MONKEYqpHUNTER Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 do you bake your pop molds in the same oven that you cook in ????? and how long and what temp ?????????? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubinator Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 1 hour per inch thick at 350 F is recommended. But because of overshoot of most ovens and kilns,I prefer 325 for a little longer time. The idea is not to vaporized the water in the mold to quickly or you may get cracking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassnRandy Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 Did a batch last night. You have to learn your stove. I get best results at about 300 degrees. I bake them on a cookie sheet. If you take them out and there is moisture on the sheet under the mold you need to bake longer. But like Tubinator said about 1 hour per inch works very well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 I used to have an oven about 10 years ago that wasn't very good at keeping a set temperature and a oven thermometer was needed to make sure nothing got to burnt up. You might want to stick one in your oven if you think your thermostat is off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKEYqpHUNTER Posted December 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 are you all cooking the molds in your kitchen oven or do you guys have a old one just for this..............thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 I think most of them use something besides the kitchen oven, but a simple thermometer like you would use for baking, would help you get a better idea of the actual temperature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 I live in rented accomodation. The landlord is a pain in the asss, I never use the oven so I have no problem using it as part of my chemistry set. The oven is a cheapo calor gas, piece of. The thermostat (HA!) is a twist knob with no markings. I look at the flame, it is either high or low, so I use low. I also open the patio door as there is no vent for it. I've been caught out by CO poisoning before. Regarding plaster, as far as I know and googled, there is only water comming out of the plaster, the chemical reaction has already finished. Even during the chemical reaction, it was harmless, except for the heat. I judge the time by picking it up every 30 mins. If it feels light, it's done. Usually works out about 90 mins. I find that if you over do it, the mould can get powdery and be a problem sealing if you use a brush. The brush disturbs the surface. If you are not sure and want to use a brush, use a very soft brush, landlords cat works well. Turn it over on its back and test it (the mould, not the cat). If it does wear the surface, use a different method, I splash a 50/50% PVA (elmers) water mix, without touching the surfaces and leave for 24 hours. Sorry, got carried away there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKEYqpHUNTER Posted December 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 lol thanks............shane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dutchman Posted December 24, 2007 Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 There is a whole wealth of info on using plaster for molding and casting at www.plaster.com/howtoguides.html#self. Go to plaster craft handbook and in the table of contents pull up drying castings - it states NEVER to use you oven to dry them as it could ruin the casting and the oven. Also other good info on plaster in table of contents. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKEYqpHUNTER Posted December 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 dutchman thats great info and alot of help thanks ..........shane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 24, 2007 Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 I could not find the part were it says ovens were bad, I am not doubting you, I only read it quickly. The article was interesting and informative. The recommended temperature was 120 deg F, in air fan driers. It also states that if the plaster is over dried, calcination occurs and the surface becomes powdery. I found that one out! If the drying process is too fast, cracking can occur, as the casting dries from the outside, in. As far as I can establish, apart from evaporating moisture, nothing else is going on. Everyone who uses PoP will probably agree that using an oven to dry the castings is not the ideal solution, but the alternative of waiting days for the thing to air dry does not fit in with my plans, I'm 51 and time is running out! So, I am going to accept the risks and continue with the oven. I am going to heed the new information and reduce the drying temperature by keeping the oven door ajar. Each oven is going to behave differently and a learning curve exists, a 'feel' for the drying times required comes with practise and experience. If you acquire a new oven, you've got to start over. But I could have a dozen attempts to get the result I want in the time it would take to air dry my mould. As long as you have a master, I really don't see the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuteman Posted December 24, 2007 Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 I had trouble with the Dutchman link...try this if you have trouble http://www.plaster.com/Howtoguides.html I reckon it is the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 24, 2007 Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 Thanks Minuteman, yes, I read that doc, but could not find the oven reference. I think I'm just tired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted December 24, 2007 Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 The battle between the left and right brain continues… To cure plaster molds in the oven or no? Consider the following factors (aka: things I may have to tell the wife to prevent getting the beating of life time if I get caught ~ leave aside for the moment the fact that I may or may not be trying to provoke this behavior from my wife) I can’t see it becoming a culture medium that would harbor hazardous bacteria when in use for actual food preparations, even if said plaster was spilled in the oven. Some of the messes and stuff I’ve seen growing in kitchen ovens looks like a bio-hazard requiring a HazMat crew to clean and restore to a non-toxic level. Perhapes converting, or even replacing, the oven with a chemiclave using the unsaturated chemical vapor method to inactivate all bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores before meals preperation would be in order. The low-humidity process requires no time-consuming drying phase, because nothing gets wet. Imagin a being able to multi-task by melting your plastics and cookind a roast at the same time and not having to fear cross-contamination. And, this would offer the benifet of adding scent to your plactics at the same time. Has anyone actually tested the effect of adding pork roast flavor to a pumckin colored grub??? Yeah, I think you can safely use to oven to dry your plaster molds… I remember a childhood friend’s first apartment and his dual purpose oven and cloths dyer…. Oooch, I hit my head on the outside of the box, that’s gonna leave a mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKEYqpHUNTER Posted December 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 wow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dutchman Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 Vodkaman - go to the link, look for plaster craft handbook, click on it, find drying castings in the table of contents, clink on it - you should see it in bold type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 I can see the bold face, I don't understand how it may ruin the oven and the source doen't explain it. Why can't an oven be used??? Skip it, I stand by my earlier post and suggest a chemiclave as a possible method of curing plaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 Thanks Dutchman, Finally found it! Just a pity they didn't explain why the oven is at risk. I understand the risk to the casting and accept that. Personally, I will continue, lowest heat and door ajar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 Here is a possible alternative method of drying PoP. I posted it in homebrew tools, as it is applicable to hardbaits also. http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?p=76054#post76054 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickcalderone Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Posted by VODKAMAN..."If you are not sure and want to use a brush, use a very soft brush, landlords cat works well. Turn it over on its back and test it (the mould, not the cat)..." HAHAHAHHAHAHA.... Good one, VODKAMAN.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
