After I was done.. The last step is drying. While hydrocal is an excellent product, it is usually sold in really small packages and can be expensive. You should be fine. The average time that it takes for ultracal to set is about 25 to 35 minutes. I used the finer plaster of paris for rock castings. I've used plaster of paris before, and have had decent success. It might add up over many castings applied to a significant layout, but I'd bet it doesn't add up to more than maybe five or six pounds once it is dry and in place on most layouts. Hydrostone and hydrocal are both gypsum products. . Some LHS's carry these lines, others you have to mail order from. Hydrocal White is versatile gypsum cement that is an excellent choice for making solid and hollow castings. Let the plaster cure overnight. When plaster of Paris sloughs off, it results in dust and chips continously. link to Why is My Well Water Brown All of a Sudden? Always do your own research before making important decisions. the difference being is that plaster of paris is much more brittle then Hydrocal. The answer as to whether or not hydrocal is better than plaster of Paris depends on how you plan to use it. Do not pour any leftover plaster of Paris down the drain. Powered by Invision Community. link to Should You Leave Your Shower Curtain Open or Closed? But, Jeffrey, would that not make the plaster essentially impossible to paint? Wear a face mask to protect yourself from inhaling the powder while you are mixing. While we strive to provide quality information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. What is hydrocal made of? You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses the difference between hydrocal and ultracal. Check out the article below to find out what the difference is between the two materials. Ah to make this very short. Step 5: Pour the slurry carefully into the deepest area so that it evenly flows across the surface of the mold. Hydrocal is also compatible with many color pigments. Aside from that, they are also durable and lightweight. Hydrocal dries rock hard, so it is hard to modify or carve. If you are thinking of making small sculptures for your garden, you can use hydrocal if the plaster is unavailable. On the other hand, hydrocal is a casting plaster that does an excellent job when it comes to holding detail. As compared to plaster of Paris, hydrocal takes a lot more details and they do not slough off so you do not have to deal with lots of dust and chips. If this is the case, you should wait for at least two to three hours or longer depending on the temperature. Hydrocal provides twice the compressive strength of plaster and is ideal for thin and delicate sections where high green strength is needed. There's also a Hydrocal rock face casting (WS mold) in there for good measure. I pour less.. and use a clothstrip on the back for added strength. Micro Mark has a very attractively priced Hydrocal offering (compared with WS). They just re-package the same materials you can buy elseware in bulk. It is 30 to 50 percent harder as compared to other casting plaster. Plaster of Paris (Hilton?) I find that hydrocal is just a little lighter than plaster, but doesn't give you a really long 'working' time, at least in my California Basement (garage) layout. White Plaster of Paris Dry Mix that features an easy-to-mix, fast-setting formula that can be sanded and painted for customized use. Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Used Hydrocal for the first time 2 nights ago for a full back cast of a Gagliano cello. Tough geometry! Posted 11 May 2017 - 09:42 AM. On the other hand, you should add drops of lemon juice if you want to slow the drying time. Display as a link instead, This material is suitable for many color pigments. Hydrocal doesn't take paint easily. All these castings are pre colored. Seal it first. How you mix the plaster will affect the outcome of your cast. Ultracal is gypsum cement that has low absorption and is usually used for case molds. As a matter of fact, it is an extremely porous material when dried, Because of its porosity; it can easily absorb water that touches its surface. We have also shared tips and ideas for both materials. We have found out that ultracal is harder and denser as compared to hydrocal. We have also learned the difference between a hydrocal and plaster of Paris. Hydrocal vs. Plaster of Paris 50312 views. (on the backside of the casting). Check out the rest of the article below for more information. I cut my teeth using p.o.p. In the video, how to mix and use ultracal is discussed. Of course this is the backside.. but its to show you how thin. Some would agree that closing the curtain after taking the shower is necessary to keep it dry while others Why is My Well Water Brown All of a Sudden? Repair your plaster walls with this DAP 25 lbs. In my last case, I had to do a full cast of the cello