The p o p is certainly cheaper and the mixing instructions are on the container it comes in. Add cup of white glue into the water. If you want the best product for pre coloring the plaster, use "Powered" Masonry Dyes. Ultracal can be used in a wide array of applications. It might be Scenic Express. Otherwise, it will chip very easily. Both have pros and cons so you need to make sure that you weigh out your options to make the best choice based on the project that you are working on. manage your account online and more! After sifting the powder, do not start mixing yet. A real pain to touch up those "bright" white chips. it seems I go to the hobby shopbuy a crap load of stuffand in about 2 hours im out of supplies! Ultracal is a good choice if your work needs accuracy and a good amount of surface hardness. Light and strong. . So that makes the P-of-P 66 cents a pound and the H-Lite $4.25 a pound. Plaster of Paris is a gypsum plaster that quickly sets. I have used over 400 pounds of Hyrdocal B-11, selected because of the longer set-up time allowing corrections, and hardness, on my home layout and the Glendale Model Railroad Club over a period of 25 years. I'll never ever use anthing else. As compared to most plasters, hydrocal is stronger. Hydrocal is made for making solid and hollow castings. Plaster of Paris is easier to work with in the mixing, carving, and the painting. Way stronger. Below is a step-by-step instruction on how to mix hydrocal. With the base foam (carved for hills and valleys) and the Gypsolite, I only use plaster cloth to bridge over open areas or to merge in the foam with rock castings. The process of heating the powder is called calcining. Check out the rest of the article below for more tips and ideas. I stopped using much plaster cloth after I discovered foam scenery. For a head cast you will absolutely want hydrocal. Is that about right? It consists of a fine white powder that hardens when moistened and dried. Moreover, plaster of Paris is also mixed with lime putty to create plaster moldings where required. You can use this product to cast rocks or make your castings. We hope that the information that we have shared has helped you weigh out your options regarding the best material that you can use for your project. I think the lightweight hydrocal "takes" the stain in and looks more realistic. If you want it to be thoroughly cured before de-molding, you need to wait until it feels warmish and dry. The first time I bought itI received the kind that sets in 2 to 4 minutes and MAN let me tell you.. you'll learn to work very fast with that stuff. Posted 11 May 2017 - 09:42 AM. Some LHS's carry these lines, others you have to mail order from. The fact of the matter is if one were to make identical castings out of both materials the weight difference is not all that much, both weigh a ton! It demonstrates mixing tips for white hydrocal. Brick In The Yard Mold Supply shared the video below on YouTube. On the other hand, if you do not want the plaster to be a little wet so that you can easily clean it up after demolding, you can take it out as soon as it does not dent or get squished when you scrape it with a toothpick or a metal pin. It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me. Do not worry much because it will eventually combine into the mixture. I watched him cut masters for many of his pieces and how he dammed and poured RTV for the molds. Do not use ultracal when making molds that enclose any part of the body. Member since January 2003; From: Ridgeville,South Carolina; 1,294 posts Hydrocal vs. Plaster of Paris. Same here, and my basement is a haven for all types of arthropodsa good thing since it keeps the distaff upstairs most often. Hydrocal does not slough off which makes it easier to work with and more durable. When it comes to demolding the cast, you need to wait a couple of hours before you demold. Ah to make this very short. Once they are clean, prepare them for casting by wetting them with a 50/50 mix of laundry detergent. Moreover, how long you mix the slurry will affect the setting time. While we strive to provide quality information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Adding either Plaster of Paris or Hyrdocal to make a smooth surface should not be a problem, I have done it both ways lots of times. We have shared tips and ideas that you can refer to. Hydrocal Plaster for Scenery, Dioramas, Dentistry and Mold Casting Plaster Resealable Bag Great for Model Railroads (25 lb) 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (23) . These characteristics are vital if you are making a long life scenery base. Use a mixing container that can fit the amount of mixture that you will make. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. It shows how to cast shydrocal white into a plaster mold with the use of a fiberglass mat. I have been using the woodland scenics rolls of plaster cloth and styrofoam and newspaperits going well9 bucks for a rollcan I do it cheaper? Hydrocal is mainly composed of plaster of Paris with a small amount of Portland cement. There's also a Hydrocal rock face casting (WS mold) in there for good measure. Product Details. Moreover, hydrocal is color white and has a setting expansion that is twice that of a molding plaster. Just my opinionTim. One advantage of premixed drywall mud is that is takes a day to set up and you can work it the next day. I find Plaster of Paris too soft, and subject to scratches and breakage. Of course, the setting time will depend on how much slurry you are working on as well as the amount of time that you spent mixing it. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses the difference between hydrocal and ultracal. What is plaster of Paris? Posted by willy6 on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:43 PM I have tried both. On the other hand, it is not as durable as compared to ultracal. The main reason I used it was because it was inexpensive and readily available - much moreso than hydrocal. Is there any difference between hydrocal and plaster of Paris? I've also used Bragdon Foam with a Bragdon mold. I often do this even with closed cell foam just to make it a little more slippery. http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub. Next, add the plaster of Paris to the water to the water by sifting the powder. Video Materials and Process: Plaster Casting. Moreover, when making plaster casting, make sure that you use pure water. You can use free water in the mold to have a higher drying temperature. I use 2 parts plaster of paris to 1 part water. 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. What is plaster of Paris? As this happens, it changes from hemihydrate to dihydrate. Description. It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. Hydrocal white is my preferred casting medium, mostly because I know how it "works." I pour less.. and use a clothstrip on the back for added strength. Hydrocal is stronger as compared to plaster of Paris. I can't give you statistics on this, but plaster of paris is a lot heavier than Hydrocal. How Long Does it Take for Hydrocal to Cure? Moreover, it is not recommended for outdoor use. There is a product called hydrocal light where the disparity may be truly noticeable. Shake off the excess water and lay the molds on the table to the floor. Hydrocal is my preference for molded outcrops, since it is tough. I don't really recommend trying to cut a master for your own use but Making molds of existing origionals is easily done w/ the RTV. They are easy to use and durable. Both materials are used in different applications like making case molds for slip casting, permanent models, and solid castings. I sprayed the molds with wet water before pouring in the plaster. For my club we could never afford using those WS packages. What is the difference between hydrocal and plaster of Paris? I use 'Dental Plaster' its cheaper.. and I believe the same as Hydrocal. I used latex rubber bands to hold the mold around the flashlight. If you find you like rock face and stone wall castings, you might also look at Bragdon Enterprises. I have read about the WS lightweight Hydrocaland I went to Hobby Bench and they had these brown boxes that just say Hydrocal on them but I dont think they are woodland scenicsbut it seems to work fine. Step 5: Pour the slurry carefully into the deepest area so that it evenly flows across the surface of the mold. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses what hydrocal is made of. Used Hydrocal for the first time 2 nights ago for a full back cast of a Gagliano cello. I have read of some people treating the mold for a better 'release' of the casting out of the mold.. but I really frown on it. It is extremely non-chip, and molds well. Step 3: Add Plaster to the Mixture. You need to achieve a nice thick soupy consistency. a 10 pound box of this hydrocal was I think 10 bucks..so 1 dollar a pound. Make sure to touch every corner of the mold especially the ones that like to trap air bubbles. Hydrocal White. We have shared information that can help you eliminate mold in your home. This is an important step in producing hydrocal that with maximum hardness and strength. All these castings are pre colored. Micro Mark has a very attractively priced Hydrocal offering (compared with WS). To help you get started, we will discuss two of the common plasters used which are hydrocal and plaster of Paris. Dental Stone is is also calcium sulfate Hemihydrate, but it is created at a higher temperature and under pressure. Take note that plaster that does not slough off is vital when it comes to making long life scenery. How do you prepare hydrocal? The difference between hydrocal and ultracal is that ultracal is harder and denser. Allowing the first coat to dry overnight, two more coats one hour apart are enough to make a firm scenery base. Something I learned real quick about painting plaster of paris. Grinding is a cave mans job, even the most simple tools will do. This website is strictly for entertainment purposes. We hope to inspire you. It should be dried quickly after missing so that maximum physical properties can be achieved. Bugs love plaster of paris. Mar 12, 2006. Regardless you are making a cast or a mold for your art project, we will discuss two of the common materials that you can use which are hydrocal and plaster of Paris. If you are thinking of making small sculptures for your garden, you can use hydrocal if the plaster is unavailable. Side note: I can even break this casting a bit.. remove certain areas.. it breaks nicely.. and the plaster cloth on the backholds everything together..so I can go back.. add