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Filled polyester resin?

Feb 22, 2013

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    1. Has anyone tried using polyester resin with fillers (cold-cast porcelain, cultured marble, etc.) to cast a doll? There are people using it for small figurines and it seems to reproduce small details well enough, but I haven't found any mentions of it on doll-making sites so far. It yellows and degrades less over time than polyurethane resin and the casts have a more substantial feel, so it seems like it'd be better if you wanted your work to last, at least on paper.

      Are there disadvantages to using it other than the slightly higher toxicity and shrinkage?
       
      #1 tarot, Feb 22, 2013
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    2. In the beginning of the hobby, BJDs did used to be cast in polyester. When polyurethane came on the market it was discovered to have a better surface quality and that has since become the gold standard. That said, I've never seen/felt a polyester BJD personally.

      I'd be interested if you have some photos to show what you mean. Does your polyester reproduce detail and texture well?
       
      #2 penguu, Mar 29, 2013
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    3. Most of the figurines I found aren't quite as detailed as polyurethane resin dolls, but I don't know if this is because of the resin or the original model. It could be a problem if the doll had very small and detailed parts, I guess. I'd have to try casting something myself to be sure.

      The gift store figurine I have has a texture like unglazed stoneware, but I'm not sure what resin it's made of. I tried breaking off a small piece, but there was no noticeable smell. I suspect most resins would have a similar texture if a lot of filler was added, though.

      http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm173/neilscrim/fig01.jpg
      http://www.resin-supplies.co.uk/cherub.jpg
      http://www.elitedesigns.co.uk/ukeggshop.htm
       
      #3 tarot, Apr 4, 2013
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    4. this might be relevant. Some scale models and lower-priced japanese figures are cast in polyester (and then painted over), I think. They're light-weight, but the surface quality were not so good...? You might have to look up some polyester casting resins and read the specs --- my brief googling didn't turn up anything useful, probably because I didn't use the right keywords.

      I know that the expensive PVC figures have their prototypes built in polyester putty, which you can get from anywhere that sells japanese hobby building supplies. Sometimes this polyester putty is an intermediate step, and the large forms would be quickly built up with something more pliable (like ladoll). The putties come in small containers and you would need more than one package to make anything bjd-sized. Here's a site where they show polyester putty being used to make prototypes.

      Keep us posted with your research!
       
      #4 penguu, Apr 4, 2013
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    5. I haven't personally used anything, but there are fillers for polyurethane resins as well. I know that they used microbubbles in my taxidermy school, in addition to working with fiber glass, epoxy resins, and bondo, but most of those wouldn't be suitable for dolls I don't think.

      In anycase, here's some of the products smooth-on has for sale that I hope to try out. http://www.smooth-on.com/-Urethane-Plastic-/c0_5_1119_1214/index.html
       
      #5 KiyaraSabel, Dec 2, 2013
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    6. I have used polyester for junk casts. My partner turned a clear head into a night light cover that lived in our bathroom for quite some time. It cures softer and takes dents and dings more easily. It also takes forever to cure completely. That said, I would love to see someone do this. It would be a pretty shelf-sitter, but still amazing.
       
      #6 glyndon, Dec 4, 2013
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