Batman Mask project
- Thread starter HeroLids
- Start date
TigerStoneFX
Well-Known Member
Looking good! Only advice I can offer without a specific question is that if you're planning on casting in latex, make sure you've made the sculpture thick enough. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask and have fun with it!
HeroLids
Jr Member
Thankyou, well what i am after is how to achieve a really smooth finish on the clay itself, i have read about and quite a few people say use your fingers but i only seem to create drag marks and as it being quite a stiff clay is i used any less pressure with my fingers it does nothing at all. I also read about brushing on alcohol with a soft brush, i used 70% rubbing alcohol but also seemed not to do a great deal, so really i want to know how achieve a really nice smooth finish, would a higher alcohol do the trick like 90 or 100%, and thankyou for taking the time to answer, much appreciated.
RevolverOcelot
Member
Not sure what kind of clay you are using, but Vaseline can help in small doses as can heat or cold depending.
TigerStoneFX
Well-Known Member
The highest alcohol count you can get is 99%. I'm guessing you're using an oil based clay seeing as you said it was stiff, in that case the 99% IPA is a good option, on some clays naphtha works well. Getting a "smooth" finish is relatively easy to achieve, the hard part is getting the surface even first. Otherwise you have a smooth surface with divots in them 
What selection of tools do you have? Rakes and metal scrapers are you're friends! If you're UK based I can point you towards a good selection.
What selection of tools do you have? Rakes and metal scrapers are you're friends! If you're UK based I can point you towards a good selection.
Black Cat Army
New Member
I know what you mean, when I use any fingers it leaves little drag marks from your fingerprints, so if I absolutely need to use a finger, I use cellophane wrap. wrap it tight around a finger and use that to smear after raking/ scraping and alcohol or mineral spirits. Also a blow dryer will heat up the clay and make it more movable. Hope this helps!
HeroLids
Jr Member
thanks guys really appreciate the tips, and yes sorry i am using an oil based clay, NSP medium i think its called, you`ll have to forgive me i am still relatively new to this all, i am quite happy with the even finish on it, its just getting those damn little drag marks out that is the pain for me at the minute, i will give the 99% alcohol a whirl and let you chaps know how i get on, unfortunately its a bit of a slow process due to funds but i will get there in the end, and again many thanks for the advice
TigerStoneFX
Well-Known Member
I should also add, dab cotton balls in the alcohol and "sand" the finish in a circular motion, that gets things nice and smooth
Flash Dixon
Active Member
Very nice start you have there. Looking forward to the first pull.
HeroLids
Jr Member
Thank you very much you and me both lol with it being my first one everything is very exciting and really cannot wait to hold the final product in my hands, smoothing is coming on ok, i found an old promotion type card in my wallet like 1 months free membership to love film and i tell you what, i cut it in half and it works amazingly, just waiting for the stronger 99% alcohol to turn up to give that final smooth finish and it should be ready to cast, fingers crossed maybe a month or so we`ll be there. thank you for the support, first forum i have joined and such a cool bunch of people.
HeroLids
Jr Member
just a little update of where i am, smoothing is going ok, went a little crazy with the spirits at first but managed to bring it back lol, just trying to get a reasonably smooth finish now then i think i will go the junk mold way to get a machine smooth finish, But i just sat there looking at it and as is the way i have decided he`s going to have a little nose surgery on monday, not happy with the way its sitting and is slightly off centre.
will update again soon my friends.
will update again soon my friends.
HeroLids
Jr Member
well its undergone some changes again, i cut the entire nose off and started from scratch as it was not sitting right in my opinion also had a few little trims here and there which looking at you probably wont notice but i am alot more happier with it, also gone for shorter ears as a little experiment, i like them but i am going to be doing a dark knight returns after this and i might go back to big ears so its not too similar, i`m am constantly changing the thing i need to stop really lol here`s the evolution of the project in pictures, hope you like it:
HeroLids
Jr Member
Thank you my friend, good of you to say
TigerStoneFX
Well-Known Member
Very nice progress
HeroLids
Jr Member
Very nice progress
Thank you very much good sir, its been a nice little project to learn on, just now learning and studying the next stage of casting, really don`t want to fall at the last hurdle
TigerStoneFX
Well-Known Member
You'll want to figure out your mould before casting. What do you want to cast them in? That will dictate your moulding technique more than anything.
