Hmm.. Maybe it's time to work on something else for a little bit until your hands get excited about the torso again? What I like to do is look at dolls or art or really anything that gets the creative juices flowing, and get so inspired I'd explode if I didn't make something. *does happy dance* I just bought the last things I've been needing to safely do my first resin casting from the molds I made a while ago! ^__^ Tomorrow, I shall play with resin! Mwahahaha!!!! *plays darth vador with her new shiny respirator*
Blarg. Spent today trying to teach myself the fickle ways of resin. Had enough to try two pours - the first one my preheated molds cooled off to room tempature, so the resin didn't fully cure, and had that muushy leprosy-doll thing going, and the second casting was too hot, and the resin cured while I was almost finishing pouring the first mold out of four. I have a pitcher full of beautiful tan resin. >_<;; and now I'm out of the stuff. Ordered more, probably won't arrive until next week sometime. I kept the head from the first casting, even though it's still got semi-cured resin on it, and it's liable to make me sick from touching it. The skin's got a nice natural-looking translucency to it without being too glowy, so I think my first attempts weren't a total failure, though I definitely ended up with absolutely NO usable castings. ...I also need a better way of measuring the pigment, like maybe with an eyeglass dripper or something. Still, it was an interesting day, and I did get to spend some time outside in the beautiful weather, even if that did include breathing through a respirator mask with a pounding caffine headache.
I was wondering this myself. I've never heard of doing this. Why not just like...pour it in normally? (Everything at room temperature) The resin I have tells you to use it at room temperature anyway. I hope you can get your next pour to work! ^^ Good luck!
I'm using Alumite, and they recommend pre-warming your molds to 150deg.F Heat is one of those things that accelerates the curing process, which I discovered can be a good or a bad thing, considering. Heat also redistributes the liquids in the silicon molds, which will supposedly subtly increase the lifespan of your molds, but since I haven't tested this theory, I'm dubious as to whether it's actually helping, or just making the mold break down faster. I really do wish I knew what I was doing, as opposed to fumbling my way through trial and error, because the waste is far from cheap. Lithe-Fider, I'm so jealous that you have someone to explain the process and walk you through step-by-step.
I've got a torso and a design for a head. i got some more clay and premier and ladoll to work. I've just not had time to work on it. >,<
I've got an out of proportion head and a 2-part torso, and already his manhood has fallen off 3 times! XD ah, i'm sick of working in ceramic clay. time to move on to sculpey, i think, to see if I fare any better there. lumpy body parts, yes!
That's interesting! O_O I knew about post-curing your molds/resin (heating them in an oven at low temperatures or even putting your resin pieces through the dishwasher, as my teacher reccomended, LOL! It cures them to a stronger state apparently.), but heating them before pouring....Ooooo.... ! Even with a teacher behind me I still messed up! XD I killed my first rubber mold by not using enough mold release on my model, and we all had mess-ups with our dragonskin casts in our silicone molds (the teacher forgot tin-cure silicones release alcohol which inhibits the curing of dragonskin silicone bummer. ) It was nice tho, I don't think I'd have had the courage to spend al lthat money on the materials and try it without the support, as it is a process prone to mess-ups an waste. O_O (Our teacher's first words to us was "you are GONNA mess up!" Cause even if you know what you are doing things go wrong. Things don't set-up, you have contamination, you get bubbles, etc....raarr... ).
Yeah, and even following the factory's instructions to the T, I'm still having all sorts of problems. First off, my resin (Unopened straight from the container straight from the manufacturer's warehouse) had water contamination (which causes bubbles in the resin. Think foam-insulation-style bubbles), and thank god I took the extra step to aquire a vacuum chamber, because that's the only way to remove the moisture. Granted, I didn't realize that first time exactly what was going on, I just degassed that first batch for what seemed like forever, and gave up and used it anyway (about 40 minutes of waves of bubbles, turns out it takes well over an hour (seemed like two, actually) to completely degass/dehumidify side A (Side B was actually fine) And this may or may not have been a contributing factor in my resin not setting up in that first batch. But all the horror stories I've read online scared me into immediately cleaning out my molds so they wouldn't melt, and two hours later, I tried again. ^^;; Last weekend was a long hellish day. I have my new (and larger) batch of resin now, and would like to attempt a new casting, but it's been raining constantly, and I've already discovered how much this resin HATES moisture... so I sit, and I wait.. I've actually started sculpting a female head to help kill time, based on my original male sculpt. Granted, I still have no limbs finished enough to do anything with... this is turning into a longish rant.. please forgive me.. ;_; This definitely is a love/hate relationship with the process. I keep telling myself that once I finally know what the heck I'm doing, I'll probably be pretty good at it, since I tend to excel at what I perservere through. It's just that learning curve that's driving me kind of nuts. ^^; Mmm.. nuts...
