I just bought a bottle of this stuff and on the directions it says to mix 3 scoops per 1 measure of water. Well...a scoop wasn't in my bottle. Could I just mix this up untill it gets soupy or is the ratio critical for picking up detail and durability?
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it would not mater if it was a 55 gallon drum, you would still mix a 3 powder to 1 water. wiether it is a teaspoon or a cup it is three to one mixture.
I forget exactly what the quantity is - but a 'measure' is an actual amount of material used in labs etc. One of their scoops might not equal a 'measure'. I've always eyeballed alginate and never worried too much about specific equations (one part water to three parts powder or whatever it works out to). I aim for a consistency that is a bit thinner than mayonaise and never have any problems with it curing etc. As long as it has some ability to flow you'll be OK. So there's a rough guideline for you if exact measurements aren't working out =)
I would like to be a little more clear than raven and john were.
If you want the stuff to do what they say it will do ;Then mix it
as they say.
If you dont mind if it comes out with lumps and has dry pockets or
it's to runny and sets up slower in some places and faster in others,
just mix in the water.
What are there measurements equal to? If it was an easy 3 to 1 ratio I would just mix it that way, but from what they show it looks like the measurements aren't equal parts.
I guess I'll just mess around with it untill I find the ratio I like the best. Thanks eveyone!
Sounds like they are using two different measurements for their ratio. For the powders they are telling you to use "scoops" and for the water they are telling you to use "measures" which as I said is an actual measurement used in labs etc. I'll try to find what a 'measure' is equal too - but that still doesn't help you as you don't know how much one of their scoops is equal too! That's why I said go with something a bit thinnner than mayonaise - any alginate I've ever used when mixed exactly by their measurements turns out to be about that consistency. Thick pancake batter is another good reference.
Good luck! =)
I was trying some ratios out and at first I must have added extra water after it started to kick because it ended up looking like cottage cheese when I was pouring, the second batch was better still a little thick but I'll have it down in another batch or two. Thanks again.