Getting a latex positive (hand) from a silicone negative mold.
Hi there,
We just cast a hand using Body Double Silk, but have now realized that we need the positive/prop to be made of latex. Since we have a negative silicone mold, what is the easiest way for us to get to a plaster (hydrocal) negative mold to begin skinning with latex?
We were planning on doing a hydrocal positive, and then making a hydrocal neg from that positive, but that's not something I've done before, and I don't know if there's a better way, or anything I need to know to avoid disasters. Does this make sense?
The final piece is a detailed hand cast from an actor, which is larger than my hand.. I'll be wearing it, giving it a look of loose skin, which the actor will be picking at on the palm, until a prosthetic claw pokes through the skin. This is why we decided latex would work better than silicone for the final, as it stretches and tears in a more skin-like way..
Any ideas/thoughts/advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
We just cast a hand using Body Double Silk, but have now realized that we need the positive/prop to be made of latex. Since we have a negative silicone mold, what is the easiest way for us to get to a plaster (hydrocal) negative mold to begin skinning with latex?
We were planning on doing a hydrocal positive, and then making a hydrocal neg from that positive, but that's not something I've done before, and I don't know if there's a better way, or anything I need to know to avoid disasters. Does this make sense?
The final piece is a detailed hand cast from an actor, which is larger than my hand.. I'll be wearing it, giving it a look of loose skin, which the actor will be picking at on the palm, until a prosthetic claw pokes through the skin. This is why we decided latex would work better than silicone for the final, as it stretches and tears in a more skin-like way..
Any ideas/thoughts/advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
Post edited by Seth Smith on
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Best Answer
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Chris Ellerby
Admin
Have you tried casting the latex inside the silicone mold? It would not be able to dwell and form a skin like you would in a stone mold, but you might be able to pour/brush a thin layer on the inside and, air dry it, and repeat that process a few times. Unless the silicone causes the latex to bead up on you. If that's the case, thickening the latex a bit with some cabosil might help.
Otherwise I would try casting a 2 part self-skinning urethane foam inside the silicone mold, then make a stone mold of that. You could also try casting the hand in alginate prior to making the stone mold, but demolding it from the silicone may be difficult due to how fragile alginate can be. You would probably have to cut the silicone.
/Chris5
Answers
Thanks a lot for the advice. Might look into the urethane foam.
I haven't tried the latex in the silicone, because I assumed it wouldn't stick, and would bead like you said.. We just cast a stone positive from the mold, so once I take that out, I might try to do a latex one straight from the silicone just in case.. I have a release spray for the silicone that is meant for silicone in silicone, but since you allow the spray to dry, I wonder if it might create enough of a barrier to allow the latex to skin.. I might try that too.
Thanks again! Super valuable input!
Paul