In this project, I opted for the beginners level assignment because I have very little experience in casting and molding objects.
During class, I created my first mold by mixing 32g alginate and 80 ml of water to create a yogurt consistency. After a quick stir with a popsicle stick, I was then able to put a finger into my mold with a slight curl to create my first finger. After about 5 minutes, the mold set and I started mixing plaster and water with a 2:1 ratio. After around 2 minutes of mixing, I poured the mixture into the mold along with the head of a screw hanging at the end of the mixture so the final product could be a wall hook.
After 24 hours, I returned and was able to pull the finger out easily so I could reuse my mold. I redid the plaster and water mixture, however, I felt that I overdid the water a little because it took longer for the finger to set. Nevertheless, my second finger also came out well after about a day and a half.
The final step is to post process the finger, and I took an exacto knife to carve some excess pieces that were not part of my finger before spray painting both my fingers blue.
Clean workspace:
Cost analysis:
A bag of alginate: $9.95
Plaster of Paris: $8
Blue Spray paint: $10.70
Labor for 2 hours: $30
Total Cost: $58.65