I recently got to experience the magic of hand casting – having my hand cast in a group using high definition alginate. This is a different process to the normal stone casting kits. Instead of putting your hands into a pail, you hands are place flat on a table and the alginate is poured over your hands. Very important - use a disposable plastic drop sheet. This wasn't just any hand casting, though. It was done by a true pro, someone with over 20 years of experience here to teach me some tips and tricks. So, naturally, it was flawless.
The setting was a small gathering of two adults and four children ranging in age from 10 to 12, all eager to immortalize their hands in alginate. Our experienced caster, Debbie explained each step, making sure everyone, felt comfortable. BIG TIP, make sure they area you are sitting in is comfortable with seating around a table so that you can stay still for 20 minutes at least.
A crucial tip Debbie shared, especially for group castings like ours, was the importance of keeping our fingers pressed firmly against each other. This prevents any gaps from forming between the hands where the stone could later seep in, ruining the final cast.
It was fascinating to watch Debbie work, her movements precise and confident. She mixed the alginate with practiced ease, the consistency perfect. When applying the alginate, Debbie stressed the importance of pressing it firmly into and around all parts of the fingers and hands. This ensures that every detail is captured and that there are no gaps in the mould. They even demonstrated how to press the alginate up from the sides of the fingers, ensuring complete coverage.
The alginate was cool and surprisingly smooth. It felt a little strange at first, but I quickly got used to it. The whole process was remarkably quick and efficient. Debbie worked swiftly and skillfully, ensuring that every hand, big and small, was perfectly encased in the alginate mould.
The detail in the final cast was incredible, capturing every line and wrinkle on my hand. and even my bracelet. A good tip is if you are wearing jewellery when it is your turn to remove your hand, don't drag it out or you will ruin the impression of the jewellery and you can rip the mould. Rather gently loosen the seal around your arm by gently twisting and wherever the jewellery is move in the opposite direction to where it is pressed (in this case I moved my hand down). Then you can gently slide your hand out making sure not to touch the alginate mould.
We did have one mishap where a finger was missing, so the importance of getting the plaster stone mixture into the fingertips is very important.
Having my hand cast by a seasoned professional was a completely stress-free and ultimately perfect experience. It gave me a newfound appreciation for the skill and artistry involved in this process.
- Mel
