I created a hook with my fingers!

Step 1: Creating Mold

I mixed alginate with water in a 1:2 ratio and stirred until they reached a smooth consistency. Then I poured the solution into a silicon cup and inserted my fingers in it. After about 10 minutes, the mold has solidified and I was able to pull my fingers out.

Step 2: Plaster

To create the actual fingers, I mixed the plaster with water in a 1:2 ratio. However, after a few minutes, I could clearly see water start to separate with the plaster layer. This was a sign that the plaster was too diluted. To solve this, I mixed another solution in 1:1 ratio, and with this thicker consistency, the fingers were starting to mold!

To attach the hook, I inserted a screw head down and hung it above with tape, as shown below.

Step 3: Repeat and Post Process

To create a replica of the fingers, I had to create another mold as my first one dried out. I repeated the previous two steps and let the model dry over night. However, as I was wiggling the mold, trying to pull the new model out, tragedy occurred. I heard the sound of what seemed to be a slight crack, and as I pulled the screw out, my intuition was proven and I was left with 1.5 finger. Nevertheless, the two pieces were relatively complete so I ended up fixing the issue by supergluing them together.

I post-processed the fingers by spraying a layer of clear coat over them. The final products had two different colors, which I believe is because of the plaster I used. I could clearly see the details of my fingers, from the nail bed to the creases. Here’s what the final product looked like.

Cost Analysis

• Alginate: I used about 16 oz, which approximates to $8.00
• Plaster: I used about 4 oz of plaster, which approximates to $1.50
• Screw: 2 screws, at a rate of $5 per 100 screws, which approximates to $0.10
• Time: I spent approximately 3 hours on this project, at $15/hr, labor costs $45.
• Total: $54.60.