Smooth on plastics

[LogansRunner]

Hey guys, so I want to cast my "master" wolverine claw up and I want to order some resin from smooth on.
Is there a recommended resin I should buy? I've been thinking of going with the Feather Lite stuff to cast it in, I'd also like to know how much I can get out of each casting. So if I buy one package of this resin how many claws should that be good for?
-Thanks in advance for the help.
EDIT:
So if I buy a pint unit of the Feather Lite, how many claws can I get out of that, about? Same for the Gallon unit.

 

[propsculptor]

Many people Post Smooth-On as a Supplier source, Smooth-On is VERY EXPENSIVE, I suggest that you use other suppliers, you will save a lot of money and have some money left over for future supplies rather than spending too much at One place.

Here are some suppliers that I use and the prices are much better, I suggest you compare prices at each place to get the best savings...

=================================================

http://fxsupplies.com/

7347 Ethel Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91605

Telephone: (800) 842-4203
Local: (818) 765-5161
Fax: (818) 765-5847
sales@fxsupplies.com Orders
credit@fxsupplies.com Returns and Exchanges
customercare@fxsupplies.com Customer Service

(Various Supplies, Books, & Videos)

=================================================

http://chavant.com/

5043 Industrial Road
Farmingdale, NJ 07727

Telephone: (732)751-0003
(1-800-CHAVANT toll free)
Fax: (732)751-1982
info@chavant.com General Information

(For Chavant Clay, Used to sculpt Robocop's Armor.)

==================================================

http://www.lagunaclay.com/

14400 Lomitas Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91746

Telephone: (800) 452-4862

(Suppliers of WED clay, and other sculpture materials)

==================================================

http://www.monsterclub.com/
(The Motion Picture F/X Co.)

123 South Victory Blvd
Burbank, CA 91502

Telephone: (818)563-2366
Fax: (818)563-2389

(Various Supplies, Plastics, Foam products, Books, & Videos)

===================================================

http://www.bjbenterprises.com/

14791 Franklin Avenue
Tustin, California 92780

Telephone714) 734-8450
Fax: (714) 734-8929

(Foam Products, Silicones, Epoxy)

====================================================

http://www.artstuf.com/
(Dougless & Sturgess, Inc.)

730 Bryant Street
San Francisco, California - 94107

Telephone: 1-888-ART-STUF
Fax: 1(510)235-4211

(A lot of Various Supplies...)

====================================================


<div class='quotetop'>(LogansRunner @ Aug 24 2006, 03:15 PM) [snapback]1306563[/snapback]</div>

Hey guys, so I want to cast my "master" wolverine claw up and I want to order some resin from smooth on.
Is there a recommended resin I should buy? I've been thinking of going with the Feather Lite stuff to cast it in, I'd also like to know how much I can get out of each casting. So if I buy one package of this resin how many claws should that be good for?
-Thanks in advance for the help.
[/b]

 

[LogansRunner]

Thanks.
I just checked out fxsupplies, and monster club to see if they carry resin and I didn't see it on the sites. I think I'm searching wrong or somthing... Can you please post a link to the resin section on whichever site that carries it, I'm going to check the other sites now, then recheck the two previous sites..
EDIT: I did just find some casting resin on makeupkits.com but it was almost $80 and I don't want to pay that much.

 

[exoray]

I agree the smooth-on is a little overprice, thier clear resin is the best of the best... But as far as the generic casting resins I really don't see any superior results over the alternatives...

Do you have a Blick (Dick Blick) in your area?

They carry Por-A-Kast Mark II (in store at least at my local one) and IMO it's just as good as any of the smooth-on resins and cheaper...

Out of stock online unless you need 2 gallons...

http://www.dickblick.com/zz335/08/

Another alternative is Alumilite, many of the larger independent "Hobby Stores" carry it... It's a much thicker resin so it acts differently...

www.alumilite.com

 

[ioncanon]

You get get 2 gallons kits for around 70$ at smoothon...is that bad?

 

[replicaprops]

I use smooth-on exclusivley and my cheap resin of choice for basicly everything is smooth-cast 321
It is cheap. 2 gallons for $80
It cures bubble free with out pressure pot.
It is forgiving with bad mix ratios
It is off white and easy to color with their so strong tints
If your mold has a glass smooth surface, so will your castings
Demold time is about 20 min
It has low exotherm, which helps increase mold life

 

[gobler]

I shop here from time to time.
http://www.silpak.com
Prices are good.

Cheers,
Jeff

 

[mtpalin]

I was wondering if someone might speak to the realtive merits of the different types of resins; epoxy, urethane, polyester, etc. Are there specific applications which are best suited to a specific type of resin? For prop making is there a minimum hardness rating that would be advisable? Are there specific fillers/finishers (like bondo or red putty) that should be used with a specific type of resin?

Sorry about all the questions, but this is a fascinating topic to me. I'm sure I could read up on this, but I'm particularly interested in the knowledge/opinions of experienced producers.

Many thanks.

