Plaster Casting Techniques on How to Make Excellent Plaster Designs

Blog |December 13th, 2018

Plaster is one of the most versatile materials one can use for art work and industry. It is easy to mix, durable, low-maintenance and low-cost. Back in the day, plaster was the favoured medium for artistic architecture, and it was employed extensively for both interior and exterior décor.

Today, plaster is undergoing a slow but sure revival in both commercial and home aesthetics, replacing moulded plastics, wood, and metal as the favoured decorative medium for both interior and exterior applications. The current revival in plaster’s popularity is partly due to its versatility and ease of manufacture.

In the past, intricate plaster décor were handmade and typically custom-designed for a specific clientele and their exacting specifications. Nowadays, it is quite easy to find intricate plaster bric-a-brac and décor, in almost any home depot store, all thanks to the marvels of mass production.

The wonderful thing about plaster is that it can now be easily replicated using the same process that allowed for earlier attempts at its mass-production. Through the use of casting, it is now possible to replicate old, custom-made plaster patterns and designs that can be mass-produced to very exacting and accurate results.

Here are some plaster casting tips and techniques on how to make excellent plaster designs:

• Proper mixing – one of the most common problems that arise when casting plaster is the formation of pesky air bubbles that can ruin the whole piece. In order to prevent this from happening, it is important that the plaster is mixed thoroughly and shaken during the slip-casting process. This prevents the formation of air bubbles and ensures a clean, perfect cast.

• Using the right moulds – the right moulds to use when casting plaster should vary depending on the type of cast you want, or, more specifically, the amount of detail you are after. It also follows that you will need to use the right sort of lubrication to make the removal of your set piece easier – and these can vary between talcum powder to a light coating of oil.

• Combining binders – plaster can be made more durable, water-resistant, and even stone-like with the addition of different types of binders. Knowing what to mix with your standard preparation of plaster can mean all the difference, and it pays to know what works with what.

If you want professional advice on plaster casts, as well as general info on its upkeep, maintenance, installation, and advantages of using plaster for interior and exterior décor, for either commercial or residential properties, then contact us here at Hopkins Plaster Studio.

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