Well, I'm trying my first foray into the world of sculpting...a little Ball-Jointed crab, based loosely on the ones from Pirates 3. XD' I'm having some trouble working out all the little leg pieces, but I'm managing, slowly but surely. I wanna make an actual humanoid in the future, but...this is just a whim and practice. XD'
Wheeee! I'm Degassing SideA Resin+PorcelinePowder+Dye from my studio/office! Seriously, don't do this at home, kids. I've got the airvents to the room completely shut off, the window open with a fan blowing the air out, and I'm wearing all sorts of protective gear: gloves, respirator, hoodie, the works. ..and the door's shut, and locked.
OMG I Am TIRED....I poured and prepared her leg molds today, tomorrow I got 6 molds to dig clay from to pour side 2. I hope they go okay, I was rushing a little to finnish before Boundary Hall closed. I did the straw technique that I heard about from MysticUnicorn, hope it works. Cause drilling sucks. Raorr...I WILL finnish this for finals if it kills me! I want my girl! Squee good luck! Weee toxic.... XD;;
Aaargh. It's been two hours, and side A is still bubbling bubbling bubbling.. It's slower than it was, but it's showing no signs of stopping..... I wonder if it's my resin dye that's giving the water contamination, since that's the only thing different that went into Side A.... Hmmmm.. :/ Awesome! You're getting your leg molds done! I'm so jealous.. I'm waiting for this resin thing to finally work before I move on to finishing the limbs, so I feel like I'm waiting and waiting and waiting..
I hope it goes good for you! O_O Did you complain to the company that the resin was contaminated when you got it? They may have given you a refund or something. I know nothing of vaccum chambers...I do all my stuff 'garage style' ... X3 *low tech* I would love a vaccum chamber tho, would be much more professional...but I think it would scare me with all it's high-techy-machine-ness.... XD!! I hope the leg molds are okay cause I really rushed putting in the clay to finish it tonight...(*worried they may not pull apart as nicely as my other molds*). Well, if all goes well *knocks on wood* I'll have some cast resin legs by tomorrow night. (feet will not be done till next next morning cause they are 3-part molds and require a third pour, and you need to wait 6 hours between pours of mold parts for the silicone to dry so you can dig out the waterclay.)
Well, resin is all poured, and it turns out I made too much, so my last little batch (about 120 oz by weight) is going into the vacuum chamber to help keep it fresh until I can demold one of the pieces and check for bubble issues. I may have to repour the upper chest piece, since the resin I first poured in there was already setting up while I was pouring it, and I've no idea what it'll end up looking like. ...sooo, looks like I've another hour to kill. I wonder what's on TV. >_> And I'm not returning anything for refund until I know specifically what's to blame. If it truly is the dyes, and I'm beginning to strongly suspect this, I may call up alumilite and ask why it's giving me issues, and whether replacing it is really going to help. Being that I do in fact have the vaccuum chamber to assist me, it really doesn't affect anything, other than slowing down my progress while mixing up the happy resin slurry.
