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Different casting supplies are required depending on the material being molded, with metal requiring a stamping machine, furnace, and other tools, while plaster requires epoxy resin and liquid latex. It’s important to use the correct tools for safety and effectiveness, and beginners can start with kits.
Casting supplies are dictated by the materials used in a molding project. For example, a metal part that will later be inserted into a machine will require the use of different equipment than, say, a bust of a famous president. The materials that can be used in casting range from plastic to aluminum. The reason different casting supplies are needed is mainly because materials vary in their melting points and the tools must be able to tolerate higher or lower temperatures during a given project. Different materials can also solidify in slightly different ways requiring special molding techniques and tools.
If metal is being melted and shaped into a part, casting supplies should include a stamping machine, furnace, ladles, crucibles, tongs, ingot molds for excess liquid metal, spruce cutters, and slag skimmers. Wooden flasks are required if sand is used to shape metal. The fire clay is used to mix with the sand in the wooden flask. The metal casting process usually takes place in a foundry, and foundry supply stores can provide all the tools needed.
Several casting supplies will be needed if the molding involves a material other than metal, such as plaster. For plaster molding, which is typically used in making film casts, the equipment includes epoxy resin, which plays a role in mold curing, liquid latex, plaster, and a mold or model. Equipment &emdash; including specialty chemicals — used for this type of molding must clearly differ from those used with metals, as the human face or a body part is typically the object to be molded. Not only would tools geared towards casting plastic or metal cause the mold to pop out properly, but there would be extreme risks to human health and life. Various brands of plaster casting supplies are available in specialty art supply stores and online at manufacturers’ websites.
Since the types of casting supplies needed for any given project depend entirely on the material used and the object being modeled, users will need to know the materials they intend to use. Before using any equipment, it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the process by reading all instructional materials included with the equipment. It should also be noted that kits are available that include basic blending necessities for beginners who may not want to go out and buy a large number of separate tools without assurance that they can be applied to a project. However, metal smelting supplies typically don’t come in kit form.
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