What Casting Materials Can I Use?
Lots of people ask "What casting materials can I use?"
Acceptable casting materials are:
- Plaster of Paris (really too soft for most applications)
- LiquiStone (really perfect for most applications- but hard and stiff)
- Other Gypsum Cements (Hydrocal, Hydrostone- anything over about 6,000 psi strength)
- Forton FG (This fortified gypsum product can be "filled" with various metal powders)
- Silicone (expensive and you MUST use the "platinum catalyzed" silicone or it takes too long to set)
- Urethane (must use very quick setting urethane)
- Chocolate (must be chilled before unmolding- but it works fine)
- Wax (works fine- but be careful- its hot and stays that way for a while)
- Jello (yes, people make jello molds of just about anything and its still safe to eat)
Casting materials with which alginate has problems:
- Acrylic resins (the water in the mold tends to cloud the surface)
- Tin-catalyzed silicone (takes way too long to set up- mold distorts)
- Metals (poured metals boil out the water and destroy the mold quickly)
- Any casting material that would be adversely affected by a moist mold)
We encourage you to experiment and let us know if you find something new. We'd love to share it with the world.
