Smooth-On Alja-Safe™ Lifecasting Alginate Molding Powder, 3-lb Box

Product was delivered on time and worked as promised. I used this along with plaster bandages (ACTIVA Rigid Wrap Plaster Cloth) to make a half cast of a models face. The half cast came out perfect. The detail it captures is amazing. As a professional special makeup effects artist, I am very pleased with this product. I've never been disappointed by any Smooth-on products.Note when using this product:-The warmer the water is the faster it will set up. I like to used cold water to give me more working time.-You need to work quickly, it goes from a creamy texture to a solid before you know it.-Cover the model's eyebrows (or any facial hair they want to keep) with vaseline. It will take your hair out.-If used on the head, cover the model's head with a bald cap (it will take your hair out)-After a few hours the alginate will start to shrink and dry out, so be ready to more whatever plaster or resin in the mold as soon as possible.-Shrinkage can be fun! I got the alginate off the plaster in one piece (yeah! that doesn't always happen) and saved it by placing some very wet paper towels in the alginate so it would shrink without cracking. I checked on it every day. After a few days the face impression was about the size of my hand and slightly warped. I poured plaster into the smaller head mold. The result is a plaster cast of a slightly "S" shaped, shrunken head. It's just a fun, weird conversation piece and it totally freaked my model out (so it was worth the time). If you have extra time and extra plaster.... and you like weird stuff. :)

Great product for making molds of any thing you want. Ive used it for making molds of different lure designs and they have all come out great.I see several reviews saying the product is crap and others saying do not buy it. All I can say is that your doing it WRONG! If you use warm water, you already screwed up. The water at 80 degrees actually feels slightly cold to the touch. The warmer the water, the faster it sets up. 50/50 mixing ratio is a bit off for my liking but that's my opinion. I like to add an extra ounce or so of water to thin it down a bit which produces excellent details and pouring ability. Ive done several molds from this package including hands, feet and a face and still have some left over to play with.The trick is to find a water proof container just slightly larger than what your casting so you use less product.I use old lures melted down in an old microwave for my lures. This product hold up very well. If you cast a larger piece, you will see steaming and bubbling of the melted lures but in the end, when its cool, you still get excellent results and very few bubbles.Please, do not be put off by the negative reviews. Not every one can read and comprehend the instructions. Some people do not even try something small to see how the product works before trying the actual project. Ive yet to screw up one single project.

I used this to make hand casts for a 3rd grade (8-9 yr old) Girl Scout troop. We did 8 hand casts in 32oz plastic deli containers (compliments of Fred Meyer - thank you!) and I still have enough left over for 1 more. The containers were filled to just 2 inches down before hands went in. We used the DAP plaster of paris Dap 10310 Plaster of Paris Tub Molding Material, 8-Pound, White to fill them and one 8lb canister was enough with extra left over. The girls did their own mixing and stirring with minimal help.Tips: The moms wanted to stir this like a batter, but that whips too much air in it. Stir in a circle with less up down so less air gets stuck as it thickens. Tap hard before hand goes in to let bubbles rise to top. If you want a smooth base for your hand, smooth the top of the alginate before it dries with bubbles. Fill mold with half the amount of plaster it needs, roll & tap well to remove bubbles, then fill to top mark.The mix is 1:1 by volume. The alginate powder completely dissolves similar to salt or sugar in the water. This means when you're trying to figure out how much you need, think about the water volume as being very close to your final volume when mixed.