Casting

abcdefg · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2012 3:52 pm **Posts:** 273

For home casting of converted and/or scratch sculpted figures do you recommend resin of metal? There is a review of the Tiranti metal casting kit in the articles pages and that looks very good. I am aware though that resin casting is also possible on a reasonably small scale. I keep seeing references to casting their own figures in WIP threads.

How do people do it?

abcdefg · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2012 3:52 pm **Posts:** 273

And yes, I'm aware about the legal problems-I wouldn't sell converted miniatures

Sithious · **Posted:** Sat Nov 08, 2014 1:48 pm

I have watched many video tutorials on making molds which is the first step regardless of what you cast it in after. Making a good mold with no bubbles, with the proper venting to allow best filling of details. Once you have that, the casting will be easy as getting a small amount of various materials and testing it in you fantastic mold. So it could be resin, Plaster, metal, whatever.

abcdefg · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2012 3:52 pm **Posts:** 273

Thanks for the quick reply. Do you need specific mold materials to allow casting of metal/resin/plaster etc.?
Or will the standard silicone or whatever it is handle all of them?

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Sat Nov 08, 2014 4:55 pm

abcdefg wrote:

Thanks for the quick reply. Do you need specific mold materials to allow casting of metal/resin/plaster etc.?
Or will the standard silicone or whatever it is handle all of them?

yes... then no.
Send for a Smooth-On catalogue.

abcdefg · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2012 3:52 pm **Posts:** 273

So which material would you recommend then to get started?

Ukfreddybear · **Posted:** Sun Nov 09, 2014 11:46 pm

If it is metal casting you want to do then I recommend the Tiranti kit in the article, particularly as you are UK based. They also do resin moulding gear too. Have a good look through their website.

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:08 am

abcdefg wrote:

So which material would you recommend then to get started?

The answer depends on application. For casting miniatures from resin I recommend Sorta Clear from Smooth On. It is easier for me to cut vents if I can see the miniature in the mold. However you need a scientific scale and a vacuum chamber. That is not going to help starting out. Avoid the craft products they are expensive for what you get and have a very poor tear strength.OOMOO has a very low tear strength so I recommend Mold Star 15/slow to start. 50 minute pot life and a 4 hour demold, Low Viscosity so you do not need a vacuum chamber to degass. Most of the gas will float off in four hours demold. You will not need a scale MS15 mixes by volume. You will have to make two part molds you will not be able to cut free like with Sorta Clear. There are dozens of products to choose from in the Smooth On catalogue do not pick something that sets fast or has a short pot life to start.

abcdefg · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2012 3:52 pm **Posts:** 273

Thank you for all the information. I think I'm going to try and get hold of the Tiranti metal casting kit and some of that thermoplastic pressmold material to muck about with. The resin I think is a little beyond me for the moment - perhaps in a few years time. Thanks again for the info

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Mon Nov 10, 2014 2:37 pm

abcdefg wrote:

Thank you for all the information. I think I'm going to try and get hold of the Tiranti metal casting kit and some of that thermoplastic pressmold material to muck about with. The resin I think is a little beyond me for the moment - perhaps in a few years time. Thanks again for the info

Send for the catalogue and watch every video you can.Good luck.

abcdefg · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2012 3:52 pm **Posts:** 273

Thank you!

Casting

Who is online