Casting What companies have people used to cast in resin?

I've also been wondering about this... I've done a lot of research but can't even find my way at all since so much of it seems geared towards industrial prototypes and such. It would also be nice if someone had some tips on what and how to look for a place to manufacture...

 

The only company i know of that specifically does doll molding and casting is

Lumicast http://www.lumicast.com/services.html

Ive never used their services (i mold and cast all of my parts myself) but ive heard good things about them.

i hope that helps,

Donn

 

ah. It says there they they can do hollow castings because they have some kind of rotary thing.

I'm still not quite sure how one can do hollow castings without something like that. Well, without gluing two pieces together.

Edit: lol Just now reading Donn's casting FAQ...

 

Lumicast uses a vacum chamber casting system I think... I'm not sure what the rotary thing is..

I DO know that Lumicast is expensive, though... a 17in BJD, or something like that can cost up towards 800 dollars, and of course larger ones would cost more...

This is more or less why I've settled for making OOAk type pieces, or just heads.

 

Lumicast qouted me at 1500 for the molds and 120 per cast for my little nephilim. Casting isn't too hard... so I've decided to cast him myself. I also cast Bastian's head myself. I also have allergies I think, as i've broken out in a rash a few times recently and it was near the time I casted. I've just started being much more careful and it doesn't seem to be a problem for me. But I don't have too many allergies. :{ (mostly just to drinking alcohol!)

Ashbet's Mau heads are cast by her friend DeviBlue. If you're serious about casting and there's a university or college near you, you might ask at the art department if there are any students that might help you. I used to be a sculpture student... and that's how I learned the basics. :3

as for lumicast's resin and shininess. A lot of it has to do with the mold release and the finished surface of the doll used. If your doll is slick and shiney when it's molded, then the casting is going to probably be like that too. Just like some of the meltage problem on the dolls with acetone is seen in that the dolls faces get really shiney and slick. If you use a real fine grade of sand paper, like 600, you can just sand away the shininess. I think people do that for shiney Blythe faces too.

 

Rotary casting is a machine that turns several different ways so that your resin is hollow inside. There is also something called slush molding you can do (hope you're strong) you have to make a mold that corks, if your using plaster it would fit into the space you pour the resin in, to seal it, then you would physically move the mold so that the resin was hollow inside. I have never done it, I have just been researching it. You would definitely want a resin that cures fast if you are going to do this!! Your arms would get tired!!

 

I do slush casting on my initial molds so i can make the core molds easier. It isn't too hard to do, but it's very easy to use too much resin and just end up with a mess. X3 It's better to just build up a few layers at a time until you get the thickness you want. My boy is only 16in, so rotating his molds doesn't take a lot of strength, just time.

 

Do you use a plaster mold?
and
What type of resin do you use?

I want to cast my Bubble Gum Goth head (I posted on artist BJD) and thought about using rubber as the mold.

 

Thank goodness for going starting school to get my BFA! I think i'll take some sculpture classes.

 

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but has anyone tried having something cast by Tom Banwell? He has casting doll parts as one of the services he offers, and seems like he can cast ball-jointed dolls.

 

Tom Banwell's company is Lumicast. He's expensive, and from what I gather he doesn't like casting BJDs... it says on the site that lumicast resin is unsuitable for ball joint dolls. Which isn't really true because its the same kind of resin our commercial dolls are cast in. I think he just doesn't like doing it...


I'm gonna try casting for myself u_U its too much hassle with these companies... Or maybe people here who can do it can hire themselves out :P

 

Michael Langton is a NIADA Doll artist who also does molds and casting - I've heard very good things about his work, and talked with him briefly about it - but his quotes were about the same as Tom Banwell's (he quoted me around $1000 for molds, and $100 per for casts) which is beyond my budget - but artists I really respect say they would use his services if they decided to put out resin editions...

http://www.mlent.com/castingandmoldmaking.ivnu

 

Verbana: Really? Aww, I guess I can't get out of learning how to cast myself. XD

 

Oh, I don't think that's necessarily true - the resin he usually uses is really much more transluscent and shiny than the resin our dolls are cast in. He does cast BJDs, though, and he doesn't use the usual Lumicast resin for them, but a different resin that's more like the resin the BJD companies use. If he didn't like doing them, I don't think he'd even offer that service.

