Which plaster for Hirst arts in the UK

[Rev]

Hi all

I\'m going to make a fantasy/mordheim terrain board (also suitable for 40k) and want to make the floor pieces from hirst arts moulds.

Has anybody here in the UK used them and can reccommend a plaster that is good value?

Thanks in advance

rev

 

[Dragon Forge Design]

You want to find a dental plaster. The harder the plaster the better.

 

[Rev]

Thanks DFD.

I realise I want a hard plaster - I had a good look at the hirst arts page.

I wondered if anybody could reccomend a specific plaster they\'ve had success with thats available in the UK.

I\'ve seen herculite 2 for instance, but wondered if anybody with actual hirst arts experience in teh UK could advise?

No problems if not.

rev

 

[generulpoleaxe]

when i used to make moulds for latex mask casting, i used stone cast powder.
that will be sufficient for your needs.

i used to bulk buy from trylon, their should be other suppliers that could do it in smaller quantities for you at good rates.

 

[Logan]

I\'ve got a mate who\'s a dental technician, so he got me 25kg of dental stuff reasonably cheaply. I think you can find dental suppliers who would do the same for you.
Before then I used Crystacal R from these guys, Plastered.
Shipping\'s your problem as it\'s heavy stuff.

It\'s super hard but mixes really fine, which is essential when pouring it into the nooks and crannies on the moulds.

Look forward to seeing the board. My dream project is a great big Mordheim board, well, that or a 3-D Talisman Board, it tends to change with the weather

 

[generulpoleaxe]

their are two grades used by dental technicians, the softer stuff and stonecast (can\'t remember the correct name of the stone cast, but it\'s the harder/denser of the two)

 

[Einion]

This stuff I think is similar to what I\'ve tried, but only available in 25kg sack I\'m afraid (not cheap):
http://www.artsuppliesuk.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/254
http://www.homecrafts.co.uk/products-Stone-Plaster_M307D.htm

Don\'t know what any of these are like but they\'re cheaper + available in smaller amounts and from a range of suppliers that might be well worth knowing about:
http://www.craftmill.co.uk/epages/Store.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/CraftMill/Products/PR53/SubProducts/PR53-0005
http://www.specialplasters.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=9
http://www.maragon.co.uk/arts-and-crafts.html#Init

Einion

 

[Logan]

Just been to check on my plaster but all it said was \'Super Whiter - Specially formulated dental plaster for the dental profession\', so fat lot of good that was. lol

Still got some of the Crystacal left that I\'m casting with. You won\'t be disappointed with that if you get it. A lot of Hirst Arts users in the UK recommend it. Fine stuff!

Edit - damn, why did I have to post after Einion? We can all go home now... lol

 

[Rev]

The Crystacal R is much cheaper per 25kg than some of the others listed (£60odd) - will they do the same Job?

No bodies mentioned this one yet LINK which was the other one mentioned on teh hirst arts site, and it too is much cheaper. Want to get good stuff though, so if its worth paying an extra £50 I\'d like to know!

 

[Undave]

I got a really big bag of Crystacal R from a company called CSF. The company themselves were OK but the delivery company they used was absolutely terrible. It took nearly two weeks of them fannying about and pathetic excuses like how they \"forgot\" to put my plaster on the van or the driver couldn\'t find my house. I wouldn\'t recommend them but the Crystacal was decent stuff. Herculite is fine too but what you need to take into account is that you\'ll probably need more of the stuff than you originally thought. It can take a little while to perfect your casting technique to eliminate bubbles and get the right consistency. If you haven\'t already, sign up to the HA forum. The guys there are incredibly helpful, just watch out for the Phranc and Mr Fibble lol

I\'d recommend rinsing your moulds in finish dishwasher rinse aid to reduce the formation of bubbles.

Tomps and Tirantis have both been recommended to me by the UK HA guys but I haven\'t been casting in a while so I haven\'t needed any plaster lately.

 

[Rev]

Just registered, thanks for the heads up. Loads of info available.

rev

 

[mickc22]

I got my 25kg bag of herculite from a place down near Chichester, thought I had their website bookmarked, apparently not(I did collect it mind you

I\'ve also used Tomps before they\'ve got a good service, also been up to Tirantis (tiny) shop in London too


edit: found them! it\'s Clayman Pottery Supplies