Gauze cloth that is imbued with plaster of Paris serves many purposes – from orthopedics to reinforcing flexible molds before casting. The process is simple and the results are very effective.
Plaster is a white powder that is mixed with water to form a paste which can then be applied on any surface. It will dry to form a hard and brittle substance. Commonly used as a building material, plaster can protect the walls or even be used to create decorative elements on walls and ceilings.
The same plaster is also used to immobilize a broken limb till the fracture heals and the bone has set into place. For this purpose, gauze cloth that has been impregnated with plaster of Paris is wetted and applied on the limb.
Surprisingly, the same plaster gauze can be used in making molds for casting purposes as well. Indeed, the bandages serve well for making shell or mother molds that will reinforce flexible rubber molds and keep them from flopping or losing their shape.
How to use?
The plaster bandage comes in standard lengths and widths. It iswrapped on a plastic spool which facilitates easy rolling out and even wetting. When it is exposed to water, a chemical reaction takes place and the plaster starts to harden. It sets to form a rigid structure that continues to stay absorbent.
Therefore, the plaster gauze is firstcut into short lengths and each piece is immersed in water and gently squeezed before applying on the rubber mold. It is smoothened with a gentle hand to remove the air bubbles and form an even surface. The processis repeated with each strip being applied in an overlapping manner on the previous one. A couple of layers may be required to build up sufficient thickness in the shell mold.
Once it has dried sufficiently, both the molds can be lifted off easily together. The outer shell mold will help the inner flexible mold to retain its shape and facilitate proper casting. Without this, the cast would become distorted for sure.
This technique is used in making body molds as well. The alginate mold is reinforced with a shell mold made of plaster of Paris bandages. At times, these bandages are directly applied on the body to make form molds. This is common practice for making belly molds for pregnancy castings as they do not require any intricate details. Artists even tend use them on the face to capture the basic structure of the face for making masks and the like.
Those who are looking to source plaster of Paris bandages can easily find them on EnvironMolds. This is a leading art supplier that specializes in mold making, casting and life casting products. It has become a one-stop resource for artists as they can find all the materials, supplies and equipment under one virtual roof itself! In addition to this, it brings the assurance of getting quality products at a reasonable price.
