Hi everyone!
I learned how to create a mold and cast something from that mold this week. Specifically, I molded my index and middle finger and created a fairly realistic model of it!
Molding
To create my mold, I used an alginate molding powder. From recommendations provided in class, the ratio I used to create the mix was 4.5:1 from water to alginate in grams. Afterwards, I used a popsicle stick to mix the solution until the consistency was like pancake batter. I then stuck my two fingers into the mold and held it there for around 5 minutes. The alginate hardened but felt sponge-like. I pulled my fingers out of the mixture as soon as the mold had the texture of slime.
Getting ready to weigh!
Alginate used.
Casting
With the mold formed, I began to make the concrete used to cast my fingers. I used rockite powder and like before, I followed recommended ratios given from class, specifically 1:3.5 from water to rockite in grams. I continued mixing with a popsicle stick until there were no more clumps of powder in the mixture. Then, I poured the liquid into my mold and let it sit for 24 hours.
Poured casting material into mold.
Placed a 3D printed overhang to hold screws that would fuse with the casting.
Post Processing
To give my fingers a finished look, I first lightly sanded them with 150 and 180 grit sandpaper. There were small bumps on the surface of my fingers, so sanding them helped remove it. I had to be careful to not ruin the shape of my original finger. After cleaning them up, I chose to spray paint my fingers with a nice deep brownish color and add a clear coat. Overall, casting and molding is a very easy process that I can definitely do again!
Getting ready to sand.
Finished product!
Cost Estimate
| Item | Cost |
| Alginate Powder | $11.99 |
| Rockite Powder | $8.49 |
| Popsicle Sticks | $4.99 |
| Clear Silicone Molding Cups | $9.99 |
| Spray Paint | $9.96 |
| Clear Coat | $6.19 |
| Total Cost | $51.61 |
Cleaned Workspace
