I tried use of colors mixed in the Hydrocal, and found that enough color to make any appreciable difference weakened the mixture after set-up, and any lesser amount resulted in pastel, not colored, rocks. All these castings are pre colored. Is there a difference between hydrocal and ultracal? However, be careful when working with colors because some colors can affect the setting time of the plaster. Hydrocal is mainly composed of plaster of Paris and a small amount of Portland cement. P.S.- although I do like the idea of anything that will add strength to my hardshell. Cuts easily, pulls away from the castwell, and you can get a very nice, tight, outline of the instrument every time. Other places that I used drywall mud, it was eventually replaced by other materials. Well, the thing fell off the table and landed on the tile floor. I've used plaster of paris before, and have had decent success. You first need to tap the side of the container to disperse the powder and also to remove air bubbles. We have shared tips and ideas that you can refer to. Check out the article for more information about the topic. Then I use a paint brush.. and paint the plaster into the fine cracks and detail of the mold. Video Materials and Process: Plaster Casting. wow, always a lot of info on this forum! Posted by willy6 on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:43 PM I have tried both. Those using plaster, could you please tell me the ratio you are using. Aside from that, hydrocal also takes more detail and does not slough off. While we strive to provide quality information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. like a sponge. You can check out the article for useful tips and ideas that you can refer to when working with plaster of Paris. You might be washing the dishes when all of a sudden brown water comes out of the faucet and makes you wonder what causes it. link to Why is My Well Water Brown All of a Sudden? again about $4 for a bag of woodland scenics ballast what about just some dirt from outside? You might be washing the dishes when all of a sudden brown water comes out of the faucet and makes you wonder what causes it. thank you!! While we strive to provide quality information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. UltraCal-30 is just plain old plaster of paris, with some portland cement, usually in a 8:1 ratio, so you can make your own from a trip to the local hardware store. 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 titled, what is hydrocal? Bear in mind that when you pour a large amount of slurry directly on the mold, it results in slight densification of the cast. http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub. Aside from that, it is also weatherproof and scratch-resistant. Unless you have a portable layout,I don't see where weight would be a problem unless I'm overlooking somethingcomments? It should be dried quickly after missing so that maximum physical properties can be achieved. manage your account online and more! Are you happy with the results? Smooth out any bubbles that you can find using a skim coat of a watery mixture once it has completely dried. In this article, we will have an in-depth discussion about hydrocal. Tom View my layout photos! Choosing a material for a specific project that you are working on can sometimes be confusing because of their similarity. Hydrocal white is my preferred casting medium, mostly because I know how it "works." This supplier may also carry masonry supplies. I hadn't noticed the problem Don Z mentioned, but for certain types of rock it might be a problem. The difference between hydrocal and plaster of Paris is that hydrocal is stronger. You can heat ultracal, but you need to follow heating instructions. Yeah, Jeffrey, that makes sense. When it comes to mixing plaster and water, there are a few steps that should be done. Thank you for reading! You just need to experim,ent as to the water amount. It is used for crafting as well as a construction material. Hydrocal is a gypsum product that is commonly used for slip latex mold sand case molds. The longer you take to clean your latex mold.. the harder the plaster becomes.. and the harder to clean.. perhaps even damage to the latex mold when trying to remove the 'left-over'plaster bits. 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. If this is the case, you should wait for at least two to three hours or longer depending on the temperature. Weigh the water and hydrocal according to the consistency that you need. Find out how to do this by reading the article that we have shared titled, how to make plaster of Paris stronger. Moreover, when making plaster casting, make sure that you use pure water. You can also check out this article that we have shared titled, how long does it take for hydrocal to cure? Now I don't claim to be an expect.. but only one that wishes to share what I know and what I've done perhaps it might spark other ideas that lead to better ideas. Once they are clean, prepare them for casting by wetting them with a 50/50 mix of laundry detergent. Hydrocal is versatile gypsum cement that is great if you are doing a solid and hollow casting of figurines and lamp bases. Thats it.. btw.. Seal it first. Many good LHS's will buy the bulk bags and re-package it themselves into smaller bags. This keeps a hard calcified layer from forming on the top. link to Should You Leave Your Shower Curtain Open or Closed? We hope that this article has helped you learn more about hydrocal and help you get ready for your next sculpting or molding project. It is also a quick setting which is ideal for arts and crafts. Copyright 