For the molding & casting assignment, I molded and cast my fingers. This was my first time molding and casting, and it turned out really fun.
Process
I began by preparing the alginate mold. Following the instructions, I mixed 1.5 oz of alginate and 6.75 oz of water. After thoroughly stirring the mixture, I put my finger in and waited for the mold to solidify, then pulled out my finger.
Figure 1. Alginate
Figure 2. Molding
With the mold ready, I mixed 35g of rockite and 10g of water and poured the liquid into the mold. I also placed a screw in the middle so that later I can easily pull the finger out. A day later, I demolded the first finger, repeated the process again, and produced the second finger.
Figure 3. Rockite
Figure 4. Casting
For post-processing, I spray-painted both fingers and clear-coated them.
Figure 5. Spray-painted Fingers
Figure 6. Clear-coated Fingers
They are now fully dried.
Figure 7. Finished Fingers
Cleaned Workspace
Cost Breakdown
- Raw Material
Alginate – 1 pack : $11.99
Rockite – 1 pack : $6.95
Spray Paint – 1 bottle : $6.78
- Labor
2 Hours – $10 per hour : $20
Total Cost: $45.72
Reflection
Through this project, I cast two fingers and learned several lessons about molding and casting. It’s important to fully mix the powder to produce a smoother mold. Also, be careful handling the dried cast since it’s quite brittle. Overall, this was a meaningful and enjoyable experience, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped along the way.