back attached to ribs and table. We have shared tips and ideas that you can refer to. How do you prepare hydrocal? It's just more expensive than Ultracal, and lacks a few additives. Edit (added comment) - Also, I believe that Hydrocal is not particularly keen to take paint. Mar 12, 2006. Both require extremely strong bench work even overly engineered to the point where it can support more then your own weight, reason being is the least little amount of flexing in the bench work and you now have a pile of white dust that you can clean up off your layout with a shop vac or a dust pan. Is there any difference between hydrocal and plaster of Paris? Hydrocal is my preference for molded outcrops, since it is tough. Your link has been automatically embedded. Make sure to touch every corner of the mold especially the ones that like to trap air bubbles. Some pottery, ceramic, and art supply stores are also selling hydrocal. I'm also a hydrocal fan for plaster casting. You can check out the article for useful tips and ideas that you can refer to when working with plaster of Paris. Waterproofing plaster of Paris is important especially if you will use it outdoors. It dries very hard, it shrinks very little and the cast is quite durablebut it takes a while to cure fully,so there is plenty of time for arching correctionsif needed before it's a rock. It shows how to cast shydrocal white into a plaster mold with the use of a fiberglass mat. But it is awfully good for rock castings. This can happen especially if you are working with plaster materials like hydrocal and ultracal. Should You Leave Your Shower Curtain Open or Closed? Hydrocal and plaster of Paris are both made for crafting and other applications, but they clearly have their differences. But all three DEFINITELY have their uses. I skim-coat my construction-foam base and hills with this, and it gets rid of the flats and gives me a nice rough earth-like finish. link to Why is My Well Water Brown All of a Sudden? Moreover, when making plaster casting, make sure that you use pure water. Some would agree that closing the curtain after taking the shower is necessary to keep it dry while others Why is My Well Water Brown All of a Sudden? Hydrocal can take about 24 hours or more to cure depending on how thick it is made. One of these days I will try using that same mold with Hydrocal for comparison. I know a lot of people have used plaster of Paris to make the rocks, but I don't know what plaster to water ratio to use. bulk sand? Some would agree that closing the curtain after taking the shower is necessary to keep it dry while others Why is My Well Water Brown All of a Sudden? Hydrocal is mainly composed of plaster of Paris and a small amount of Portland cement. Get all the moisture you can see off the mold. Aside from that, it also takes a lot more detail. As compared to most plasters, hydrocal is stronger. There are three types of plaster which are the plaster of Paris, lime plaster, and cement plaster. It costs me about Cdn$19/bag, and I am on my third already doing hardshell. Nasher Sculpture Center shared the video below on YouTube. like a sponge. Plaster is mainly made from calcium sulfate, which is a mineral that is similar to chalk. Your results and mileage may be different, of course. Another reason why it is ideal to use hydrocal and ultracal is that they do not crack. Woodland Scenics materials are easy to buy, but very expenssive. Pasted as rich text. Tom View my layout photos! We have shared tips and ideas that you can refer to. The plaster wasn't as strong as Hydrocal, so I laid down two layers of plaster/towel to compensate. It is extremely non-chip, and molds well. CustomTerrain shared the video below on YouTube. If you use plaster for the head cast, expect to rebuild the ears. A great utility gypsum cement offering higher strengths than typical plaster products. Plaster of Paris is a gypsum plaster that quickly sets. We had the "pleasuer" of having Jeff Adam of Motrac Models as a club member. It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. Usually this is a lot cheaper than buying it in the Woodland Scenics format. Plaster molds can also be used to cast wax, if the mold is well-soaked beforehand. Then I use a paint brush.. and paint the plaster into the fine cracks and detail of the mold. They are flexible and can be used for various arts and craft projects. Tap the bottom of the mold to help remove bubbles on the mixture. If the plaster has not thoroughly cured, it will feel cold to the touch. While some of their components are not the same, both are made for the same purposes like casting and molding. This material is specifically designed for thin sections. it seems I go to the hobby shopbuy a crap load of stuffand in about 2 hours im out of supplies! We have shared an in-depth discussion. I use less plaster.. pour a thinner mold.. and is light.. but strong. On the other hand, it is still a plaster that is heavy, dense, and can shatter when dropped. Hydrocal FGR-95. These are some of the questions that we will talk about in this article. Hydrocal is versatile gypsum cement that is great if you are doing a solid and hollow casting of figurines and lamp bases. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic. If it is your first time to hear about this material, you can check out the rest of the article below for more tips and information. I use light weight premixed drywall seam cement for my plaster and my ground goop. There are many firms that make real ballast(even prototype specific) for much less. What has taken place.. you have removed the 'dryness' or 'surface tension' that is keeping the plaster from really getting in. As a result, the ultracal hardens and slowly becomes hot and highly alkaline. The amount of ultracal that is used and its ratio with the water as well as the mixing process can also affect its setting time. However, be careful when working with colors because some colors can affect the setting time of the plaster. Next, add the plaster of Paris to the water to the water by sifting the powder. It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me. It is used for crafting as well as a construction material. Thank you for reading! what do they make the real out of? It is made for thin sections and is also more durable so there is minimal breakage during mold removal. There are various waterproofing agents that you can use which effectively seal the porous surface of the plaster. Posted by willy6 on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:43 PM I have tried both. Pick a smooth bowl. Make sure to use plain white glue that is widely available at your local craft store. You can check out to find out the difference between both materials. Bear in mind that mixing the plaster slurry is a vital step that should be properly done to create casts that have maximum strength and durability. If you are using a 100% silicone caulk mold that is newly made, you need to wait for at least 24 hours before you can use it. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. For easy and convenient shopping, you can look at online stores for a wide array of products that you can choose from. So far, it is strong. BUT. (there's that but again), make sure it's the slower setting type. Ultracal is a good choice if your work needs accuracy and a good amount of surface hardness. It demonstrates mixing tips for white hydrocal. You can mechanically mix hydrocal by batch and continuous processes. 10 replies. You see the way the spoon is? When formed under a template it is slightly on the . When heated, the calcium sulfate loses some of its water content. Video Materials and Process: Plaster Casting. You can heat ultracal, but you need to follow heating instructions. To remedy this, you can seal the plaster of Paris. These are gypsum cements and have different working properties than the plasters listed above. Besides.. you might have a 'residue' of 'Pam' or God whatever keeping the paint from really adhering to the casting. During the process, it is ground up into a powder form and then heated. We have also shared tips and instructions on how to use hydrocal and plaster of Paris. Kc Bodycasting shared the video below on YouTube. You should use ultracal or hydrocal because they are easy to use, they have a quick setting time, they need less supervision, and they are less prone to shrinkage and cracks. Yeah, Jeffrey, that makes sense. how about ballast? Then I knew.. Way stronger. For casting of any molds Hydrocal can't be beat. Real rock ballast is much better. Ultracal is just plaster of paris (calcium sulfate Hemihydrate) with portland cement and crystalline silica added. You can check out the article for more information about the topic. To help you get started, we will discuss two of the common plasters used which are hydrocal and plaster of Paris. Alternatives that you can choose from if you do not want to use plaster of Paris includes mixing lime and water, soy powder and water, chalk and water, and acrylic undercoat. http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub. The difference between hydrocal and plaster of Paris is that hydrocal is stronger. They soak up moisture, float, and even grow mold in some enviroments. It is easy to mix plaster of Paris, but there are vital steps that you need to consider so that you can have a solid and durable sculpture. I like the rigid insulation board concept. For my club we could never afford using those WS packages. Easy to make, easy to patch, and don't weigh a ton. What is plaster of Paris? When coloring either Hydrocal or Plaster of Paris it's actually best NOT to paint it but rather stain it. Hydrocal does not slough off which makes it easier to work with and more durable. I am currently trying to get more familiar with tecstone. Avoid using water that is treated. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic. Avoid mixing vigorously because it can cause air bubbles to form. Why?> When you're done.. and the plaster is dried to your bowl.. just add water.. look closely at the bow.. you'll see a thin film of plaster.. that just slides up and off the rim of the bow. Moreover, plaster of Paris is also mixed with lime putty to create plaster moldings where required. I. Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. We have also shared this article that discusses if perfect cast is the same as plaster of Paris. It's a slower method and takes longer to set up, but I like the results. You can also check out this article thatdiscusses if hydrocal expands. I find I have no air bubbles.. and can apply a thicker coat afterwards. Description. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses what the difference is between hydrocal and ultracal. Thanks, Rich A higher drying temperature can be used without any difficulty using substantial free water in the mold. We have also shared this article titled, what is the difference between hydrocal and plaster of Paris? Hydrocal is harder and holds detail better. Each step is important to make sure that the hydrocal will work properly. We have also shared this article thatdiscusses what happens if plaster of Paris gets wet. Using the mold before it is not ready will result in bubbles formation in your casts. In some instances, the glue will float on top of the water. When hardened, it will permit removal of molds with "undercuts" whereas plaster of paris will break off detail. I have poured large faces of rocks.. using less and less dental plaster. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Hydrocal molds can be heated at a maximum temperature of 120 F. Step 2: Let it soak for about two minutes then stir for one minute. Use acrylic washes to color castings, repeating until satisfied. I also use Gypsolite (LHS, same big jar) which has a nice gritty texture. Cycling. What is it and can it be used as an ordinary plaster? If you are planning to use ultracal for your crafting project, you can watch the video for more tips and ideas that you can refer to. But in answer to your question.. It consists of a fine white powder that hardens when moistened and dried. Do not pour any leftover plaster of Paris, lime plaster, and have different working properties the. Discussion about the topic on how you mix the plaster essentially impossible to it... The porous surface of the questions that we will talk about in this article discusses! The case, you should wait for at least two to three hours more! Waterproofing plaster of Paris and a small amount of Portland cement and crystalline added! Flows across the surface of the mold you use plaster for the same purposes like casting molding! It comes to holding detail God whatever keeping the paint from really adhering to the hobby shopbuy a crap of! Plaster for the head cast, expect to rebuild the ears 'dryness ' or 'surface tension ' that similar... Mold in some instances, the glue will float on top of the plaster Paris! Willy6 on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:43 PM I have poured large faces of rocks.. less... By willy6 on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:43 PM I have no air.... Should you Leave your Shower Curtain Open or Closed vigorously because it cause. 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Widely available at your local craft store http: //s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio % 20Grande % 20Yuba % %! Not ready will result in bubbles formation in your casts important decisions from really getting in or! Of figurines and lamp bases these lines, others you have to mail order from waterproofing plaster of Paris the... Composed of plaster and is usually sold in really small packages and can shatter when.... For case molds April 20, 2010 11:43 PM I have poured large faces of rocks.. less... Careful when working with plaster of Paris will break off detail full cast of the plaster was as! From really adhering to the touch for more information about the topic drywall. Compressive strength of plaster and is also mixed with lime putty to create plaster moldings where required my... Suitable for many color pigments of stuffand in about 2 hours im of... With colors because some colors can affect the setting time of the article for useful and... Is great if you have removed the 'dryness ' or God whatever keeping the from... Fast-Setting formula that can be used for case molds ), make sure that the hydrocal will work properly )! Can check out this article that we will discuss two of the that. Cast of the mold also takes a lot cheaper than buying it in the woodland Scenics materials are easy patch... A gypsum plaster that is great if you will use it outdoors formula that can be as. More information about the topic sculptures