 

by the way, Tom Banwell also offers a class on how to make the molds and cast your bjd.... there is a great price break if you get together with 3 or so other people to take it together....

 

Duh to me :P I didnt read the site properly :P u_U Thanks for the correction.

Still gonna try casting myself :P

 

Yay that rocks. i am allergic to chemicals, asthma, etc.... i would def use a casting service.
YAY now i can make a dollie finally!!!

 

Resin type doesn't make a doll shiny or not shiny. The resin Lumicast uses is the same (at least same family) of resins as other companies use. however, if the sculpted master has a shiny finish, the the cast pieces will have a shiny finish, likewise if the finished master has a matte finish so will the cast piece.

The silicone mold making material picks up the tiniest detail, right down to minute surface texture details.

 

ummm okay are there possibly people here that would cast an OOAK for another member or is it kinda fend for yourself? I'm asthmatic and kinda worried about what the prosses would do to my lungs when i get to that point. but i'm more scared of dropping my clay version and it shattering into a bagillion pieces.

 

You're in Topeka? As in Kansas? Dude, I'm in manhattan. o_o You can PM me if you want and we can talk about it. I don't get over to Topeka very often... I'm allergic to the resin in liquid uncured form, but I wear a respirator, hoodie, pants, and gloves and I'm usually okay. It doesn't really smell at all. I think the only problem you'd have would be with sanding more than casting.

I use the smooth-on resin, but I haven't gotten the hang of fixing it so it's UV protected. Dark colors tend to turn green, but natural or bw stay the right color.

 

Since this thread hasn't been updated in a while, I thought I would bump it up!

Any other resin casting companies? I want to take a stab at sculpting a large, muscular BJD, as well as a head for a 60cm, but I know I would not be able to cast them myself (I'm pretty inept at that sort of thing, plus I definately don't have the facilities to do it).

 

Doesn't Smooth-On have a UV resistant resin? I believe it's the crystal clear variety (I wouldn't have any idea what to use in solid colors, but I think translucent is great for that semi-opaque french style of resin casting). This might be a newer product, though. I haven't ordered any to try out yet, but I've got some of the Alumite clear resin to experiment with first.

 

Does anyone know what company Fancyboots went to for casting?

I'm just asking because I'm in ohio and if there is someone local, it'd be great. What should I look under in the phone book?

I tried the casting eyes thing and I have a dreadful allergy to resin... I've been in and out of the hospital ever since I tried it.

I've also done a lot of doll stuff though (my dad moved away and my mom paid some people to trash his house.. they trashed my last sculpt with it)and I just got some more clay and such...

I still fully plan to do this, if it takes me years to have the skill to complete it. I'd like to start my own doll company someday. I just absolutely can NOT ever touch resin again... NEVER.

 

My, that's terrible. I assume you've got a severe allergic reaction to the chemicals. Did you attempt any sort of protection before trying to work with the resin? I'm going to be making my first resin casting sometime soon, and I want to know if I'm getting myself into something too dangerous.

 

I did it outside on a windy day, I had a mask and all (like what doctors use) but not a respirator. I thought that that would be enough. I guess it wasn't.

(Off handedly, although there are probably better places to ask, if I were to make a doll to cast and sell, but it was really big (2.5-3ft or more) would anybody actually want to buy it?)

 

I'd AVOID crystal clear if possible, it's REALLLLY bad for you, (It's so bad they advertise it for professional industrial use only) it is what causes severe reactions like poor Heather had (above). The normal resins are still bad but nowhere near as much. Not everyone will become allergic, but it happens. Usually with continued expose (and improper protection) is how you become allergic in most cases. Also, things like silicones and resins can make you susceptible to other allergies (makes you sensitive) so you suddenly will be allergic to shellfish or pollen when you were not before.

My teacher says he wants to stop teaching the casting class here at SCAD cause he said after 4 years he's surprised he is NOT allergic to everything yet, and wants to stop before he is. XD

Damn art for being so bad for you. XDD Everything is toxic for you and will give you cancer. Oh well, I can't give it up tho, I love art too much.

