Urethane Casting Questions

[SlasherCrafter]

I have decided to go with urethane rubber as my casting medium for making my own Don Post/Jigsaw Pig Mask, but I have two questions in regards, generally, to this casting material as this will be a first-hand experience that needs some planning ahead:
Question #1. Does urethane rubber age well and require less maintenance work than latex?
Question #2. Is there a urethane rubber that has a shore flexibility and stretch similar to shores in mask-casting latex?
If someone would be kind enough help me out, it would help me a lot, and it will VERY much appreciated.

-Sincerely Yours, SC

 

[xeno]

#1 - Urethane rubber doesn't dry out like latex, but still depends on the quality of the urethane, you will know after a few years.
#2 - Just look at the shore numbers and see if they are close, but that does not account for strength when stretching, again depends on the quality.

 

[SlasherCrafter]

#1 - Urethane rubber doesn't dry out like latex, but still depends on the quality of the urethane, you will know after a few years.
#2 - Just look at the shore numbers and see if they are close, but that does not account for strength when stretching, again depends on the quality.

Thanks for your help! I read on google that mask-latex rubber has a shore to 20-30, which I will just say I'll go for a 25 shore urethane rubber as my discission. And I chose urethane as my casting medium because the complexity of constructing the mold from a rigid 3D-printed sculpture, I decided to make a silicone jacket mold supported with a fiberglass mother mold, which that meant I needed to use a different casting material to cast my mask out of. Do you happen to know of a quality brand that would carry a urethane rubber composition that can handle sweat and oils from the skin? I am now trying to find a urethane rubber so when I cast a mask, it can be worn for a lifetime and I won't have worry about oils breaking down the mask. Or isn't it already oil and sweat resistant? I am kind of lost in where to look for something this ideal. Do you have any suggestions?

 

[xeno]

Thanks for your help! I read on google that mask-latex rubber has a shore to 20-30, which I will just say I'll go for a 25 shore urethane rubber as my discission. And I chose urethane as my casting medium because the complexity of constructing the mold from a rigid 3D-printed sculpture, I decided to make a silicone jacket mold supported with a fiberglass mother mold, which that meant I needed to use a different casting material to cast my mask out of. Do you happen to know of a quality brand that would carry a urethane rubber composition that can handle sweat and oils from the skin? I am now trying to find a urethane rubber so when I cast a mask, it can be worn for a lifetime and I won't have worry about oils breaking down the mask. Or isn't it already oil and sweat resistant? I am kind of lost in where to look for something this ideal. Do you have any suggestions?

You might want to look at Smooth-On the have loads of information, and video's.
not saying it is the best, but information will get you going

Mold Making & Casting Materials | Rubbers, Plastics, Foams & More!

Smooth-On manufactures industry-leading two-component materials such as silicone, urethane rubber, urethane plastic, urethane foam, epoxy resin, epoxy coatings and adhesives.

www.smooth-on.com

 

[SlasherCrafter]

You might want to look at Mold Making & Casting Materials | Rubbers, Plastics, Foams & More!, the have loads of information, and video's.
not saying it is the best, but information it gets you going

Ok, Thank you VERY much for your support! I may need to message you later on for clarification in need be, if it's okay? Once again, Thank you for your help! I wish there was a handshake emoji, LOL

 

[xeno]

There are a lot of people here with a lot of experience
And search Youtube

 

[SlasherCrafter]

There are a lot of people here with a lot of experience
And search Youtube

I know, and sometimes, it's like there are certain things we already knew, but there are some videos that don't tell us necessarily given details on certain things we want to know, or if it's even possible in a certain scenario, kind of like where was in, for example. And I knew better to trust google sometimes, because the answers I look for don't tell me squat, depending on the question.

 

[JPH]

I like using Task 16 urethane rubber for slush casting things that roughly hold their shape, but are also a little flexible.

I just made some Daredevil helmets, and poured 4 oz into the mold and gently swished it around to fill the inside of the mold. Add another 4 oz, and try to spread evenly inside. I think I did four pours, 16 oz.

When you have something that has a larger inside than outside (no, not a TARDIS) I'd recommend Task 16 if the inside is only slightly larger.

If alot larger, Id use Dragonskin or Eco-flex.

You can use silicone on silicone, just make sure one half has cured, then put some release agent between the old layer and a new layer. Folks make 2 part molds all the time, using the same silicone for two halves of a mold.

If you have a Reynolds Advanced Materials nearby, I recommend visiting and tell them what you want.

I also made some green lantern mask, and the Task 16 works great, but the silicones are (semi) transparent, which gives for a great effect, saves in glow-in-the-dark powder, but it feels like sushi on your face!

Edited for clarity

 

[SlasherCrafter]

This is a 3-D digital sculpture that I plan to 3D- Print, and mold into a overhead rubber mask, but I didn't want it to be made of latex rubber as it could deteriorate and wouldn't withstand the test of time, but I'm trying my best to look for a rubber material that can be casted into a silicone jacket mold (due to the complexity of the sculpture), would have more pros than cons with it being able to imitate latex rubber. I also wanted the mold to be able to last as well, as it will be my source to make another mask for a standby replacement. I hope this comment and picture can give anyone a better understanding with what casting material I am trying to find. I am sorry if I wasn't being clear with what material I am trying to use for this application, but I sometimes have words that are difficult to express in texting . I'm lost at this point with so many materials to choose from from different companies, but I don't know of something that fits my caliper. If there's any more help to give on the subject, it would be a big help.

 

[SlasherCrafter]

Update: I went down the list of products from various polymer-specialty brands; I am going to say, with certainty, that I will aim for Flex-70 from Alumilite. Apparently this brand of urethane doesn't like sunlight because of UV rays, which means an additive is required in the mixture to slow down the UV-degradation of the casting. I don't know if Smooth-On products are compatible with Alumilite products, but I will check into the Sun Devil UV inhibitor additive and/or UVO pigments by Smooth-On. And with the pig mask I'm working on, it's going to take me approximately 2-3 32 Oz. kits, at most, for this application.