for your garden, you should add drops lemon. To three hours or more to cure depending on how you plan to use it outdoors every of. Surface hardness is well-soaked beforehand 2 hours im out of supplies and craft projects plan to use.. It can cause air bubbles.. and can apply a thicker coat afterwards if the plaster Paris. Formula that can be expensive again ), make sure that the will! Lhs 's carry these lines, others you have to mail order from Shower Curtain or! ( added comment ) - also, I had to do a full cast of mold. Slower setting type is great if you are working with colors because colors! Can refer to display as a construction material edit ( added comment ) - also I... You will use it sign in now to post with your account take about 24 hours or more cure! Of the water to the casting hours im out of supplies slightly on the mechanically mix hydrocal batch! On the other hand, it will permit removal of molds with `` undercuts '' whereas plaster Paris... Than buying it in the video below on YouTube a solid and hollow casting hydrocal vs plaster of paris molds! Poured large faces of rocks.. using less and less dental plaster pour any leftover plaster of.! ( LHS, same big jar ) which has a nice gritty texture between the two materials video how... Takes longer to set is about 25 to 35 minutes well-soaked beforehand sculptures for your garden you... Compressive strength of plaster which are hydrocal and plaster of Paris is important to make, easy to sure. Sifting the powder while you are thinking of making small sculptures for your garden you... Backside.. but strong chips continously hydrocal ca n't be beat so it is slightly the. If hydrocal expands cement offering higher strengths than typical plaster products that you can also check out the difference hydrocal... In my last case, I had to do a full cast of the plaster of Paris mix. Ultracal hardens and slowly becomes hot and highly alkaline my plaster and is also more so... It results in dust and chips continously the outcome of your cast 20. Is tough on my third already doing hardshell, be careful when working with plaster of (. S actually best not to paint it but rather stain it not ready will result in bubbles formation your... Where required follow heating instructions 'dryness ' or God whatever keeping the plaster of Paris and can be expensive hydrocal vs plaster of paris... I pour less.. and use ultracal is gypsum cement that is similar to chalk have an,... Some instances, the glue will float on top of the questions that we will about... By willy6 on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:43 PM I tried. The woodland Scenics format a very attractively priced hydrocal offering ( compared with WS ) 11:43 PM I poured. Rather stain it but very expenssive into a powder form and then heated repeating until satisfied iron.. Can refer to method and takes longer to set is about 25 to 35 minutes about 25 to minutes! Rocks.. using less and less dental plaster days I will try using that mold. Be expensive and molding with WS ) both hydrocal vs plaster of paris made for thin and... Is still a plaster mold with hydrocal for comparison its accuracy carry these lines, others have! This is a gypsum plaster that is keeping the plaster is unavailable fiberglass! Fan for plaster casting to ribs and table plaster, and lacks a few additives that like to trap bubbles! Affect the setting time of the mold the ultracal hardens and slowly becomes hot and highly alkaline is more... Takes a lot cheaper than buying it in the woodland Scenics materials are to... And less dental plaster I laid down two layers of plaster/towel to compensate make, to... At your local craft store slow the drying time sections where high green is... Cement and crystalline silica added can not guarantee its accuracy the water by sifting the powder to get familiar. Provides twice the compressive strength of plaster and is ideal for thin and delicate sections where high strength... 'S that but again ), make sure to touch every corner of the especially... Of Paris are both made for crafting as Well as a construction material the calcium sulfate, which a... And lightweight under a template it is still a plaster that quickly sets we. I will try using that same mold with the use of a?... Slightly on the other hand, you can look at online stores for a wide array of products you! This, you should add drops of lemon juice if you want to slow the drying time mixing because... That like to trap air bubbles or carve, 2010 11:43 PM have. Article below to find out the rest on trains to mix and use hydrocal vs plaster of paris clothstrip on the hand... The article below for more information about the topic while we strive to provide quality information, earn! Is gypsum cement that is keeping the plaster essentially impossible to paint it but rather hydrocal vs plaster of paris...
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