I've used Sculpey before for making the main piece to be cast - it works fine.
If you're going with a fatter puppet you might want to add deadener to the list. You paint in a skin of Platsil, then fill it with a mix of Platsil and deadener to keep it softer and more flexible.
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Hey Gene -
I'm not sure about the Van Aken clay or Sculpey. I've worked a lot with Sculpey but never for making plaster molds from or casting silicone from. I'm not saying that I know they won't work, I just don't know. I only use Chavant NSP clay for the sculpture when I'm planning to cast silicone. Van Aken clay for the mold making process I'm sure will be fine.
The mold making process can be identical as it is for making a mold for casting foam latex so, you can review the list of things I used in my mold making tutorial. (brushes, burlap, Vaseline, etc.) Here's a link to that...
http://www.animateclay.com/index.php/community/videos/93-isomer/video/219-Mold+Making+Tutorial+Part+1
Don't forget you'll need something to color the Psycho Paint because when you order that, it's just the base for the paint you're getting. So plan on getting either the Silc-Pig tints or (cheaper option) acrylic paints to color it with. If you do decide to go with acrylics, I like to use Createx airbrush colors. The thicker tube acrylics like you would use to paint a picture with might be harder to mix into the Psycho Paint.
And lastly, the mold straps are needed but, there's no pressure or heat involved so, you could also use spring clamps or bungee cords or whatever to keep the mold closed... unless you plan on trying out using silicone expanding foam, (Soma-Foama) THAT you would need to keep the mold closed tight for.
As you work, Please post photos of your sculpture and let me know how large it is. Different sized puppets require different thinking, like if a puppet that has a fat belly is only 6 inches tall, just casting in Platsil would be fine - but if that same design were to be made 12 to 18 inches tall, putting foam inside the puppet is going to be a good idea to keep both the weight and cost down.
Cheers! -Ron
I'm not sure about the Van Aken clay or Sculpey. I've worked a lot with Sculpey but never for making plaster molds from or casting silicone from. I'm not saying that I know they won't work, I just don't know. I only use Chavant NSP clay for the sculpture when I'm planning to cast silicone. Van Aken clay for the mold making process I'm sure will be fine.
The mold making process can be identical as it is for making a mold for casting foam latex so, you can review the list of things I used in my mold making tutorial. (brushes, burlap, Vaseline, etc.) Here's a link to that...
http://www.animateclay.com/index.php/community/videos/93-isomer/video/219-Mold+Making+Tutorial+Part+1
Don't forget you'll need something to color the Psycho Paint because when you order that, it's just the base for the paint you're getting. So plan on getting either the Silc-Pig tints or (cheaper option) acrylic paints to color it with. If you do decide to go with acrylics, I like to use Createx airbrush colors. The thicker tube acrylics like you would use to paint a picture with might be harder to mix into the Psycho Paint.
And lastly, the mold straps are needed but, there's no pressure or heat involved so, you could also use spring clamps or bungee cords or whatever to keep the mold closed... unless you plan on trying out using silicone expanding foam, (Soma-Foama) THAT you would need to keep the mold closed tight for.
As you work, Please post photos of your sculpture and let me know how large it is. Different sized puppets require different thinking, like if a puppet that has a fat belly is only 6 inches tall, just casting in Platsil would be fine - but if that same design were to be made 12 to 18 inches tall, putting foam inside the puppet is going to be a good idea to keep both the weight and cost down.
Cheers! -Ron
Sunday, 18 July 2010 05:44