And I might want to mention that my resin is a beautiful shade of chocolate milk. ......that didn't frigging set up! Arrrgh! Okay, I've contacted the manufacturer for some suggestions to my soggy resin dilemma. I have a mild hunch that my putting the porceline powder into side A might be contributing to this problem, since last weekend when I mixed my 2nd batch, I didn't do that and my resin set up so frigging fast I couldn't get it out of my mixing pitcher and into the molds in time. Hmm.. Pity I'm running out of powder. >_<;
Yes, it seems my porceline powder is the culprit for all of my woes. This afternoon I re-casted, using only porceline in side B, degassing everything twice, just to be certain. Granted, it's muggy as heck, and has been raining pretty much nonstop, but I have some nice solid, if crystalized on the surface, resin body parts now. Crystalization is a sign of moisture contamination in side B. *laugh* So, if it's not one thing, it's another. Also, I'll bet all my stirring sticks are nice and moisturized too, so that can't be helping. At least I'll be moving to Austin in a few months, and won't have to deal with 100% humidity 100% of the time. Another interesting thing to note: Degassing resin while in the mold makes for a horrific mess, and a curiously kelp-like hollow cast. Maybe I do need to invest in a pressure pot and air compressor.. ^^; Oh, my wallet.. ow..
I had to chip off the entireity of my girls bottom torso. she has hips. I think i'm going to pull a cp and just hav a hip joint. it's easier, and I can just add to the part that I already like. i have no idea what's supposed to look right or not. but hopefully I'll have my bought boy home to be my model. I'm gunna have to make a new plan. ><
-reads back postes of casting- I'm gunna have to pay to have someone else do it for me... ow..my change jar.
Some resins cure better if the mold is warm. (I find I get fewer surface bubbles too). I actually microwave my silicone molds before pouring. Works great. Fast too.
Lately, microwaves have been scaring me.. I chalk this up to us having bought a broken microwave from a scratch & dent store, only to have the crook of a shopowner replace it with yet *another* broken microwave. Finally, we went to Best Buy and bought a real microwave that didn't just look new, it was new, and guess what? It works.. O_O; Still have the evil narcaleptic machine in its box in the garage. It's been promised to me someday with repairs, but it terrifies me, and I'm convinced it leaks micro-wave radiation. *shudder*
Speaking of microwaves, when people boil the sculpy they have sculpted, what do people use as filler, and has your filler worked well when boiling the water in the microwave? I have tinfoil inside my doll parts, and I'm a little nervous about putting it in the microwave to boil the water. XD
DON'T!! No microwaves plus metal foil. You'll have to use a pan of water on a unit, gas or electric whichever you have, not not not a microwave. Ok, maybe your will only spark and snap, and then you will stop the microwave, but it may well catch fire and destroy your hard work. Ann in CT
Um. I didn't use a filler. Took forever to carve that wasted sculpey out from the middle of his head, which I regret, but I don't quite know what I'd use, aside from making silicon plugs in appropriate sizes and sculpting around that. That can be boiled and baked without issue. Hmmm..
What are some boiling times for boiling on the cooktop as apposed to a microwave? There are plety of microwave cook times, but I have not found any for boiling on the oven cook top. I did read though, that a doube boiler was good to use, as apposed to just a pot of water.
A couple of cups of water (enough to cover the pieces) in a smaller sauce pan usualy takes aroun oh... 6-8 minutes from room temperature water to done. I just put the burner on high, set the timer for like, 7 minutes, and when if it's already at a good boil I call it done. Seemed to work rather well.
So I have a head, and unbaked top part of a torso and one top part of an arm... Need to bake that torso and arm... >.>;
I'm making junk molds of the leg pieces now! Woo!~ ...mostly because I'm too lazy to sculpt two sides and fight with getting the joints right, so I have one ambiguous non-muscled leg sculpted with all but the ankle joint worked out, going to cast that in resin (and don't give a dang if it turns out perfectly) and sculpt calves and curves and all that good yummy anatomy stuff afterwards. I really do need to find where mom's stashed my uber expensive camera, because I feel like talking about it isn't nearly so exciting as sharing in-progress pics.
