the cast will have extra strength to last for years to come. It is advisable to order an extra packet of plaster bandages per 50 lbs. additional weight.

Making the casting requires you to simply follow the directions in the guide book to the T. Roll out the bandages, cut them into strips and keep a couple of bowls of water handy. Apply the release agent on the body before starting the process.

Each strip has to be simply dipped in the water and squeezed before applying on the abdomen. Smooth out each bandage to remove air bubbles but do not press down too much either.

Build up the thickness by adding a couple of layers while keeping each layer in a crisscross fashion. Ensure that the layers are thicker on the edges. Once it has dried sufficiently, the mold can be easily demolded by squeezing the tummy a bit or inserting the fingers from the edges.

The best part is that this mold is the belly cast itself! It just has to be finished as desired.


In fact, there are a range of life casting kits, apart from Maternity EZ Cast Kit, like for casting baby's hands and feet, adult hands, faces, torso, breasts and even a full body. They range from beginner to experienced and advanced level; therefore, users can select based on their experience and comfort level.

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Mold Making Methods for Silicone Rubber

Posted by EnvironMolds , Labels: , , , , , , Wednesday, March 9, 2022 9:55 PM

Silicone rubber is the ideal material for mold making. There are different methods of making silicone molds – from general to inversion and vacuum – and each delivers top quality molds every time.

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. It will demold easily as well because silicone rubber does not stick to anything except itself.


SkinRite10

Mold making methods


Molds of silicone rubbers can be made using different techniques. The most common are the general molds which easily replicate the surface details of the model in a negative mold. The silicone rubber is mixed with the catalyst and is simply poured over the model (which is affixed inside a mold box). The mold is easy and quick to make while giving efficient results. It does not require any special skills either.

Otherwise, there is the lamination method, wherein the mold making rubber is painted on the model one coat after the other. This creates a skin of even thickness and the mold can be reinforced with a shell mold if needed. These molds will be lightweight and do not use much of the material either.

Some artists prefer the inverted mold method, wherein first a silicone rubber mold is created and resin or gypsum is poured into it to make a replica of the original model. This method is used to create subsequent molds as part of the inversion process. The subsequent molds can be used anytime for making castings of choice. The lost wax method is a popular method of inversion mold making.

Then there are high precision molds which are made created using a vacuum device. The mold is placed inside the vacuum chamber and the casting material – usually resin or other rubbers – is poured before being vacuumed so as to eliminate any possible defects and air bubbles.


BakeSil

Where to buy?


EnvironMolds offers a wide variety of silicone rubbers, both for mold making and casting purposes. First there is the standard silicone mold rubber that lends itself well for general mold making. Then there is the faster acting silicone mold for making quick impressions without using a mold box, called 5-Minute Mold Putty. In addition to this, there are food safe and skin safe silicone mold rubbers – BakeSil is FDA approved as food safe for making food molds and baking containers while LifeRite, can be used on the skin for life casting and duplicating body parts. And what tops the charts is SkinRite10 - a translucent silicone mold rubber which can be tinted and used for special effects and applications to duplicate skin surfaces, making it the ideal material for realistic masks apart from doll reborning.

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The Essence That Makes Polyurethane Resins What They Are

Posted by EnvironMolds , Labels: , , , , Tuesday, March 1, 2022 12:45 AM

 When it comes to the resins, polyurethanes are the most popular and versatile of the lot. Here is a look at the properties and benefits of polyurethane resins which work in their favor for making molds and casts.


Resins are the most commonly used type of casting materials. While synthetic resins are of different types with specific properties and uses, the polyurethane ones turn out to be the most diverse and versatile of the lot.

When it comes to polyurethane resin casting, there are options like fast-setting resins, slow-setting resins, clear resins, opaque resins, foaming resins, semi-flexible resins and more. These are two-part formulas that are usually mixed in equal quantities to form a hard and durable plastic.

