USG Plasters and Information

US GYPSUM USG PLASTERS AND CASTABLES

This page contains items related to plasters and casting materials by US Gypsum.

Please call us toll-free at 1-888-774-2529 to order large quantities of the items on this page. Thank you.

We also supply Bentonite, fireclays, slip and many other materials used by artists and craftsmen to create castings.

See Raw Materials: USG Gypsum Plaster Selection Guide, Hints Tips, Below these products

USG Gypsum Plasters and Information:

HELPFUL HINTS FOR MIXING PROCEDURES FOR DRY PLASTERS

USG Pottery Plaster Mix For Wedging Tables:

For wedging boards or tables mix 70 parts of water to 100 parts plaster. This equals 4.17 gallons water per 50 pounds dry pottery plaster.

Successful mixing and use of industrial plasters requires following specific standards and procedures:

- The purest water available should be used; almost all drinkable water is suitable.

- A controlled temperature setting will provide the best results. Plaster and water should be contained at room temperature. Room temperature is about 70 degrees.

- Since water-to-plaster ratios effect absorption, strength, and mold performance, they should be continually checked by weighing the slurry in a container of known volume.

- If strength is the most important factor, longer mixing times are suggested, taking care not to over mix into the setting action of the plaster, which decreases strength.

- Batch size should allow for the pouring to be completed within 5 minutes after the slurry has been mixed.

- Plaster should be sifted slowly and evenly into water. Do not drop handfuls of plaster directly into the water.

- Hand mixing is only acceptable for batches up to 5 pounds.

US Gypsum Casting Materials and Other Plasters

#1 CASTING PLASTER - Similar to white art plaster, except mixed at a lower use consistency to increase strength, chip-resistant, and to further minimize paint absorption.

#1 MOULDING PLASTER

An ornamental plaster used for creating decorative trim or running cornices.

Designed for use where expansion control, hardness and strength are not primary considerations.

#1 POTTERY PLASTER - Highly uniform, noted for outstanding performance and long life. The standard of the industry - USG plaster is the best material available for sanitary ware and dinnerware casting. Used for making plaster bats, wedging boards, and working molds. This is a relatively soft plaster which may be used for carving.

CERAMI-CAL - A low-consistency form of HYDROCAL Gypsum cement compounded to produce a dense, smoot- wearing die material for pressing clayware. Characterized by low absorption, high strength, ability to purge easily, and resistance to abrasion and wear. Specifically for use with the RAM automatic clay-forming process.

DRYSTONE - Fast setting high strength product that needs no drying. An environmentally sound alternative to resin-based products. No hazardous chemicals or waste, no styrene emissions and no required environmental controls.

DURAMOLD - High performance plaster delivers a longer-lasting, more durable slip casting mold. Created to meet the demanding needs of the slip casting industry. Compared to #1 POTTERY PLASTER, DURAMOLD features longer mold life and higher wet and dry compressive strength.

Ideal for both casting and jiggering applications.

HYDROCAL FGR 95 - Unique, high-strength gypsum cement for use with glass fiber for fabricating glass-reinforced gypsum cement products.

HYDROPERM - A specially formulated product incorporating an airentraining agent to provide permeability. For producing permeable plaster molds for precision casting of many nonferrous metals and alloys.

HYDRO-STONE - One of the hardest and strongest of all gypsum cements. When mixed properly, has a heavy, syrupy consistency ideal for pouring solid models or patterns. Recommended for stretch-press dies where extreme surface hardness is required. Slightly higher setting and expansion than ULTRACAL 30. Used for high quality art novelty and statuary castings.

PURITAN POTTERY PLASTER - Unique, specially designed for use with mechanical clay forming machinery. Absolutely the hardest, most wear-resistant plaster made for molds, and a favorite for jiggering molds.

STATUARY HYDROCAL - A basic HYDROCAL cement with a lower use consistency of about 40 lbs. of water per 100 lbs. of plaster. Extremely hard and strong with improved plasticity. Designed for solid and hollow art casting.

TUF CAL - A polymer modified, high early strength, fibered plaster that has been specifically designed for all statuary applications where greater resiliency and chip resistance is desired. Can be slush cast as well as solid cast. Mechanical mixing is required for best results.

TUF STONE - Designed for solid casting with much higher impact-and chip-resistance. Polymer modified and fibered for much higher resilience.

WHITE HYDROCAL - Used for making plaster objects, a neutral gypsum cement having a normal set of 25 minutes. When formed under a template it is slightly on the “short side” and has a tendency to tear. The setting expansion is somewhat greater than ULTRACAL 30.

ULTRACAL 30 - This is a low-absorption gypsum cement for case molds. Specially made for close-tolerance tooling - provides the greatest hardness, accuracy and freedom from efflorescence of any gypsum cement on the market. Recommended where extreme accuracy and greater surface hardness are required, as in duplicator models. It has the lowest expansion of any rapid-setting gypsum cement available. Has a gradual set and long period of plasticity.

ULTRACAL 60 - Similar in all respects to ULTRACAL 30 except that it sets in about one hour. Designed for very large models where additional working time and the highest possible degree of accuracy are required.