Thread: hardware store materials alternatives?

Tweet

I've seen it mentioned that there's usually an alternative for expensive art supply materials in the big box home improvement stores.

Clay for sculpting - plumbers putty

silicone for rough mold making - silicone caulk washed in water

etc etc.

So today I thought, what about paintable latex caulk/sealant.

I was looking for a way to coat a skull I was working on with latex. Liquid latex is super expensive so I picked up a $4 tube of caulk and started covering the skull with it.

Using a rubber glove and water I was able to spread and smooth out the caulk to create about an 1/8 - 1/4 layer over top of the skull.

Once it dries I'm hoping it will still be flexible enough for me to punch some hair plugs into it. At least the brows where I made it a little thicker.

The other thing I tried was, instead of molding a hard neck, I used some old tshirt material and wrapped it around itself into a tube. Hot glued the seam and hot glued one open end under the chin and base of the jaw and back of the skull.

Then, using a cheap brush slightly wet I painted on a layer of latex caulk into the fabric.

I'm hoping it will turn out somewhat like a flexible monter mud.

Anyone ever find anything as a liquid latex alternative?

What about a sculpt-coat alternative to coat foam props to get a hard shell?

Try plaster clay. Mix your plaster as usual, but after it's ready for use, start adding handfuls of ordinary flour. keep adding/mixing until the plaster takes on a a clay-like consistency and loses its stickiness (from the flour). Take out lumps of your clay, knead as required and use. It will respond to being smoothed with water exactly the way real clay does, and it will allow you approx. 1 to 2 hours of working time before your bucket of clay sets.

Your work will set quickly once you stop working it, and it will harden overnight to rock hardness.
I used this to make a casting of my skull mold and it turned out great. You can also use it as a thin top-coat over paper mache, thereby creating a much more lightweight prop. Heck, it's cheap, it's easy, and it works well. 'Nuff said.