"need help trying to search for local hydrostone sellers." Topic

So I am trying to determine if there are any locations that sell any of the various casting materials in Des Moines Iowa or Iowa City Iowa. what are the stores people look for and search terms people use when googling.

I am mainly looking for hydrostone, but would settle for hydrocal if i have to. Failing hard even finding places to call

Did you look for Dental Plaster? Those sellers might have a lead. IIRC i could get hydrocal at Michaels or Hobby Lobby

I had the same problem. Shipping cost was a killer. Almost as much as the product. Good luck with your search.

Dental Plaster is usually much more expensive and will set up a lot faster.

Hydrocal purchased as a hobby product is also expensive.

I used to buy hydrocal in 100 pound bags for about $25 USD at a local building supply place. Look for places that sell gravel, concrete, stone, sand in bulk, not in bags like Home Depot. You want a place where construction companies buy materials, not do it yourselfers.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

Yep, all the concrete places had bag of hydrocal in Oklahoma City.

I use Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty, which you can get at Home Depot and similar locations. Not as good a price per pound as construction quantities, but $8 USD USD for a big enough can to fill a table with terrain is fair enough, and takes up a lot less space in the garage. Depends on if you're just casting up some obstacles or building an entire town out of Hirst Arts bricks. If you're casting every night and spend your weekends gluing pieces together, look for wholesale quantities. If you just muck about with instamold or Sculpey for a few one-offs every now and again, Durham's may be more practical.

The US Gypsum site is much less helpful than the last time I used it to find the place where I buy plaster. You might see if a big box store can order it for you.

Ceramic supply shops will have it or can order it. The type of shops that sell clay, greenware and provide kiln services.

You could try Home Depot or Lowe's as a special order possibly?

thanks for the help, will post if i find anythin i hope. I know i keep thing that durham will be enough but it kills me to know that the stronger materials are actually cheaper per lb if i can get them locally and it may be enough to push me to get some hirst molds like ive been considering for awhile now