Using Plaster Paris (spelling?)

Aliengod3

Aliengod3

Active member
Hey everyone,

I have only used this medium in conjunction with that cloth stuff that is can be mixed with. Recently I have been making molds of rocks and stuff of the nature (because my bases suck as does my sculpting) so that I can have the look of real rocks and such but the modeling ease of something that is not as dense. I normally pin my models to their bases but it is hard to drill into rock to pin a model to.

What I would like to know is does plaster paris solidfy without the cloth stuff? Thanks.
 
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sivousplay

New member
plaster of paris is pretty weak ... I have spent many years using molds from Hirst Arts as well as casting rocks to use for bases and the plaster I prefer is called Vatican Art Stone. It has a particulate in the plaster that gives the stone many wonderful properties:

1). It\'s stronger
2). When you sand it, the particulate shows ... you have even get a sort of feaux marble look buy just polishing it w/ steel wool
3). When you break the object that you\'ve cast, it breaks along the crystalline structure of the particulate and breaks just like you\'d expect real rock to chip.

It\'s not available in your every day art store, but it\'s easily obtainable online ... somewhere around $2 per pound (counting shipping) ... so not too bad.

Here\'s a link to where I buy it:

http://www.misterart.com/store/view/001/group_id/8023/Sculpture-House-Vatican-Art-Casting-Stone.htm

Last I knew it came in several different colors too which is kinda cool. There is a great terra cotta color for casting roof tiles.

Well, probably more info that you wanted. Enjoy.

jim
 
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ScottRadom

Shogun of Saskatchewan
Wow, I wanna try out some of that casting stuff, as I\'m thinking about trying the hirst arts route.

The people I know around here have had good luck mixing white glue in with the plaster of paris. I couldn\'t tell you the ratio but I do know they got this info off the hirst arts site themelves.

But I don\'t know that it would give you the same qualities as the stuff sivousplay mentioned. I\'m gonna order some of that stuff!
 
PegaZus

PegaZus

Stealth Freak
I\'ve done a couple of plaster bases, and while they do solidify, they become a bit of a pain to work with. I\'d go with the stronger stuff as well.
 
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sivousplay

New member
The only issue w/ dental plasters is that they are REALLY hard ... to the point where sanding, chipping, etc can be almost impossible. I\'ve never used them personally, but the feedback from other Hirst Arts users is that it takes some time to learn how to use them effectively.

jim
 
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arogers907

New member
I\'ve done a fair bit with dental plaster. I wouldn\'t use plaster of paris or hydrocal again.

The dental plaster mixes better and casts cleaner. It\'s certainly hard but if you\'re casting molds that ain\'t bad. If you\'re sculpting, use sculpting putty or clay. But if you are casting, I\'d go the dental plaster route.

I get mine from my dentist. They order a couple boxes a week so I just let him know when I need one and pick it up on my way home from work with a check in hand. They tack an extra on to their next order. Easy as that!
 
Dragon Forge Design

Dragon Forge Design

New member
Originally posted by sivousplay
The only issue w/ dental plasters is that they are REALLY hard ... to the point where sanding, chipping, etc can be almost impossible. I\'ve never used them personally, but the feedback from other Hirst Arts users is that it takes some time to learn how to use them effectively.

jim
Click to expand...

Ypu can get different hardneses of dental plaster. Some is tougher than rocks when cured, others a little less hard.
 
mickc22

mickc22

Granddad!
stone plaster is good
http://www.studioartshop.com/acatalog/info_4302.html
it is available commercially, (25kg bag) under it\'s proper name of Herculite

edit: new I\'d seen it somewhere
http://www.tomps.com/shop/herculite-premium-plaster-p-138.html
 
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