Sealing Wed Clay For A Silicone Mould?

[troggs]

I've nearly got my trooper/pred bio sculpt ready for moulding, the one thing I can't seem to find a definite answer to is whether I need to seal the WED clay before applying the silicone to make the mould.

I think I've heard of shellac being used, but I wouldn't want to ruin the sculpt at this stage.

Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated,

Thanks guys

 

[A Hunters Moon]

I've seen it covered in several threads.  If i remember correctly most everyone uses krylon crystal clear to seal the clay.  If I'm wrong or there's a better method I'm sure someone will chime in.

 

[troggs]

I've seen it covered in several threads.  If i remember correctly most everyone uses krylon crystal clear to seal the clay.  If I'm wrong or there's a better method I'm sure someone will chime in.

Thanks for the advice, I thought it had been covered as well, but couldn't find anything when I tried a search.

 

[Predatoj]

They definitely sculpted the P2 suit in WED clay and definitely sealed it in Shellac. There's a youtube vid here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7HuE9ka8zY.

Watch from 2:17


You absolutely should seal the clay before molding or you risk damaging your sculpt. You sometimes have to be heavy handed when molding. sealing prevents leaving bristle marks when using cheap chip brushes too.

 

[troggs]

Thanks Predatoj, I knew I'd seen shellac used somewhere - looks like I'm off to the local hardware shop tomorrow

 

[Predatoj]

I see no reason why you couldn't use clear sealer though. I used plasticote clear sealer and worked perfect on my plastilene sculpt.

 

[ptgreek]

Krystal Klear Artist.. Make sure it the artist brand and not standard ( the pic on front of can has artists paintbrushes.. Not the standard "dots" . There is a chemical difference between the two. Use the standard and you clay may lose both definition .. But will stick in clumps to the mold. It's horrible with silicone as well.. So don't stay your mold or positive before casting

 

[Predatoj]

I would just use Shellac to be safe. Many of the spray sealers are water-based. Which would be bad for WED clay.

 

[troggs]

Krystal Klear Artist.. Make sure it the artist brand and not standard ( the pic on front of can has artists paintbrushes.. Not the standard "dots" . There is a chemical difference between the two. Use the standard and you clay may lose both definition .. But will stick in clumps to the mold. It's horrible with silicone as well.. So don't stay your mold or positive before casting

Many thanks, I didn't realise a varnish could affect the clay so much,  if Krystal Klear is made by Krylon, then I think I've found it in the UK, it's called Crystal Clear, the pic on the can has artists paintbrushes, made in the US, so should be the same as far as I can see?

 

[troggs]

I would just use Shellac to be safe. Many of the spray sealers are water-based. Which would be bad for WED clay.

Thanks all advice is much appreciated.

 

[wonko]

I've never had a need to seal WED clay, but have used the Krystal Klear artist on plastacine clay that needed sealed and have had good luck with it.  I'm sure George speaks from many years of experience in the industry, so I would go with that if you have already found it.  

Brian 

 

[troggs]

Thanks Brian, I've followed George's advice and got the Crystal Clear on order.

 

[Giles]

Hey Troggs, do you know if once you have sealed the clay with the Crystal Clear can you reuse the clay or do you have to accept that a proportion of it is ruined? Not intended as a hijack but it is a question i keep meaning to ask, and feel it is on topic. Cheers, Ian.

 

[troggs]

Hi Ian, this is my first time using WED clay for anything except dividing walls, so I'm still learning, but as far as I know this type of clay is not meant to be reused; also I've left the sculpt uncovered for a few hours to firm up to allow me to work on the finer details and the smoothing.

perhaps the clay inside the thicker bits of the sculpt will be salvageable?

I've researched this question myself, I've heard of people chopping the clay up finely, soaking it every couple of days etc, but to be honest it's so cheap I don't think it's worth the hassle.

I'm hoping to mould the bio pretty soon, so as soon as it's done I'll let you know , maybe someone with more experience than me will chime in, cheers, Derek

 

[ptgreek]

WED is cheap .. I wouldn't bother trying to reuse ( it dries out anyway. NSP can be recycled a few times through... Even with that crystal clear on it

 

[Milk1]

I have never sealed any of my wed sculptures and never had a single problem. As long was you do the pour method for a thin layer of silicone first, then you can brush on the thickened silicone layers after that. 

 

[Giles]

Sorry my bad, i totally got the wrong end of the stick reading the thread and missed the key point of "the sculpt" being in WED clay. That will teach me for asking questions in other people's threads!!!

 

[MEANGENE83]

I just wanted to echo what George stated.
Go with George's advice he works in the FX industry in hollywood. Real experience.

Krystal Klear Artist.. Make sure it the artist brand and not standard ( the pic on front of can has artists paintbrushes.. Not the standard "dots" . There is a chemical difference between the two. Use the standard and you clay may lose both definition .. But will stick in clumps to the mold. It's horrible with silicone as well.. So don't stay your mold or positive before casting

 

[ptgreek]

for a silicone mold you really dont need shellac ..a coat of crystal clear just helps preserve the integrity of the softer clay. not necessarily as needed ..more for chevant, but it doesnt hurt to be safe. even on small dish molds of lets say something like teeth ...i hit em with a little Crystal Clear ..makes the clay a little easier to pull out of the mold

 

[troggs]

I have never sealed any of my wed sculptures and never had a single problem. As long was you do the pour method for a thin layer of silicone first, then you can brush on the thickened silicone layers after that. 

Thanks Milk, looks like people have their own preferences on sealing the clay.

I just wanted to echo what George stated.
Go with George's advice he works in the FX industry in hollywood. Real experience.

Thanks, I've got the sealer on order.

for a silicone mold you really dont need shellac ..a coat of crystal clear just helps preserve the integrity of the softer clay. not necessarily as needed ..more for chevant, but it doesnt hurt to be safe. even on small dish molds of lets say something like teeth ...i hit em with a little Crystal Clear ..makes the clay a little easier to pull out of the mold

Thanks again for the advice, just waiting for the sealer to arrive, then I can get on with the mould.