plaster to the areas.. to seal them up.. and I guess its a mild re-glueing with plaster. Repair your plaster walls with this DAP 25 lbs. You don't need a lot and it takes forever to put down, so it is cheap per hour of fun. My latex molds.. are very flexible.. and would suggest always to keep them out of the sun.. or light for that matter.. The Sacrete liquid, and paint just doesn't work that well. It does not dry with the 'hardness' of Hydocal, one of the reasonsHydrocal is favored for 'hard shell' scenery. Decorating is poetry. On the other hand, it is still a plaster that is heavy, dense, and can shatter when dropped. Ultracal is best used for splash-casting molds. You can also add color to the plaster using poster paint or tempera. When it comes to plaster of Paris, the ideal mixing ratio is two parts plaster powder and one part water. You have reached the end of this article that discusses the difference between hydrocal and ultracal is. If you use open cell foam (styrofoam) for a castform, you're going to bein trouble trying to free the cast from the form. They use a two-part chemical resin that sets up very well but can actually be softened later with a hair dryer to allow the castings to be bent around curves later. Sorry for the poor picture quality but the reddish color of Pa. Stone is not really well represented by my poor photography. Like Jeff, I also userigid closed cell insulation for cast forms. We had the "pleasuer" of having Jeff Adam of Motrac Models as a club member. The answer as to whether or not hydrocal is better than plaster of Paris depends on how you plan to use it. In this article, we will discuss the difference between hydrocal and plaster of Paris. This material is suitable for many color pigments. White Plaster of Paris Dry Mix that features an easy-to-mix, fast-setting formula that can be sanded and painted for customized use. It's heavier than Hydrocal but I have no complaints. Choosing a material for a specific project that you are working on can sometimes be confusing because of their similarity. However, most sealers cause the plaster to have a sheen, do not take stains, and do not make the finished scenery any stronger or damage resistant. I was wondering about this idea after helping my son-in-law hang sheetrock and mudding the seams. Hydrocal and ultracal are gypsum cement and both have different properties. We hope that this article has helped you learn more about hydrocal and help you get ready for your next sculpting or molding project. Thanks, Rich Plaster of Paris is 'softer', and can be carved. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic. This multi-purpose product is ideal for those who want to upgrade from a standard plaster product to one that has a higher degree of impact resistance and hardness. Video What is Ultracal? We have shared useful information regarding the composition of hydrocal and its uses. (on the backside of the casting). The most commonly used plaster among the three is the Plaster of Paris which is also called gypsum plaster. Plaster is mainly made from calcium sulfate, which is a mineral that is similar to chalk. You should be fine. Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin. This just take 10 seconds to clean. #1 MOULDING PLASTER - Often referred to as "plaster of paris" or soft plaster. They soak up moisture, float, and even grow mold in some enviroments. It is true that Hydrocal requires priming before painting, but it is excellent for places that get a lot of hands-on use and for water proof base for rivers. For instance, shorter mixing times will allow the plaster to set slowly. I don't know why.. Lightweight hydrocal is specifically made for terrain model builders. Now I don't claim to be an expect.. but only one that wishes to share what I know and what I've done perhaps it might spark other ideas that lead to better ideas. Video Casting Hydrocal White into a Plaster Mold. Wearing gloves is also recommended. Wear a face mask to protect yourself from inhaling the powder while you are mixing. . Hydrocal has many uses. This is to make sure that the slurry evenly flows across the surface of the mold. Hydrocal sets-up to rock-hardness, and in many cases, will support a person leaning on it to reach distant tracks. It is soft, even when cured and is not very strong. Think about the casting.. its clean with no 'Pam' or whatever on it.. keeping you from painting it correctly. It costs me about Cdn$19/bag, and I am on my third already doing hardshell. 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As to whether or not hydrocal is stronger as compared to most plasters, hydrocal is made! Cast you will absolutely want hydrocal where required and both have different.. Whatever on it.. keeping you from painting it correctly this article, we will assume that you are with... Makes the P-of-P 66 cents a pound are vital if you continue to use this site will... Bright '' white chips this happens, it is created at a higher temperature and pressure. And ultracal is that is heavy, dense, and solid castings you. Here, and in many cases, will support a person leaning on it keeping... Detail then you would by painting Jeff, i also userigid closed cell insulation for cast forms white plaster Paris! Of supplies you might also look at Bragdon Enterprises use 'Dental plaster ' its..!