NATURAL LATEX MOLDMAKING COMPOUND
FOR BRUSH-ON MOLDS

FEATURES: One part, no mixing or weighing needed. Tougher than any other mold rubber.

DESCRIPTION: Poly Latex 60 is a one-part, brush-on liquid which after multiple coats, drying between each coat, is built up to 1/16th inch to 1/8th inch thick to form a tough rubber blanket mold, often used for casting plaster, concrete and limited casting with some resins.

While Poly Latex 60 has better tear strength than synthetic rubbers and is sometimes preferred for molds that are peeled off the casting like a sock, two-part synthetic rubbers like Polygel® 40 and 50 can be brushed-on to final thickness in an afternoon and should also be considered for molds wherever latex may be used.

MODEL PREPARATION: Seal porous surfaces with shellac. Often no other release is needed. Avoid oils, petroleum jelly or oil clays. Avoid application directly on metals. Test coat a small area to check for good release.

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MAKING THE MOLD: Apply with a brush in a thin coating. Allow to dry in a warm area until white color disappears. Apply another coat and allow to dry. Between six to thirty coats may be needed.

SAFETY: Poly Latex 60 contains ammonia and is an alkaline dispersion which may cause burns of skin and eyes. Avoid skin and eye contact. Use with adequate ventilation. In case of contact, flush eyes with plenty of water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention. Remove from skin and clothing with soap and water.

CLEANUP: Remove wet latex with soap and water. Dried latex can be softened with waterless hand cleaner.

STORAGE: Store at 50-70oF. Exposure to temperatures below 40oF and above 80oF may damage latex, causing irreversible coagulation. DO NOT ALLOW TO FREEZE. Storage life is at least three months from date of shipment.

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CASTABLE RUBBER AND DIP MOLD RUBBER

FEATURES:

• One part, no mixing or weighing needed.
• Forms hollow castings without roto-molding.
• Use to create faster latex molds by dipping plaster models.
• Tough, tear resistant casting rubber.

DESCRIPTION: Poly Latex False Face Compound is a one part pourable liquid which, when poured into a dry, unsealed gypsum mold, cures to a high strength flexible casting rubber. Poly Latex False Face Compound has been formulated to produce flexible hollow parts for such uses as novelty masks, flexible sculpture and animatronic applications. It can also be used with a dipping technique to create latex molds much faster than by brushing.

MODEL PREPARATION: This product must be cast into a dry, unsealed, porous plaster mold, to allow for proper curing. When dipping is employed to create a latex blanket mold, the master/model must be made of dry, unsealed, porous plaster for proper rubber buildup and curing. The suitability of other porous materials must be determined by the user.

CASTING PROCEDURE: Poly Latex False Face Compound must be shaken or stirred before use. Pour into a dry, unsealed gypsum mold. Tilting or lightly vibrating the mold may be helpful in eliminating bubbles if the mold contains complex undercuts or deep details. The excess material can be immediately poured back into the container for a thin skin or allowed to stand longer for a thicker skin. A standing time of 15 minutes yields a thickness of about 3/32 inches in a No. 1 Pottery Plaster mold.

Denser plasters such as Hydrocal are not as absorbent thus causing thicknesses to build slower. The material is then allowed to dry in the mold for 24 hours at room temperature. Drying time can be accelerated by drying at elevated temperatures.

USING THE CASTING: Lightly dusting the inside of the casting with talc will prevent the dry rubber from sticking to itself. Avoid exposing the casting to oils, grease, or solvents. Castings should be stored out of direct sunlight.

MAKING THE MOLD USING THE DIPPING TECHNIQUE: -Start with a bucket of False Face Compound. Dip your plaster model into the latex. Withdraw the model from the latex and correct any bubbles by rotating the model or using a brush. Dip the model back in and let it remain suspended in the latex for 45 to 60 minutes. Remove the model from the latex and stand the model upright. Close the False Face container tightly for future use.

Allow the rubber to dry on the model for 2 or 3 days. A mother mold can be constructed at this point. Remove the mold from the model and allow the latex to dry for an additional 2 or 3 days before doing any casting.

The process does have some limitations. The model must have a basic pyramidal shape to allow for seamless mold. The model must be made of unsealed plaster, preferably dry pottery plaster. The total curing time can take several days, but the labor savings is tremendous compared to brushing on layer after layer.

SAFETY: See Poly Latex 60.

CLEANUP: See Poly Latex 60.

STORAGE: See Poly Latex 60.

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