Questions About Latex

[KaetiIngram]

I'm in the process of making a slip cast latex tail with Monster Makers mask making latex and I was just wondering, do you HAVE to buy latex thickener? What does it do? Is there a cheaper alternative to this? Also does anybody know of any mask/mould making latex that would work just as fine as Monster Makers but cheaper?

[Triton-Mahtlinnie]

It depends on the method you're using. If you're pouring it into a mold, no you don't need thickener. But if you're using the "smear it on neoprene and press the scale pattern into it" you probably will.

Burman Industries (http://www.burmanfoam.com/casting/latex-accessories/slip-cast-rubber-1-gal.html) is also a reliable supplier of latex, though their prices are fairly similar to Monster Makers. $50 a gallon seems to be the going price on slip-casting latex.

[KaetiIngram]

"Smear it on neoprene and press he scale pattern into it" is called slip casting, lol. Thanks though.

[Mermaid Momo]

I have a question too: (actually a few)
1) Is there any way to make a flexible mold rather than a rigid mold? I always thought it would be much easier to be able to push on the back of a flexible mold and pop it out rather than a rigid mold.

2) I saw on a few different special effects sites that latex paints are preferred so that it's flexible. and I know monster makers sell latex paint base, but they also say it's preferred to mix it with a latex paint to keep it flexible. My question is, if I mix other paints with the paint base, it should still be flexible right? Because I want metallic paints but I haven't found any metallic latex paint. (also thinking about using metallic pigment powders too)

[Triton-Mahtlinnie]

To my knowledge, slip casting is when latex (or other material) is poured into a two-part mold, then the excess poured out, in order to create a hollow, seamless object (like a mask or piece of pottery). It's also how tailmakers make "seamless" tails, by sculpting on a body cast and making a two-part mold from that then slip-casting. Slush-casting is another, similar, technique.

@Dreggersprez: Latex cures best against plaster, because plaster is very dry and will help draw the water out of latex so that it cures faster. Latex doesn't really stick to anything but itself so it peels out of molds fairly easily. I assume it would work in flexible molds as well, since few things cause cure inhibition in latex. It might be something to test.

I, personally, have had success painting latex with two things, Jacquard Lumiere mixed with a small amount of latex, and artist's ink mixed with latex. I recommend checking out some sites about building latex masks and props.