This week, I made my fingers out of plaster to hold things on the wall. This was my first time doing molding and casting, so it was quite the rush. Let me take you through the process.

The Process:

First, I created the alginate for molding by mixing together approximately 75g alignate powder and 250g water. I placed my index finger into the solution, and kept it in for a little under 10 minutes, once it had hardened and shaped to my finger.

Molded alginate

Then, I created the plaster solution using approximately 30 grams plaster and 50 grams water, and poured it into the alginate. Before the plaster dried completely, I placed a screw into the top of the plaster in order for the finger to be able to be screwed into a wall.

Placing screw into plaster

After about 30 minutes, the plaster was hardened and I was able to remove the first finger without breaking the alginate, so I repeated the steps of creating the plaster, pouring it into the mold, and placing a screw at the top. After another 30 minutes, when the plaster dried, I was not able to remove this finger as easily, so I broke through the alginate to obtain it.

Breaking through the alginate

Now, I had two plain plaster fingers.

Fingers before painting.

The fingers had bumps along the outside and were not completely smooth. This is likely reflective of the alginate not being completely mixed or having a proper ratio, or the same issues but with the plaster. This is something I would need to adjust in any future casting endeavors.

Next, I spray painted the fingers with a gray coat, and then let it dry for 2 hours before applying a final clear protective coat on the fingers.

Applying gray coat and clear coat

…and once they dried, my fingers were complete!

 

Reflection:

This assignment felt more straightforward and simple than some other projects, and I enjoyed the process. The main point of reflection I have is in the quality of the outside of the plaster mold, as there were clear bumps on the outside that were consistent in both designs. This shows that it was most likely an issue with the alginate not being properly mixed or not using the proper ratio. However, it could also be a result of improperly mixed plaster. For my next time molding and casting, I will ensure to check the brand for the recommended ratios in order to create the most accurate alginate mold as possible.

 

Cost Estimate:

1 pack of alginate mix – $9.00

1 pack of plaster mix – $12.25

Parts of a can of Spray paint/Clear coat – $5.00 (estimate)

OEDK Material Costs (Silicone containers, Tape, Screws) – $10.00 (estimate)

OEDK Overhead Cost (Electricity, equipment, payroll for workers, etc.) – $20.00 (estimate)

Labor Cost (3hr at $20/hr) – $60.00

Total Cost: $116.25