Page 161 - Casting of Angels- Dave Parvin

157

However, for other applications bubbles. But the third was the correct is that once the MoldGel SILFREE
in which the alginate must stay in ratio and even Baby Bear could has set up, it isn’t initially as tough as
place on vertical surfaces, the spread it on Goldie without trapping other alginates. But by the time the
consistency of the alginate must be bubbles on her skin and it would stay mother mold is finished it will have
just right. In my version of put at a thickness of three sixteenths firmed up considerably.
“Goldielocks and the Three Bears,” to one quarter inch (about 0.2 to 0.25 O.K., so MoldGel SILFREE is
the three bears had decided to cms); i.e., just right. more economical, safer both for the
become life casting experts. After For the other kind of mold used user and the environment, and is just
purchasing and viewing my dvd in life casting where a body part such somewhat different, the real question
titled “Casting the Female Torso,” as a hand is simply inserted into a is, can one produce the highest
subscribing to Sculpture Journal, and container of alginate, the correct ratio quality castings? In photograph #2,
joining the Association of Life is actually counter intuitive. One my assistant Audra and I had covered
Casters International, they were might very well think that in this a volunteer with a layer of MoldGel
ready to give it a try. Following my case, the runniest mixture that will SILFREE Sloset. Notice that it is
advise in “One Artist’s Successful still jell would be desirable. After all, staying in place without an
Approach To Finding Perfect wouldn’t that allow any air bubbles significant dripping. The alginate
Models,” SJ, September 2004, they to rise to the surface leaving behind a remained in a workable state for
got Goldielocks to get barefoot all flawless mold? Well, one might thing about 5 1/2 minutes when it began to
over and be their first subject. But so but one would be wrong. If the jell over about a minute. Audra and I
alas, they hadn’t paid attention to the solution is runny enough for bubbles did not have to change our normal
dvd in which I state that to rise, they get trapped by the casting procedure at all. Photograph
water/alginate ration must be fairly undersides any horizontal areas on #3 shows the plaster positive made
precise. In their first try, the solution whatever body part one is casting. from the MoldGel SILFREE
was too runny and it all dripped off. These bubbles result in “outies” in impression. The detail was excellent
In the second, it was too thick and the final product. In this case, thin and there were only a few small
they were unable to apply it smoothly enough to wet the skin completely “outies” that were not the fault of the
and evenly. Fortunately, Mamma but thick enough that any air bubbles alginate.
Bear suggested that they review my do not rise is just right. ArtMolds plans on making
dvd and they weighed the third batch Getting back to MoldGel SILFREE in at least three versions,
and it was just right. What a great SILFREE, while the recommended fast, regular, and slow. I will be
story, my two little grandsons just ratio of one to three works for casting experimenting with all of these and
love it! in a container, I would prefer a will provide further details in next
When you want alginate to stay thicker solution of about using 3 1/2 month’s SJ. Let’s see: safer, more
in place on a vertical surface, such as ounces of MoldGel Silfree per pound economical, and excellent quality,
bodies or faces, it is important that of water (100 grams per 454 grams). seems like progress to me.
you determine the proper ratio and For faces and bodies, I found 4
use it every time. There was a time in ounces of MoldGel SILFREE per
my early days of life casting that I pound of water (114 grams per 454
would continue to add alginate as I grams) to work very well. At these
mixed until it seemed right. The ratios, it takes less MoldGel
problem was that it took too long. SILFREE than any other alginates I
Even most slow setting alginates jell have used, about 20 to 25% less,
in five to seven minutes which isn’t making it more economical.
much time especially if you are But MoldGel SILFREE is very
attempting a difficult casting. A different than other alginates in
much better way is to weigh out the several ways. As soon as you start
correct ratio of alginate to water and mixing it, you will notice that that it
mix with a high speed drill. The just seems more organic. This is
correct ratio varies somewhat with because it is. Rather than use a
different brands and it can take some mineral, silica, as a filler, it uses
experimentation to determine what is “food grade ingredients.” Also, any
just right. other alginates that I have used have
So exactly what is “just right?” almost no transition state, they are
Referring back to the three bears, in liquid and then in just a few seconds
the first case, there was too little are solid. MoldGel SILFREE jells
alginate or too much water and the over about a full minute’s time. I
solution all ran off Goldie. In the found this to be very helpful. When I
second, there was too much alginate noticed that it was firming up, I knew
or too little water making it that it was time to apply the cotton or Photo 3
impossible to spread it on Goldie cheese cloth to bind the alginate to
uniformly and without trapping air the plaster layer. The next difference Sculpture Journal – June 2007
2