"proper Hydrocal White hardness" Topic
6 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
Please don't make fun of others' membernames.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the Moldmaking and Casting Message Board
Areas of InterestGeneral
Featured Hobby News Article
Featured Link
Featured Ruleset
Featured Showcase Article Need 16 square feet of gaming space, built to order?
Featured Workbench Article A guide to how Stronty Girl  paints grey horses - specifically, dapple greys.
Featured Profile Article Would these coasters be useful to you for miniature wargaming?
|
| warhawkwind | 10 May 2015 6:52 a.m. PST |
Did I get the wrong Hydrocal? I thought this stuff was going to be nearly rock hard, but when its all dried, I pick it up and get chalk all over my hands. I can even scratch it a bit with my fingernail. Am I not mixing it right? Any and all help appreciated, thanx. |
| JasonAfrika | 10 May 2015 8:50 a.m. PST |
Sounds like you added too much water…also, don't expect it to be as hard as marble. You could bake it at a low temp to get the water out but it will then become very brittle. That's just how Hydrocal is. Quick, cheap, and easy but not ideal. |
 StoneMtnMinis  | 10 May 2015 8:55 a.m. PST |
You can add white glue to it when you are mixing it and that will add additional strength, but it is not indestructible in any case. |
 Bobgnar | 10 May 2015 10:39 a.m. PST |
I use this, link and ditto to StoneMtMinis for adding some white glue, I also add some paint, black to get gray material so when it is scratched, there is no white to show through. |
| JezEger | 10 May 2015 11:19 a.m. PST |
link
Good resource for various plaster reviews. It does sound like your mix was off, or maybe just a bad batch. |
| warhawkwind | 10 May 2015 12:20 p.m. PST |
I'm mixing it at 3 parts Hydrocal White to 1 part water. I dont have a scale. I mix it for several minutes until it starts to stiffen just a bit. Thanx all, and that link is super JezEger, thank you. |
|
