Latex Mold Example 2

Below are photos documenting the casting process for relief carvings using a latex mold and a plaster mother mold. The latex used for the mold is called Bluetex Links to an external site., and is an affordable option for mold-making.

This student is using ModelPro Links to an external site. resin as their casting medium, which we will most likely not use (but you are welcome to ask Michael about it).

The first photo depicts the original carving nested into the latex mold, which is nested into the mother mold. The mother mold is necessary to support the latex mold and prevent the latex mold from changing shape as the casting medium is poured inside. 

 

The resin is poured into the mold, filling the deeper areas first. This is a fast-acting resin, meaning that this student only had 2.5 minutes to work with the resin before it began to set.

   

After the casting has set (in this case 10-15 minutes), the molds can be removed.

 

This type of resin is often used in conjuncture with powdered bronze Links to an external site. in order to achieve a metallic effect. Once the casting is removed, it is polished in order to give it the bronzed look.