 

I wasn't sure whether I should post this as a new thread or just post it here....

I think I found a couple candidates for alternatives to resin that are safer to cast with: FORTON MG and Jesmonite. I was googling for "resin allergies," because I didn't realize just how toxic resin casting was until reading this thread. I found this thread about alternatives: http://www.sculpture.net/community/archive/index.php/t-4955.html , so I decided to look a few of them up. I couldn't find "water-based resins" last night like one person suggested, but I did find some information about Forton MG and Jesmonite.

Apparently they're resin blends that are less noxious. Both are described as "non-toxic" and "safe," so if they can cast small details well, they might be good alternatives for people that don't want to risk resin poisoning. Both are also described as strong, water/weather proof, and Jesmonite touts the term "environmentally friendly." I think one might have to paint the skin tone on for Forton as I don't see any mention of pigments (but there is mention of metal powders to create a metal look/feel), though, but that's a fair trade for not getting killed by the stuff. Oh, and Jesmonite is apparently fireproof, if that's important to anyone (anyone creating a fire-fighter or fire-elemental/user? :P).
(Forton info)
http://www.artmolds.com/gateway/technique/forton.htm
(A couple of places that seem to sell Forton incase anyone is interested.)
http://www.armsmodelit.com.au/ArmsForton.htm
http://compleatsculptor.com/Merchan...1&Product_Code=64002&Category_Code=MM%2FC
((Jesmonite info)
http://www.canonburyarts.co.uk/jesmix.html

Anyone know more about these? I think they're mostly intended for really big projects, so I don't know if they're supposed to pick up fine detail well.

 

Protection--it's not just for breakfast any more.

Read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) that you got with your product for details on what is necessary. If you did Not get an MSDS, request one. If that doesn't do the trick, demand one, go up lines of command, and generally get an MSDS. It is important.
The MSDS should give useful information on vapor pressures, etc., to tell how much exposure you'll be getting. Also carcinogenicity, LD50, flash points, etc.
You won't inhale much of a low vapor pressure item; it will stay in the liquid. And you won't need a gas mask.

If you have trouble understanding the terms used in the sheet, post here for help translating.


Nitrile gloves -- this is sort of like 'rubber' gloves, but, unlike latex, nitrile actually provides some protection from organic chemicals. Most organic solvents will go through latex gloves in under 30 seconds.

Masks--If you are wearing a mask, you need a 'gas-mask' sort, not a dust protection. The MSDS will give some indication of which filters you need, if any.

If you are commonly sensitive to volatile organic compounds, please be especially careful around mold-making and casting products.


Ann in CTC

 

It says in the Angels Guide BJD book that Fancyboots uses Michael Langton to cast her dolls.

 

Dont know if this has been asked before, but cant find anything. Does anyone know of a casting place in the UK?

 

Yes, this would be great to know...

 

Or a place anywhere in Europe would do!!

 

I just ran across this links page for professional mold makers and casters:

http://www.smooth-on.com/mmfhire.htm

They are all in the USA except for one, who is in Australia.

 

I recently contacted Lumicast about the classes and they said they were no longer offering them.

 

aw, man. Thats a shame. Its would be great if there was one in england ^^;;

EDIT: Actually scrap that I found one, but could someone tell me whether they use appropriate methods/materials? Thank you. ^^

http://www.resincasting.co.uk/

 

Doesn't Bobobie cast for other people? Or did I read something really wrong. ​

 

Bobobie casts for Lady Sayuki. I was thinking of asking them about doing it, but I only want two or three dolls, and EMS is quite expensive.

Is there anyone on DOA/ small artists who would hire themselves out to cast dolls? XD
I have tried before, but my doll was ruined, and I'd rather pay for all the materials+ pay people to do it right the first time...

 

I was looking for someone who can cast my doll for me. The service form many website are quite expensive. Anyone?

 

bobbie (Bobobie?) company is the one people are using now, both Kaye and Tinybear on here are using them they are in Korea I think. They make the mold and also do small corrections to be sure your doll with cast ok and also sand and string dolls.