methods and materials questions-probably dumb ones

I haven't cast any doll parts yet so I'll leave the technical stuff to someone else but resin is very toxic so you'll want to be very careful and well protected when casting. Years ago I dabbled for a very short while casting tags for some items I'd made and despite using gloves and a mask in no time at all I'd become so sensitive to it even the fumes caused rashes and chemical burns.

 

Hi Janeve

For S hooks you can either leave a resin bridge to hook onto - this is popular with much smaller dolls, you can insert a wire or bar into the wrist ball to hook on to or you can use a screw eye which is a half hook with a screw attached to the botoom. I used Screw Eyes on my feet but for hands post casting I drill a small hole an insert a Sterling Silver rod into the wrists. You can use almost any material for the rod - I do prefer Sterling because it wont rust if the doll gets wet and its quite inexpensive from Jewellery Findings Suppliers. I use a 20 guage for a Mini sized doll. I have also used Aluminium wire and Stainless Steel.

Casting wise - for a hollow item like the head you can use a two-part mould one to mould the outside and one to mould the inside - there are some great links in the top of this forum : http://www.denofangels.com/joints/showthread.php?3065-Moldmaking-Links-amp-Tips And whether you use a one, two or three part mold for other parts such as the torso or limbs depends on what moulding material you are using and what your design entails are far as undercuts, and whether you want to cast them solid and drill them or hollow with a mould core.

I just Googled Polyurethane Resin Hawaii and you do have a company there that will be able to provide you with technical information for your first materials purchase - there is no Polyurethane listed on their site but there is a very strong possibility that they will have a supplier who has it in their catalogue and could get it in for you or at the very least tell you who does stock what you need : http://www.fiberglasshawaii.com/ Depending on what Resin you use will dictate how toxic the fumes are - my first two years of casting I always got a lot on my hands being new and silly and was fortunate enough to not develop an allergy - nowdays I wont even pick up the bottles or cans without gloves a 3M Carbon Filter Mask and an Apron. Some people will be more sensitive to it than others but the bottom line is - treat it with the utmost care and respect and yourself equally as so and you wont ever have an issue. By following a "protocol" of handling resins you avoid any incidents or accidental exposure. And then its just plain old awesomely fun to start with a liquid and VOILA Its a dollie!!

Cant wait to see more!!