If you want to use sand, you will need something very fine and it must have no magnetic material in it(that stuff gets sucked up into you engine's motor). What is the Difference between Hydrocal and Plaster of Paris? Is Hydrocal stronger than plaster of Paris? 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! Falling in Art 1lb Plaster of Paris Powder - Plaster Hand Mold Casting Kit Powder, Gypsum Cement, Pottery & Ceramic Plaster Powder for Crafts, Sculpture, Diorama and Home Decor. You need to achieve a nice thick soupy consistency. Plaster of paris and cement are about the same price, you just have to buy twice as much for twice the price- even this is usually cheaper than going straight for the quality products. Leaving the shower curtain open or closed has long been a debate for a lot of people. Pasted as rich text. It demonstrates mixing tips for white hydrocal. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. 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) . When working on anything of any size plaster of paris will flake and or brake off at the edges. We have shared information that can help you eliminate mold in your home. TimModeling the NYCis there any other? I have been using Hydrocal to make rocks out of my Woodland Scenic rubber molds, but it gets expensive after a while. 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. Example: I had poured a tunnel portal using the dental plaster. Nasher Sculpture Center shared the video below on YouTube. We have shared the step-by-step methods on how to mix glue with the plaster. It usually will only lightly tint. This will prevent air bubbles and will also create a uniform and smooth surface. but I dont think they are woodland scenics.but it seems to work fine. Tom View my layout photos! manage your account online and more! The pictures below are of a Hydrocal High Arched PRR prototype stone viaduct that I've been working on the past week or so. After thoroughly mixing the ingredients, you can proceed to the drying. Hydrocal is mainly composed of plaster of Paris and a small amount of Portland cement. Hydrocal is mainly composed of plaster of Paris with a small amount of Portland cement. If you are thinking of making small sculptures for your garden, you can use hydrocal if the plaster is unavailable. Easy to make, easy to patch, and don't weigh a ton. Hydrocal is harder and holds detail better. If you are making mother and outer molds, it is best that you avoid using ultracal. Check out the rest of the article below for more information. Grinding is a cave mans job, even the most simple tools will do. my photos. UltraCal-30 is a good product, but I prefer wooden molds. Moreover, when making plaster casting, make sure that you use pure water. Cuts easily, pulls away from the castwell, and you can get a very nice, tight, outline of the instrument every time. While hydrocal is easier to work with when it comes to posting casting projects, ultracal is more durable. Step 4: Mix the hydrocal. How Long Does it Take for Hydrocal to Cure? You see the way the spoon is? I am never going back to any plaster or hydrocal product. You need to slowly and evenly sift hydrocal into the water. Now all I do is, just paint a 1/4 thickness of plaster.. lay in a cloth strip and done. The last step is drying. Below are the steps on how to make plaster of Paris stronger. Hydrocal is stronger than plaster of Paris. Ultracal is a good choice if your work needs accuracy and a good amount of surface hardness. If you are looking for a good substitute for plaster of Paris, you can consider using hydrocal. 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. The next step is mixing. Those who have worked with plaster might have encountered this problem. Once they are clean, prepare them for casting by wetting them with a 50/50 mix of laundry detergent. It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. (on the backside of the casting). Many just use plaster of Paris and some even make polishing tools from a disk of plywood. It would do so after priming. While we strive to provide quality information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Hydrocal dries rock hard, so it is hard to modify or carve. Generally, the crystals form a structure in the plaster that provides it strength. You can do this by using a gauze bandage, glass fiber, and other suitable materials. I've painted over the shellac with acrylics and enamel paint. It provides a slightly better heat resistance as compared to pottery plaster with higher dry and wet strengths. Thank you for reading! Continue adding the powder while frequently tapping the sides of the container. . We hope that you have learned more about ultracal and hydrocal after reading this article that we have shared. They can harden and cause the pipes to clog. I guess.. when you stir the spoon.. as it is in the pic.. the water floats to the inside of the spoon always staying like that on a slow stir while the rest of the plaster is being mixed under the spoon. I find Plaster of Paris too soft, and subject to scratches and breakage. They are easy to use and durable. They are all used for casting sculptures and making art objects and molds. Plaster of Paris is just that, a plaster. What Can I Use Instead of Plaster of Paris? Not the best photo.. but study this sheet.. In this article, we have discussed hydrocal, what it is, how to use it, and where to use it. I use a 2 to 1 ratio in my plaster of paris mixture. This helps slow down the absorption process. I prefer Plaster of Paris because it is easier to drill into to plant trees or otherwise modify. A great utility gypsum cement offering higher strengths than typical plaster products. Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, This material is suitable for many color pigments. Combining both ingredients cuts the setting time shorter. You can use free water in the mold to have a higher drying temperature. Avoid directly pouring hydrocal into the water. For a mold that will cast 5 or 6 pieces? WHITE HYDROCAL - Used for making plaster objects, a neutral gypsum cement having a normal set of 25 minutes. Make sure that you thoroughly mix the slurry to get the best results. Posted by willy6 on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:43 PM I have tried both. Hydrocal White is versatile gypsum cement that is an excellent choice for making solid and hollow castings. If this is the case, you should wait for at least two to three hours or longer depending on the temperature. Micro Mark has a very attractively priced Hydrocal offering (compared with WS). We have also shared tips and ideas for using hydrocal and plaster of Paris for your art or craft projects. Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin. Think about the casting.. its clean with no 'Pam' or whatever on it.. keeping you from painting it correctly. 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. Scrape the excess plaster off with s metal straight edge to achieve a nice smooth back on the castings. Brick In The Yard Mold Supply shared the video below on YouTube. Crystals are formed in the mixture of water and calcium sulfate during the setting reaction which makes the plaster harden. On the other hand, it is still a plaster that is heavy, dense, and can shatter when dropped. When it comes to plaster of Paris, the ideal mixing ratio is two parts plaster powder and one part water. I have bought the real and the woodlandI mixed them and liked the effect. In my last case, I had to do a full cast of the cello back attached to ribs and table. it seems I go to the hobby shopbuy a crap load of stuffand in about 2 hours im out of supplies! Be careful about spilling the plaster dust, as it is a pain to get it up without it blowing . So that makes the P-of-P 66 cents a pound and the H-Lite $4.25 a pound. I use less plaster.. pour a thinner mold.. and is light.. but strong. We had the "pleasuer" of having Jeff Adam of Motrac Models as a club member. This supplier may also carry masonry supplies. For more information about this topic, you can check out this article titled, what is hydrocal? For my club we could never afford using those WS packages. What is plaster of Paris? Both work well. For instance, shorter mixing times will allow the plaster to set slowly. Take note that plaster that does not slough off is vital when it comes to making long life scenery. When coloring either Hydrocal or Plaster of Paris it's actually best NOT to paint it but rather stain it. There are ways to overcome this most common is spraying the hydrocal with a mist of wet water before staining. Unless you have a portable layout,I don't see where weight would be a problem unless I'm overlooking somethingcomments? They can be set at about 25 to 35 minutes. I also use Gypsolite (LHS, same big jar) which has a nice gritty texture. This website is strictly for entertainment purposes. Hydrocal is stronger as compared to plaster of Paris. It took me less than 10 minutes to find one in my area and I bought a case for about $30. Ultracal is stringer and harder as compared to hydrocal. I sprayed the molds with wet water before pouring in the plaster. I used Hydrocal White for many years with no seriouscomplaints, but more recently have been using a product called Tecstone (It's a dental plaster). Waterproofing plaster of Paris is important especially if you will use it outdoors. 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. Check out the rest of the article below to learn more about the materials. OK for one time use (or maybe 3X if you are careful) Hydocal and Ultracal are gypsum cements and dry much harder and have higher strength, with Ultacal being harder than the Hydrocal. You need to cover the work area using newspapers. Step 3: Add Plaster to the Mixture. The powdered dye is added to the dry plaster to approximate end color of choice. 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. Well, the thing fell off the table and landed on the tile floor. Make sure that the slurry is carefully poured into the deepest area. Once you have measured the ingredients, you need to soak them. We have shared tips and ideas about the topic that you can refer to. While hydrocal is an excellent product, it is usually sold in really small packages and can be expensive. You can also check out this article thatdiscusses if plaster of Paris is flammable. Fast-setting alpha gypsum cement designed for strong, resilient glass-reinforced product fabrication. Plaster of Paris is gypsum plaster that is made from a fine white powder that hardens when it is moistened and dried. Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it. The difference between hydrocal and ultracal is that ultracal is harder and denser. Ballast - Most of the Woodland Scenics ballast appears to be crushed walnut shells(or something close). This keeps a hard calcified layer from forming on the top. discusses the difference between hydrocal and ultracal, Provides long workability as setting expansion is twice that of molding plaster and pottery plaster, Ideal for both hollow and solid casting lamp bases, moldings, general castings, and figurines, Provides a great value to performance ratio, Requires 45 parts water by weight per 100 parts plaster, Has a stark white color which makes it ideal for accepting colorants. I wanted its superior strength. You can also add color to the plaster using poster paint or tempera. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses the difference between hydrocal and ultracal. Let us learn more about this below. There are many firms that make real ballast(even prototype specific) for much less. They just re-package the same materials you can buy elseware in bulk. I have already commited about $2500 on wood for this train set, 2 loomotives, some cars, construction insulating foam, paints, paint brushes track, power supplies hehehwhy am I telling you all this, you all know how it works well my wad of cash is gone so im now ready to do things the cheapest way. It discusses what ultracal is. Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/. We have shared helpful tips and ideas that you can refer to. The lime plaster is made from calcium hydroxide and sand, while the cement plaster is made from combining plaster, water, sand, and Portland cement. so I am comfortable with this for scenery and rock molds. Should You Leave Your Shower Curtain Open or Closed? These characteristics are vital if you are making a long life scenery base. Sets fast in 20-30 minutes without shrinking. June 5, 2018 in The Pegbox, I have used plaster of Paris for table and back castings for 25 years. 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