For this project I created a mold of my pointer finger and used plaster to create two identical finger hooks using the same mold.

Process:

I created a simple mold by mixing alginate and water. They had a 1:1 volume ratio. I stirred it for about 5 minutes until it had a smooth consistentsy. Then I placed both my middle and pointer fingers in the pot and waited for about another 5 minutes. Here is a photo I took of Brendan doing his:

Once the mold reached a pretty solid point and pulled out my fingers and started making the plaster.

I created the plaster by mixing a 2:1 ratio of plaster powder to water. I poured it in the two finger molds as seen in the picture below and added nail hung by tape so they wouldn’t fall in. 

After waiting 30 minutes, I pulled out both fingers and placed them on a foam board. Then I made more plaster and placed it in the same mold. After waiting 30 minutes, I took out the new fingers. However, this time I don’t like the plaster of middle finger had set correctly so the top of broke. I only ended up having 2 identical pointer fingers and 1 middle finger.

For post processing I tried to clean up the bottom edges that had extra plaster and I also spray-painted the fingers yellow. For some reason the spray paint on the middle finger did not turn out good.

Here is my final finger hooks:

Cost Estimation:

Material (Plaster,  Alginate, Spray Paint) = 8/10 + 9/10 + 6/10 = $3

Labor = 2hrs x $15 = $30

Machine Time (Container?) N/A

Total Cost: $33

Reflection:

I really enjoyed this project as it was very simple but very unique. I never realized how easy it was to make a mold if you have the right materials and patience. I wish I would have waited longer before taking out my other middle finger so that I would have more hooks, but lesson learned. Also, I really appreciate how detailed the mold is. Also I like how the small bumps in the mold are identical in both fingers.