Do you also tap/shake your mold after you have poured in the Ultracal to make sure it's settles into what you are casting? I ask because a friend used a vibrating table when he did his mold castings. He was also making molds for casting metal. I was wondering if you would use the same thing with what you are doing.

femm

I've found I get MUCH better results vibrating the mix before it's poured. I still shake it some to distribute everything and get any stragglers, but after about 60 seconds of tapping my mixing cup on the table it's almost overkill shaking the poured stuff.

I'm sorry, this is probably a stupid question... but are molds like this for silicone/latex parts? if so, how do you remove the cast product from the mold without breaking the mold?

Yep, they're for silicone (latex would probably be ok, haven't tried it). The molds are as hard (if not harder) than concrete, so you'd be hard pressed to break the mold! I've dropped them from 3ft onto concrete and barely chipped the edges.

Thank you so much! do you mind if i ask where you get your Ultracal, or if it's a specific kind?

Ultracal is a special brand, but it's available a lot of places. I get mine at a local pottery place, but I know MonsterMakers carries it online.

awesome! Thank you very much!!!

No problem! If you have any more questions, let me know.

O.o WUT?
Okay. I have been wanting to learn this for...awhile, but I have some questions.
1. Is the clay wet when you do this?
2. Do you shake the table to distribute the Ultracal or do you secure the sculpt to a diffrent surface?
3. What the HECK is Ultracal? O.o
I'm completley new to this, if you couldn't tell. :/ Any help you can give me is very appreciated.

NOSE!!!!

any suggestions where to get Ultracal for cheap, or what recipe to use to mix it yourself (I hear it's a mix of fine portland cement and straight plaster of paris, but I have no idea as to the proportions!)

I haven't been able to find any local suppliers, and every time I've priced it, the shipping costs are killer... usually at LEAST as much as the Ultracal itself. :/

I personally Googled 'ultracal (my town)' and found a supplier here, it's what I would suggest you do as well. I probably wouldn't be able to justify it if I had to pay shipping, but I go through a lot.

One more question. DXD Is there any place I can get Ultracal that isn't in 50lb increments.

Only online, I know Monster Makers has it in 5lb increments. A 50lb bag lasts me about a year, so if you're doing one suit 5lbs should be plenty.

Oh! I didn't see it on there. I'll have to look again. 50 lbs is just definitely too much for me right now. XD thanks!

Wary late on this. What kind of clay do you use to make your molds?

Stupid thing didn't finish my comment. Very*.

Is it the same type of clay used to sculpt like heads and claws and the like? Wondering if I need to buy multiple types of clay or not... Thank you!

Never late on the tutorials! I use the Jolly King plasteline clay for everything ever. I love how reusable it is, and how flexible its uses are.

Which I have never heard of, so I am googling it and hoping I can find someplace nearby that has it. XD Thank you very much!

I made some pour molds out of Plaster of Paris, and they were god awful. They were brittle and were damaged easily. Is Ultra Cal better than P of P? From your pictures, it looks like it picked up your fingerprints, and that's dang impressive.

your tutorials are awsome! and help alot !!! ^_^

this might be a dumb question but is hydrocal and ultracal the same thing every time i try searching ultracal i get hydrocal in my results

No, but they're often used in the same fashion. Try searching for 'Ultracal 30'. I get mine locally from a pottery supply store, but MonsterMakers sells 5# portions online as well. Shipping a 50# bag is extremely expensive!

okay thanks so much XD