1996 - 2022 Maestronet Leaving the shower curtain open or closed has long been a debate for a lot of people. Sounds to me like you are buying the WS pre-packaged Hydrocal. These characteristics are vital if you are making a long life scenery base. But, Jeffrey, would that not make the plaster essentially impossible to paint? It is made for thin sections and is also more durable so there is minimal breakage during mold removal. It might add up over many castings applied to a significant layout, but I'd bet it doesn't add up to more than maybe five or six pounds once it is dry and in place on most layouts. This material is specifically designed for thin sections. Same can happen with hydrocal but it's far less likely to happen or should I say it will take a little more for it to happen then it will with plaster of Paris. You know the jagged parts of, the mold that will stick out. Video What is Ultracal? You can post now and register later. Always do your own research before making important decisions. To remedy this, you can seal the plaster of Paris. Get all the moisture you can see off the mold. I. Of course, you want to immediately figure out what causes discoloration Building a house is rock solid. Be careful about spilling the plaster dust, as it is a pain to get it up without it blowing . Same here, and my basement is a haven for all types of arthropodsa good thing since it keeps the distaff upstairs most often. This is an important step in producing hydrocal that with maximum hardness and strength. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses if hydrocal is stronger than plaster of Paris. It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. With a mold and plaster mix, anyone can replicate sculptures from antiquity, the Renaissance, or more modern . I agree with A. Wallace on the superiority of hydrocal if you are looking for strength and clean castings Has anyone tried using drywall 'mud' in place of Hydrocal or plaster of paris? I like the rigid insulation board concept. How Long Does it Take for Hydrocal to Cure? I use less plaster.. pour a thinner mold.. and is light.. but strong. 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. I know a lot of people have used plaster of Paris to make the rocks, but I don't know what plaster to water ratio to use. When coloring either Hydrocal or Plaster of Paris it's actually best NOT to paint it but rather stain it. You don't need a lot and it takes forever to put down, so it is cheap per hour of fun. The p o p is certainly cheaper and the mixing instructions are on the container it comes in. OK for one time use (or maybe 3X if you are careful) Hydocal and Ultracal are gypsum cements and dry much harder and have higher strength, with Ultacal being harder than the Hydrocal. They use a two-part chemical resin that sets up very well but can actually be softened later with a hair dryer to allow the castings to be bent around curves later. I would be interested in others experience with hydrocal. Hydrocal White. You can mechanically mix hydrocal by batch and continuous processes. This is the result of using a flashlight. It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 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. I cut my teeth using p.o.p. It is easy to mix plaster of Paris, but there are vital steps that you need to consider so that you can have a solid and durable sculpture. I am not 'bashing' Woodland Scenics, but there are other sources for these scenic items. This creates uniform slurry. You need to let it soak for about one to two minutes. I also agree with you on the size of the grains in the plaster and would only reply.. "You think a Dentists wants a grainy 'impression' of someone's teeth"? Besides.. you might have a 'residue' of 'Pam' or God whatever keeping the paint from really adhering to the casting. I have used both and I color my rock castings with diluted acrylics. My latex molds.. are very flexible.. and would suggest always to keep them out of the sun.. or light for that matter.. Work with the mixture until you have a smooth and consistent mix. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses if plaster of Paris is hard. Aside from that, the glue can also end up floating to the top of the mold. Hydrocal is also compatible with many color pigments. Grinding is a cave mans job, even the most simple tools will do. Make sure that you read and follow the handling and directions on how to use hydrocal according to what is written in the package. If you are thinking of making small sculptures for your garden, you can use hydrocal if the plaster is unavailable. Hydrocal molds can be heated at a maximum temperature of 120 F. Cooking. Add cup of white glue into the water. If you are wondering how hydrocal is used to create casts, you can check out the video below for the process. On the other hand, hydrocal is a casting plaster that does an excellent job when it comes to holding detail. Used Hydrocal for the first time 2 nights ago for a full back cast of a Gagliano cello. It's just more expensive than Ultracal, and lacks a few additives. If you use open cell foam (styrofoam) for a castform, you're going to bein trouble trying to free the cast from the form. However, most sealers cause the plaster to have a sheen, do not take stains, and do not make the finished scenery any stronger or damage resistant. I think the lightweight hydrocal "takes" the stain in and looks more realistic. Some pottery, ceramic, and art supply stores are also selling hydrocal. Water, there are other sources for these scenic items fell off the table landed! 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