body casting - if you were a newbie?

[dmosher]

Ok here's a tough one. My younger (22 yrs, god I'm old) cousin saw the work I do and started saving his money to try it too. I did a life cast of him and now he wants to learn. He says he has about $250 saved and wants to know what he should be to start.

Now it's been YEARS since I was in this position, so truthfully I am at a loss for ideas. Also, he is about 1300 miles away, so I can't really help him. Anyone know any good intro kits or lists for a beginner?

He is in the US by the way.

Thanks
D

[smokeythebear]

they have some kits for casting so he just has to find the store, if anyone read my previous post i didnt know it said bodycast i just read the topic and the name which wa if i was a newbie

[bloodymess]

http://www.monstermakers.com/cgi-bin/mo ... =874493720

how 'bout that?

[DEDFX]

If he's a real beginner he should maybe look into that, it's not that much. What exactly does he want to do though, learn lifecasting? Which body part? If you specify I could throw you in the right direction.

[rhys]

LOL, what body part... hehehe!!!!

[dmosher]

I asked him what parts he wanted to do and he said he wanted to try a leg and an arm+hand just to see how hard it was. I am hoping he doesn't mean his own body parts, but .. whatever. Anyone ever try smooth-on products, they seem to be pretty easy, or shoudl I say something more basic?

[DEDFX]

Smooth on are very good but expensive. Buy a book or rent one from your library on bodycasting/ lifecasting. Hands are hard for a beginner

[abodeofthedamned]

http://www.accu-cast.us/proc_head.html

Has a good tutorial on how to do a head cast. You can use regular dental alginate (about $10-$14 for two pounds), gauze and plaster of paris for the mother mould.

http://www.bioweapons.com/index3.htm

Go to guyver armor how to. They describe in detail how to do a full body cast.

Simple and effective.

[DEDFX]

Dental alginate gels in around 3-4 minutes, so I'd rather go with the prosthetic kind unless you've done it before and are quick.

[abodeofthedamned]

Use cold, cold water to retard the setting time. It'll give you an extra minute or so.

I usually add ice cubes to the water for a few minutes before I start and remove them before mixing the alginate.

Also, you don't need to cover the entire head in alginate. As there's little detail on the back of a bald cap covered head, you can just apply plaster bandage directly to that area, and use alginate only on the front half.

And if you need any more than 4 mins to do a half face cast, you're doing something wrong.