 

[exoray]

<div class='quotetop'>(TheKeeper @ Aug 25 2006, 06:57 PM) [snapback]1307161[/snapback]</div>

I was wondering if someone might speak to the realtive merits of the different types of resins; epoxy, urethane, polyester, etc.[/b]

Epoxy: great glue and great fiberglassing resin but generally expensive
Urethane: great casting resin
polyester: ok fiberglassing resin and pretty horrible casting resin but it's cheap



<div class='quotetop'></div>

Are there specific applications which are best suited to a specific type of resin?[/b]

Yep

<div class='quotetop'></div>

For prop making is there a minimum hardness rating that would be advisable?[/b]

Average run of the mill urethane casting resins will work for most things, but depending on the part you might have other requirements

<div class='quotetop'></div>

Are there specific fillers/finishers (like bondo or red putty) that should be used with a specific type of resin?[/b]

Personal preference, everything from Bondo to plaster of paris

 

[SgtFang]

For something as delicate as a Wolvie claw you might want to contact Gersan Ind. in NC.

They make a great resin called BL-55 that cures to something close to the plastic in a margarine bowl. GREAT flexibility in thin castings.

They don't have a website that I know of, but you can find their number on Google.

Good Luck.

-Sarge

 

[LogansRunner]

<div class='quotetop'>(SgtFang @ Aug 26 2006, 02:15 AM) [snapback]1307200[/snapback]</div>

For something as delicate as a Wolvie claw you might want to contact Gersan Ind. in NC.

They make a great resin called BL-55 that cures to something close to the plastic in a margarine bowl. GREAT flexibility in thin castings.

They don't have a website that I know of, but you can find their number on Google.

Good Luck.

-Sarge
[/b]

This sounds like it might be what I need, have you worked with it before? Does it have lots of bubbles or anything which would take away from the piece?... Do you know the cost off the back, or would I have to call?

<div class='quotetop'>(darthscifi @ Aug 25 2006, 12:21 AM) [snapback]1306601[/snapback]</div>

I use smooth-on exclusivley and my cheap resin of choice for basicly everything is smooth-cast 321
It is cheap. 2 gallons for $80
It cures bubble free with out pressure pot.
It is forgiving with bad mix ratios
It is off white and easy to color with their so strong tints
If your mold has a glass smooth surface, so will your castings
Demold time is about 20 min
It has low exotherm, which helps increase mold life
[/b]

This sounds like it might work for me too.
Also, does anyone know how much resin I might need for a set of 6 claws?
-Thanks

 

[replicaprops]

Real easy way to figure that out.
Fill a measure cup till it over flows with water, then submerge the claws in it. When you do it will displace the water and after you remove the claws you can see how much water spilled out. Divide that into 2 gallons and you have your answer

 

[mtpalin]

Thanks for the great info exoray. Hope I didn't take the thread too far off course... :confused

 

[wyrwolff]

<div class='quotetop'>(propsculptor @ Aug 24 2006, 10:27 PM) [snapback]1306571[/snapback]</div>

Many people Post Smooth-On as a Supplier source, Smooth-On is VERY EXPENSIVE, I suggest that you use other suppliers, you will save a lot of money and have some money left over for future supplies rather than spending too much at One place.
[/b]

Smooth-On may be a little more expensive, but they've always had fresh product when I've ordered from them. Our local supplier in San Francisco, Douglas & Sturgess, has provided crap 3 or 4 times out of 10 that any of us from Hi-Impact have picked stuff up from them. You can't beat ordering directly from the manufacturer for freshness As well, Smooth-On has TONS of information on the specs of their products. Much more than I've seen any other supplier provide so far (Silpak, GI, Vagabond). Silpak and Vagabond have both be very slow in my experience, and GI hard to nail down direct info. They also have a HUGE variety of products available, something to suit any project. Smooth-On has always been on the ball, and I continue to order exclusively from them.

Jesse

 

[propsculptor]

I'm glad you have had good experiences with them, but I've never had problems with any of the other suppliers I've used over the 18+ Years I've been a Lab Tech & Special Make-up Effects Artist, I can say that with Smooth-On Products, I worked on a very Big Commercial Job using Dragon-Skin & we had numerous problems with the materials, and their Tech Support was useless. Their solution was to buy More material from them... and try again.

For all my other materials I usually order directly from the Manufacturers, such as Silicones, Inc., Circle-K Products, and many other Silicone suppliers that do sell to both individuals and compaines.

I never really ordered much from Douglas & Sturgess even when I lived in Northern California so I never really had any problems with them.

<div class='quotetop'>(wyrwolff @ Aug 26 2006, 11:57 PM) [snapback]1307854[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>(propsculptor @ Aug 24 2006, 10:27 PM) [snapback]1306571[/snapback]

Many people Post Smooth-On as a Supplier source, Smooth-On is VERY EXPENSIVE, I suggest that you use other suppliers, you will save a lot of money and have some money left over for future supplies rather than spending too much at One place.
[/b]

Smooth-On may be a little more expensive, but they've always had fresh product when I've ordered from them. Our local supplier in San Francisco, Douglas & Sturgess, has provided crap 3 or 4 times out of 10 that any of us from Hi-Impact have picked stuff up from them. You can't beat ordering directly from the manufacturer for freshness As well, Smooth-On has TONS of information on the specs of their products. Much more than I've seen any other supplier provide so far (Silpak, GI, Vagabond). Silpak and Vagabond have both be very slow in my experience, and GI hard to nail down direct info. They also have a HUGE variety of products available, something to suit any project. Smooth-On has always been on the ball, and I continue to order exclusively from them.

Jesse
[/b][/quote]

 

[Coinprop]

I think Smooth-on has great quality on there stuff. And the price i good.
They are always first with things (almost) and they are inovatiove.
Did I say they have great quality?