Answers:

What is the overall molding and casting procedure?

All of our life casting kits have easy step-by-step instructions. Here are the general steps:

1 - Mix the molding powder with water. Once the material turns from pink to white, insert the foot, hand or pairs of hands into the molding material. Within about 1 minute after turning white (if using room temp water), the mold sets.

2 - Wiggle the foot or hand(s) out of the molding material.

3 - Mix the bag of casting stone with water or prepare the wax. Pour the casting mixture or wax into the mold. Let the casting stone or wax harden.

4 -Tear open the mold, remove the statue and enjoy.

See the general Photo Instructions in our photo gallery.
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What type of molding material is provided and how does it work?

What type of molding material is provided with your 3D casting kits?

All molding powder is not created equal and the molding powder we supply is manufactured to our specifications and is unique to Casting Keepsakes casting kits. You will not find a higher quality molding powder in any retail or pre-assembled casting kit on the market. Our exclusive formula includes chromatic (color-changing) properties, which eliminates the need of timing the procedure. When the off-white powder is added to water, the mixture starts out lavender, turns bright pink while mixing and is ready for molding once it has turned back to the original off-white color. The result is a highly detailed, very strong mold.

The total working time of the molding material is approximately 3 minutes with the exact time dependent on the temperature of the overall mixture. Approximately 1/2 of the working time is for mixing and the latter 1/2 of the time involves the hand(s) or foot in the material. All alginate molds will deteriorate quickly. It is recommended that you cast into the mold within 4 hours. If this is not possible store, the mold in an air tight container in a cool environment, such as a refrigerator, for up to 24 hours.

Room temperature (75F; slightly cool to the touch) works well for adult and child hand kits as it is comfortable enough for most and gives an adequate total working time of about 3 minutes. For the infant and toddler foot and hand kits, we suggest using luke-warm water (85-90F) which will give about a 2 minute total set time. Alternatively, cold water (60-65F) can be used, which will give you a total working time of about 4 minutes.

Water with a high mineral content will cause any alginate mix to become lumpier than normal. If you think this is a concern, consider bottled or other filtered water.

Note: Timing starts from the time the powder enters the water and the above referenced times assume the powder has been stored at at about 70-75F for at least 12 hours.

[The set time of the mixture also is dependent on the mixing proportion. The mixing instructions provided on the package are a what we would consider optimal for our applications. However, the set time can be lengthened by using a thinner mixture - more water - or by using a thicker mixture - less water. Therefore, if you use cold water and make the mixture thinner, you will have quite a long set time. Likewise, if you use very warm water and use less water than directed, you will have a very, very quick set time. Many customers find this information most helpful when they want to use very warm water, but don't necessarily want the material to set in less than 2 minutes (so they use very warm water and mix the mixture a little thinner than directed). Please note, that as the mixture is thinned out, it will lose a little of it's strength.]
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What type of casting stone (plaster product) is supplied with the kits?

We use a Gypsum Cement that dries to a pristine white, provides fine detail and is chip & chalk resistant. It has high green strength (such as when demolding), remains workable while wet and gains its full strength once 100% dry. Overall, it is 3-4X stronger than the traditional art plaster or "plaster of paris."
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How safe are your products considering they may be used on an infant?

The alginate molding material is non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, 100% biodegradable and is created especially for direct use on skin. Although we cannot make a guarantee against reactions (nor can anyone else with any type of product), there are no known reports of an allergic reaction to the prepared alginate material.

It is a water based product with a primary ingredient of processed seaweed. It does not heat up while setting, will set with either cool or warm water and pulls away cleanly when set. It has been used in the medical and dental professions safely for many years to help make various types of prosthetics, including dentures, and to protect the most sensitive of open wounds.

As with any powder, you should avoid inhalation. Otherwise, if is safe for the prepared molding material to come into contact with even a newborn baby’s skin.

This alginate based molding powder meets the following specifications: ISO #1563 & ADA Spec 18. Also, potassium alginate (such as that contained in our formula) is regulated by the FDA as a food product.

Note: This is the only substance that will be in contact with your child while making the mold. The child is not required for the remainder of the process.

Create-A-Mold Alginate Molding Powder Technical Information
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What if my child wiggles or moves during the 3D molding process?

As long as the foot/hand remains submerged within and completelly covered by the molding material during the setting process, the foot/hand can be allowed to wiggle freely within the material without affecting the final mold.

How is this possible: The molding material remains a very thick liquid during nearly all of the molding process until all at once within about a 5-10 second time frame, it sets. Before it sets, the material clings to the skin during wiggling and that wiggling actually helps break up air bubbles reducing flaws later on. Once set, the material turns rubbery, flexible and is slippery inside, yet it has captured the tiniest of details.

Also, very young children typically do not have the strength to break through the mold once it is set, which preserves the mold until an adult guides the hand or foot out. It is because of these properties that the material works so well with wiggling fingers or toes. It’s not like old fashioned film where you had to sit still during a 3 minute exposure time, etc.

Please Note: During the 5-10 second setting window near the end of the process, strong movements (more than a baby's natural wiggling) can distort the mold. Therefore, even though some wiggling is okay and even preferred, the best advice is to wait until baby is in a good mood, is fed and relaxed, or even asleep before making the mold. Overall, we strongly recommend 2 adults be available to complete the molding process: one to tend to the child and one to read instructions and prepare the mold.
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How do I get my child’s hand out of the mold?

Although the mold is very strong and firm, it is also very flexible and slippery inside. Because your child’s hand is also flexible, his or her hand will slip out of the mold cleanly with just a slight wiggle and gentle pull.
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Is the 3D mold reusable?

The molding material is generally not reusable as the set material needs to be peeled away from the finished casting. However if you do a an impression casting as shown in one of the examples in the gallery, then the casting can be poured more than once into the same mold to create multiple identical castings. The molding containers, however, are reusable in most cases.
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I broke off a finger when demolding the statue. Can this be repaired?

The best option for repair is to use a super/crazy glue. Add glue to the detached end and then hold it in place for at least 1 minute until the glue holds (see individual glue directions). If needed, fresh casting stone mix can be applied to the outside area of the break if their are any gaps or chips (depending on how the break occurred).
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I want to purchase bulk materials. How do I determine what I need?

Below are some general guidelines for estimating the amount of bulk materials you may need:

Molding Powder: Find a container that will accommodate the hands (or foot, etc.), but yet isn't way too big. Then with the hands in place inside the empty container, begin filling with water until the water covers the areas you want to cast. For each 9 cups of water needed for this test, you will need 1lb of alginate molding powder to make your mold.

Casting Stone: In general, for each teen or adult hand cast up to the wrist you will need up to 1lb of stone. For each child hand or infant foot, you will need up to 1/2 lb. If casting above the hand and into wrist/ankle and/or if you will be adding an integrated base, you will need a little more.

Overall, if you are casting infants, you will need approximately the same amounts (by weight) of bulk powders. If casting mostly adult hands, you will need approximately twice as much bulk casting stone as you do bulk molding powder (again, by weight).

Keep in mind that the above information provides only estimations. The exact amounts depend on you specific project. If you are unsure if you will have enough, it is always best to estimate high.

More details regarding estimating, measuring and mixing can be found here: Bulk Materials FAQs
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