Mixing
Told you I was going to cover the basics! This might sound like something so basic that it doesn't need a guide but if you've ever ended up with fingers coated in wet putty and a sticky mass of soft stuff that's only 50% the size it should be,
and you're not even sure it's properly mixed, then you know it's sometimes not as simple as it seems... Milliput newbies, I feel your pain.
Plus there are better and faster ways than just smooshing the two parts together (although this does work fine with some putties, especially for smaller amounts). Saving time on mixing might seem like overkill but if you sculpt in epoxies for many years you'll be doing this a lot, usually at least once each session, so there's no point in doing it more slowly than necessary.
If there are two distinct properties to the two components (the hardener being smoother and less like clay, e.g. in MagicSculp and Apoxie Sculpt) then press the smoother one into a blanket and wrap it around the softer one. Trust me, this really does make a difference! Roll it between your fingertips gently to make a small sausage. Now twist, then fold, roll into a sausage again then twist then fold. Rinse and repeat a few times. With the easier-to-mix materials like MS and AS you should be nearly done already, just roll and fold a couple more times and the putty is ready to go. I've timed it, this takes less than a minute; if you're working with a small amount you can get it done in under 30 seconds.
Alternate method for larger quantities: roll both materials into sausages, press them together then fold, roll into a sausage between your palms, roll and fold, roll and fold.
Now last thing, you think you're done because the putty is mixed? Nope: go and wash your hands! There are chemicals in epoxies that can cause severe skin irritation over time, the effects being cumulative and at worst, very severe. Since you don't know if you're one of the unlucky people who will be affected by this it's better to be cautious. So either wash your hands immediately after mixing (and minimise direct contact with the putty afterwards) or use gloves or finger cots in latex, vinyl or nitrile to prevent contact entirely.
Now, if you have to use an epoxy putty that's very sticky and you're getting too much of it adhering to your hands or gloves when you mix, lubricate 'em (see options below).
Putty is "too sticky"
Although it is hard to get used to sticky putty this is actually a good property, the thing to do is either learn to deal with it when it's at its worst, or, skip over that step in the curing process.
One common piece of advice for new users of epoxy putty who might find them too soft or sticky to begin with is to let them sit for a while after mixing before you set to work. So let the blob sit for at least a few minutes, although some recommend longer - 10 minutes up to half an hour or more. You still should have between one and three hours of good working properties depending on the epoxy you're using and the temperature.
The other main recommendation for putty that's sticking to your hands and tools is to lubricate them, or the putty surface. Lubricants to try:
talc;
water;
saliva (don't get into the habit of putting your tools directly into your mouth to moisten them);
hair conditioner;
moisturiser;
glycerine;
vegetable oil;
mineral oil;
petroleum jelly.
There are believe it or not even more things that could be added to this list but it gives you a starting point, everyone has at least two of these on hand to try
My view is that lubricants can be a bit of a crutch, and overuse of them can cause more problems than they solve (as well as some characteristic features in the shaped putty). But that said use them as you need to, my rule of thumb being
use as much as necessary but as little as possible, especially so if you're using one of the oily options.
Kneadatite is one notable exception here as this tends to stick to tools so much that some lubrication is mandatory, but for most of the common clay-like sculpting compounds very little lubricant is actually needed if you work a certain way; as I mention above this does also depend a bit on what tools you're using.
Fingerprints in the putty getting you down?
Easy fix - don't press it into position with your fingers
Fingerprints can be a pain to get rid of, especially if you don't notice a small area until much later in the working period when the putty has more 'rebound', where texture that has been smoothed off can return to some degree.
My main advice on these is get into the habit of moving the putty from the mixed blob on the table to the surface of the model using a sculpting tool. However, sometimes pressing the putty into position with your finger is exactly what's needed... just don't use your fingertip! Use the flat of your fingernail or your knuckle/back of the finger which have a much less evident texture, one that's not so instantly noticeable if you miss any. Or as with mixing wear gloves or finger cots.
Einion