 



These resins can be used to produce an array of products. The liquid is poured into the mold and will capture all the details to form a rigid cast. It should be noted that the resins have low viscosity which works well in the shaping and casting in the most optimum manner. The material also flows well which allows it be mixed and processed with ease.

After casting, the resin sets quickly and can be demolded in a short period itself. There is minimal shrinkage in the process and it displays heat resistance as well. Again, note that the resins lend themselves well for casting very small and thin-walled items which still come with high stability. It sets quickly and can be demolded in about 15 to 20 minutes itself.

The best part is that the resin is receptive to additives like fillers, color pastes and even inhibitors. Water clear casting resins are commonly used for making jewelry like pendants, earrings and bracelets by encapsulating leaves, flowers, buttons, stones, pictures and other keepsake items.

It is noteworthy that the finished polyurethane casts display excellent chemical, oil and grease resistance. Even the abrasion resistance properties are exceptional which ensures that the casts do not tear easily.

However, artists need to keep in mind that polyurethane resins tend to be sensitive to moisture and ultraviolet light. The latter can even cause yellowing, especially in the water clear resins. It also emits a strong odor during the curing process which can become a health hazard.

Special care has to be taken in the pouring as clear resins are prone to bubbles. Casting in a pressure pot will suffice here as the pressure compresses the trapped air till the resins set to a hard plastic, not leaving any space for the bubbles to expand once again.

When it comes to AquaClear Clear Casting Resin, it can be easily sourced from EnvironMolds. This is a storehouse of all types of materials, supplies and equipment for making molds, casts and life casts. For instance, it is not just about the resins alone, the website also provides access to resin pigments, medium and more. Additionally, there are photo luminescent pigments and a complete line of skin-safe body paints as well.

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Dental Alginate Metamorphosized for Life Casting

Posted by EnvironMolds , Labels: , , , , , Monday, February 14, 2022 5:13 AM

Alginate has come a long way from chance beginnings for dental impressions to body molds for life casting. The alginate has to be modified to suit its new application which makes it more versatile as well.

It literally took a world war for alginate to be used as a dental impression material and, ultimately make its way into the world of life casting!

It was during World War II when agar could no longer be sourced from Japan, that the U.S. Navy first started using alginate for dental impressions. Soon regular dentists also started shifting to this natural seaweed material.

History does not record the name of the first artist who started using the same alginate for making body molds for life casting. But it is very much possible that some dentist was hit with a brainwave that the same gooey material that he/she was using on a patient’s teeth can work for taking impressions from the rest of the body as well. A trial or two may have revealed that the alginate captures excellent forensic details, right down to the fingerprints.


The modifications in alginate


Making a mold of a couple of teeth is a quick and simple job. But can the same be extended to bigger and more complicated parts of the body?For starters. regular alginate will set up too quickly to be workable.

But it is not just about tweaking the set time alone. Even the hardness/softness of the cured alginate has to be ideal to deliver the requisite tear resistance. For instance, alginate that is too soft will obviously tend to tear easily, especially when the structure is too thin. Contrarily, if it sets too hard, the strength will actually make it inflexible. The body mold will not come off easily and is most likely to tear when pulled from tight places. Therefore, the alginate formula has to be manipulated to make it strong, but without becoming too hard!

While it is mostly dental firms that manufacture the modified alginate as an extension of their regular product range, EnvironMolds provides a range of specialized alginate formulas – like MoldGel alginate, LifeMold Silica Free Alginate and Hollywood Impressions SILFREE alginate that have been specially formulated for life casting needs.

For instance, the MoldGel Alginate SloSet features an extended set time of 7 to 8 minutes. Additionally, liquid retarders are also available that can be mixed in the alginate to further slow down the set time. This features good tear strength as well. If needed, fiber can be embedded in this alginate to further enhance the tear strength before reinforcing the body mold with plaster bandages. A better option is to use FiberGel E F/X Grade Alginate that features a fiber matrix which not only adds tear resistance and strength, but also allows for delayed casting times and reduces the shrinkage rate. What more can one ask for?

Do check out the complete range of alginate options and other materials available at https://www.artmolds.com

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