Thread: Favorite Latex? + questions...

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Hello HF members,

I wanted to make molds of some clay things I had started. Eventually I would like to try to make some masks, prostetics, wounds and gashes, or small prop things to duplicate like skulls or somehting even smaller... I decided to start with a liquid latex mold, thinking that would be easy enough. Of course, in my teeny tiny town I cannot find any latex in local stores and have turned to the internet. There are so many different brands I don't know where to begin.

I tried one several years ago but now couldn't even remember what the can looked like other than that it was gallon sized. I seem to find mostly Mold Builder Liquid Latex. I've also found Environmolds, Kreemtex. And then tons of sites for the body paint version of latex paint but i don't think that's what i'm looking for. I've also heard of Dragon Skin, but that appears to be pretty pricey stuff.

Does anyone have a favorite liquid latex to use or know of one that has a good reputation without being too expensive? I think I will mostly be molding clay if that helps any.

Thanks for any suggestions

Justin,

As far as making a mold:

It would depend largely on what material you wanted to use to make your castings. If you were pouring foam into it, I would recommend you make a silicone mold. If you were making latex castings, maybe a stone mold (hydrocal, ultracal). Smooth-on has some trial kits of silicone that are reasonably priced. Depending on the size of your clay sculptures, you may only need a trial size. One word of advice, if your sculpting from a water based clay, you'll need to seal it prior to laying up your silicone. Silicone doesn't cure the best with water present. We spray a couple of coats of Krylon crystal clear before molding with silicone.

As far as using latex for FX wounds, scars and gashes. Well, we're pretty partial to our latex. One of our customers/haunts raves about this saying that build up for these kinds of FX are much faster than other brands they have tried.

Steve

Thanks for the advice