Lifecast in something harder than Ultracal

Junklady

New Member

• Sep 2, 2014

• #1

Ugh, I feel dumb for asking this, because I feel like the answer is in front of my face and I just can't find it.

I've completed 3 lifecasts of my friend's face and I'm preparing to do a full head cast this weekend, but I don't want to use Ultracal 30. All three have broken in one way other another. So, I'm looking for a harder material and the method of which to use it.

If anyone can point me in the direction of a video or other post, I would be greatly appreciative. I also have the Special Makeup Effects book 2nd Edition by Todd Debreceni and if it's there and I just can't find it, I could always use a page # to look at.

Thank you!

 

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Buzzkill

New Member

• Sep 2, 2014

• #2

it's way more expensive but a platinum silicone mold with a resin cast might be your best bet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEUYVi52334

at the 7:00 mark you see the strength of the cast

 

Howat Props

Active Member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #3

you could use herculite, its an alpha plaster. Its pretty strong.

http://www.specialplasters.co.uk/index.php?_a=product&product_id=20

 

pitchforknumb

Sr Member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #4

You could also use epoxy, and back it up with free form air for a nice light head casting. I agree that buzzkill's way is the best way, and makes it so you can take many castings from that mold. But if you go that way I would do a plaster cast out of the alginate mold, make sure it's a nice accurate mold, clean it up, and then do the silicone mold.

 

PoopaPapaPalps

Master Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Sep 3, 2014

• #5

Cement.

 

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Buzzkill

New Member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #6

excellent idea!

 

Junklady

New Member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #7

Buzzkill said:

it's way more expensive but a platinum silicone mold with a resin cast might be your best bet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEUYVi52334

at the 7:00 mark you see the strength of the cast

Click to expand...

I think this will work! Thanks!

And I'm still looking at using an alpha plaster like Smooth-On duoMatrix. There are a billion ways to achieve one thing, I just gotta figure out my budget.

 

woodman

Well-Known Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Sep 4, 2014

• #8

If you weigh and mix your ultracal properly it will be very durable. Ultracal is best mixed at 35ml to 100grams water. I weigh it in 1000gram batches. If you add an acrylic strengthened like Acryl 60 with a mix of 100 Acryl-250 water-1000 stone and mechanically mix it with a flat disc for 5 min it will be like steel.

 

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OldSkoolEffects

Well-Known Member

• Sep 4, 2014

• #9

woodman said:

If you weigh and mix your ultracal properly it will be very durable. Ultracal is best mixed at 35ml to 100grams water. I weigh it in 1000gram batches. If you add an acrylic strengthened like Acryl 60 with a mix of 100 Acryl-250 water-1000 stone and mechanically mix it with a flat disc for 5 min it will be like steel.

Click to expand...

I agree. If you're having issues with Ultra being fragile, I'd have to first ask if you're sure you're mixing everything in the correct amounts per the instructions.

 

Junklady

New Member

• Sep 4, 2014

• #10

I mostly break them because I mess up everything the first, second, or third time. First I didn't use the correctly sealer and releaser. Then I didn't have a proper method of opening it and the third time I can't remember what happened, but I broke off the nose ...probably a releasing problem. Now I have learned from my mistakes, I am waaaaaay more confident. I'm also wanting to try out different materials and methods...the more advance techniques.

Try again, fail better is my motto.