Superglue in casting?

[Nicholas]

hi.
when I look at sculpts, I think about how impossible it is to sculpt them without superglue. If you are casting something can you use superglue in the sculpt?
I once sent something away for a casting thing, and because it had superglue in it, the guy in charge of the casting (Minimaker I think) said that it cant be cast with superglue because it melts in the mould. Is this true, and is there any subsitute, as I really want to cast some things, but they lie about so long they eventually get nocks and fall apart.

[goatman]

you need to check with your particular casting people if they can do it. If the superglue is not on the surface of the mini, for example holding on a hand to the wrist, it should be fine I think.

[eBob]

Well, I always use superglue - especially for fixing hands to wrists etc - sticking heads on and so on. Superglue does come unstuck in the mould process because of the extreme heat - so the green comes back in tiny pieces - but it's never caused a problem for me with the mould - the impression is made before the glue comes unstuck. But I have spotted evidence looking at the greens, that superglue goes brown and crusty and may even start to bubble - so use it sparingly - and I use the 'thin' version, which is like water.

The other option, just for safety if you're worried is to ask for a master mould to be made first - using a low temperature silicone rubber - this preserves the green better and the castsing are then used to make a full-on production mould.

This method costs you an extra mould - about £40 - but does also give you a master mould that can be kept safe should anything bad happed to the production mould - like it splitting or getting worn out (causing excess flash etc).

Personally - I just go for it, and I keep my fingers crossed. So far, not had any major problems.

Just don't use plastic or anything that is likely to melt like that - the rubber moulds are very hot and under a lot of pressue too.

[Nicholas]

thanks, Ill bear this all in mind.

I asume that If I superglue armatures together the glue will not harm the mini?

[eBob]

Should be ok. Use a bit of green to fix an armature and then apply superglue to the green to set it quickly.