Aye, I've read on this stuff and I decided I might like to try my hand at making one. I've even drawn designs for a couple I liked, and I'm wanting to do some heavily Pan's Labyrinth and MirrorMask inspired stuff, such as some bizzare looking woodland imp and a dark looking princess with a clock for an eye. However I can get my ideas onto paper because I've been drawing for a while; I am only 14 but I've been officially drawing in my style since I was around 10. My age adds to the fact I'm worried I won't be able to actually pull this off, I'm going to try my best though and hope I can. For now I've been stalking around here trying to look at everyone's methods for making them and slowly messing with my clay. A big factor? I AM 14 so I can't afford to go and buy a BJD, I've been saving, but... Until then, I do have dolls but none of them are ball jointed, and, besides, I wanted to customize him when I got him but I KNOW I'd be so messed up if I accidentally ruined him. So making my own sounded like an option... I figured I'd say all this, just know that any problems you guys have discussed are proving to be a big help for me, in the way I can look at everyone's responses and figure out what I should do and what I should'nt do for my doll-- my biggest problem has been trying to get their faces to look right, and I know my next will be trying to get their balance right. Thanks, you guys, I wish you the best of luck with completing your dolls!
Considering you age promoting your lack of funds, you might want to stick with working in a hard polymer clay, perhaps fimo's flesh-colored doll clay (I can't remember the name right now, aargh!), so you would have something you didn't need to paint or cast in resin, but would be something hearty enough not to snap or fragment on you at the drop of a hat. I would suggest sculpting around straws for the limbs, it'll be a lot easier than trying to drill the string holes afterwards. You can also use glass beads for the eyes, if you like. I used to use synthetic cats-eye beads for eyes in my earlier sculpts, which made for a cool effect. I wish you the best of luck, and strongly encourage you to try this. You may not immediately be happy with the results, but I've found that the process can be as rewarding as the product of all the work, not to mention all the things you learn as you go.
Hm... yes, thank you so much for these tips! The straw tip sounds very useful, as the biggest pains to me have sounded like the face sculpting, the balance of the doll and the stringing itself, honestly. Also, yes, the eyes; the first doll I'm going to try has eyes along those lines so thank you so much for that suggestion, I hadn't thought of that and was worried I'd have to take money out of my own savings for my Ren Boy from Angelregion to get eyes for him. I've also been trying to look into wig-making, if that proves to be too large a pain that I can't pull off I guess I'll have to get one to edit... Again thank you so much for your help, and, I'll do my best and keep working at it; after all everything takes practice, right?
I'm working on a cat person, I've got a head and a torso so far... sigh. I haven't posted a thread because it says no antromorphs in the rules section. (*Shrugs) so if I do cast it to sell, you'll see her on ebay. I'm also making a dragon SD head and some other things. I'm a chronic procrastinator.. and get distracted easily, so it will b a few months before I start molding and casting.
exactly! i was looking for a waiting list for dollmakers, i like really want ALL my dolls done now, but its gonna take months um, how can i post pictures with a link? can someone help? and what should i do about losing confidence? i know im going to put a lot of work into them to make them perfect to cast...but still and is it ok to keep the cast molds of the arms and legs, then sculpt just a male torso, and another head? or should i sculpt more legs and arms?
I'm currently making a bjd elf out of FIMO. Its going pretty well, thanks for all the interesting and helpful posts!
I haven't been able to work on my doll at all during this past school year. ^^; Hopefully now that it is summer break I will have some time. I think it's been over a year since I started, bleh....
I have an anthro kitty doll languishing unfinished *feels so guilty*. I can't figure out joints past hips either. I'd love to get her/him finished too.
I'm working on a doll made out of porcelain. I've been trying to make a doll since... well i guess its been a year now. All I really have left is the knee joints and I want to make some eyes too. I'm incredibly excited to fire her. She is ~70cm now but unfortunately she will shrink substantially. I need a photographer to take some pictures tho... mine are shoddy.
I've been wanting to make my own doll forever but see I have a few Little problemss: I'm 16 and don't have a job and my bestfriend is actually helping me pay for my boys body*aka saving up* (no casting in resin for me! XD) and My oven sucks (little or no baking). So does anyone know something I can sculpt with thats durable so I won't have to cast it in resin and would require some baking cause I don't really wanna cast my doll.
Sounds like apoxie sculpt will be your friend. Just be sure to wear gloves when working with it, and beware inhaling the dust when sanding - other than that, it's very durable, comes in various colors, and doesn't require any baking.
That is another sort of oven-bake clay. Some people have good luck boiling the clay to cure it; others, not so much. Apoxy Sculpt is an epoxy clay, that you mix two parts together and it will cure on its own, no oven needed. Ann in CT
