This is a tutorial on how to cast a replica plaster hand. It is a pretty easy project to do and it comes out terrific looking. The possibilities are endless with a project like this.

Quick Overview of the process:

There isn't a whole lot to something like this. First you mix up a batch of skin safe rubber mold making material. We use something called Alja Safe. You dip your hand into it and let it cure. Then you remove your hand. This leave a hole in the rubber that is the shape of your hand!. Then you mix up some plaster and pour it into that mold. Once that plaster cures you remove it from the mold. That's it!

I bought a kit that makes this process very easy. But you don't need a kit. You can do all this with some various materials. Here is the Smooth On life casting kit that I bought available on Amazon.com

Life Casting Starter Kit With Alja-Safe Alginate It includes everything you need except water. And the container is what you dip your hand into.

Measure out the amount of alja safe that you need.

Mix it with warm water of an equal amount. I used six cups of alja safe so I mixed it with six cups of warm water. 80 degrees F is about optimal for alja safe. Follow the directions for whatever rubber making material you use.

Pour that mold making material into the container you will dip your hand into.

Before plunging your hand into the rubber dip your hand in warm water.

Slowly plunge your hand into the rubber. Think about the pose you want your hand to be in. And keep all parts of the hand away from the walls or bottom of the container. You need a half inch of rubber all the way around the edge of the container.

Wait the specified amount of time. For alja safe it is between 8 and 10 minutes.

Remove your hand slowly from the mold. You can wiggle your hand and fingers to loosen the grip on your skin.

You now have a rubber mold of your hand. Let's cast plaster into it and make the hand copy.

Lets continue with the tutorial

MORE OPTIONS AND PRODUCTS

Alja-Safe Alginate 3-lb Box Here is the skin safe rubber making compound alone.

Alja-Safe® alginate is suitable for making temporary molds of the face, hands and other body parts. It is easy to use and cures quickly. You can then cast plaster or other materials into the mold to make a reproduction. Alja-Safe® does not contain free crystalline silica, a known carcinogen, that other alginates do.

PerfectCast Casting Material

This is a plaster casting material. This is something that you can cast into the rubber mold to make the item.