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Author
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Topic: Mold (Fungus) on Molds
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Chagatai
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posted 12-04-2000 08:02 PM
Folks:I have a head cast of myself from a few months ago (in Hydrocal). The whole thing has been covered in Roma Plastalina (oil-based clay) ever since the cast got hard (I let it dry out for about two days before use). Well, I go to take the clay off to make something new, and I have noticed quite a bit of mold (fungus) on the mold (about 40% of the head), and some came off onto the clay. Is there a possible way to get the mold off the cast and the clay aside from filing the whole thing down? Or is it ok to reuse at all? What about the clay? Has anyone ever dealt with this at all? What should I do, as I really don't want to have to spend all that money to redo everything I have worked on before? Thanks in advance. ------------------
--Chaggie
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Cinetech
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posted 12-04-2000 09:18 PM
Yes, I have had that happen before as my first lab was in the basement of my home. Take a rag and some alcohol and just rub it off. It may take some time , but you will eventually get all of it. |
FXMan
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posted 12-05-2000 07:47 AM
I hate to admit it, but I too have had that happen. But I know why it did. I was running some foam gelatin pieces and was using PAM cooking spray as a release. I would have thought that there were enough chemicals in that stuff to not be a problem but upon opening the mold halves, the inside looked like a CHIA pet with lovely gray fur all inside the mold. If your molds are made from Ultracal you can simply dump them in a tub of water and gently wash them out - maybe using an old chip brush or whatever to lightly scrub (so as not to lose detail). Then alcohol or acetone as has already been mentioned, followed by a slow bake in a warm oven to dry them out once again. As a matter of fact, that mold is still like that. Haven't taken the time. It might eventually ruin the mold so I ought to clean it up. But who has time? Anyway, it's embarrasing to say it, but it happens, you know?
FXMan [This message has been edited by FXMan (edited 12-05-2000).] |
Chagatai
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posted 12-05-2000 05:50 PM
Folks:Thanks for the advice. The alcohol method is working, but at a rather slow pace. I considered just baking it all off in an oven set at 300 degrees F or so. Would this work? It may save me a little time and stress. (And yes, I will wash off all the alcohol before doing this, as explosions aren't my speciality). ------------------
--Chaggie
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FXMan
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posted 12-05-2000 06:10 PM
Well the major ingredient in fungii or other gray or green little hairs that grow is MOISTURE. So baking out your molds should hypothetically help a great deal. If you dry them out, the fungus should just dry up and you should be able to then lightly brush most of it away and get the minor residue with alcohol or acetone. Give it a try. But if you do that, give them a good bath first to sort of "refresh" the plaster (if it's Ultracal). Then bake at about 150 more or less for as long as needed - numerous hours at least anyway. Should work. But only one good way to know - try it and see.GOOD LUCK. FXMan |
Crazy Clayer
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posted 12-05-2000 07:24 PM
This happened to me too because i didnt completely dry the mold out after i filled it with water...I got most of it out by doing a thin casting and it still has a little bit but harly any at all...i will probably get rid of itsoon...I will try that alchol stuff......seeya------------------
http://members.spree.com/sci-fi/crazyclayer/ |
crazy lou
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posted 12-06-2000 01:11 AM
dont bake hydrocal. nothing good will happen. if the alcohol isnt working, try acetone as FXman said. i too have had this happen. hydrocal is a more porus then ultracal, so a warm to hot room with good airflow should be enough to dry it out over a couple of days, maybe even near a window getting lots of sun. if it was ultracal, i'd say, wash it with some hot water, then clean with alcohol or acetone, then bake it out.better to go slow then risk destroying it
later
TOm
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What everyone seems to forget is that once we look past race, religion, gender, and all that, everyone on this planet is first and foremost... ...a PERSON LINKS(added to11/15) |
Thea
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posted 12-11-2000 08:32 AM
D-Limonene works great on all kinds of clean up. It will clean latex, right out of your clothes. It's made from citrus peel and even though it will eat thru the bottom of a plastic cup is supposedly safe. I use it all the time. And I don't even use gloves, it does dry my skin out a bit tho.
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Thea
www.stagedoorstudios.com |
