How to Mold and Cast Your Hand! Lifecasting a Hand with Alginate and Plaster

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[@mikki429]

Some more tips for anyone who wants to do this themselves: Use distilled water. Mineral content can cause alginate to not set. You can change how fast alginate sets up by using warmer water for a quicker set or colder water for a longer setting time. Great video, April! Fun way to use a life cast!

[@talladegadude4852]

Love, love LOVE the holding hands of your parents! What a precious keepsake!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Yes, that is something special.

[@alienh1701]

Your parents are adorable! So are you! We love your channel and we watch it so much. You are my daughter's hero and because of you she asks for tools. I LOVE IT!!! I will be teaching her to weld this summer since she is twelve. Blessings and keep being awesome.

[@AprilWilkerson]

That is awesome! Give her a high five for me!

[@DIYMontreal]

Awesome project, so original! Love how you brought your parents in on it :)

[@CannonBall31058]

Pretty cool stuff... Actually, my wife's birthday is coming up, so last weekend I experienced my first hand dip as well. I casted my hand holding a heart to represent me giving her my heart for the rest of our days. It all sits on a base casted from a plastic food storage bowl. Would send picture but not if that's possible. Love all you do. I enjoy everything you do in your videos. Only wish I had the BIG shop like you. Take care April....

[@MrFixItDIY]

I remember back in the day they used to have little kiosks in the mall where you did this in wax. All the cool kids had them on the shelves in their bedrooms.

[@arielochoa4477]

April Wilkerson always delivers - prove me wrong I truly enjoy your channel!

[@kylepost4]

Your parents are so precious

[@FordFracture]

We did this with our kids hands back in the 90's and put them in shadow boxes for both of their grandmothers and they loved them . The paint idea is good because the plaster turn yellow over time but we didn't find that out many years later but both grandparents have candy dishes out on the coffee tables and the candy is has got to be from the late 60s so a little yellow isn't so bad I guess !

[@AprilWilkerson]

: ) haha I love that idea. I bet you could clear coat them and that might prevent them from yellowing. Now that they are already yellow, you could paint them white.

[@FordFracture]

@@AprilWilkerson yep but sadly they have passed on now so I've got this creepy glass wall cabinet with a bunch of little hands in our bedroom now

[@SgtBooker44]

Awesome April. I have a 3 year old granddaughter and her mom is getting an awesome birthday present his September.

[@amandamadden4176]

I have been going crazy trying to find a place to put the kids coat and backpack. I'm super excited to try your idea. I think this will be so fun! We , my husband and I, did do the couple cast. But I'm super excited to use some of your tips for the kids hand prints!!!

[@dewexdewex]

We did each others' faces with alginate years ago. Straws up the nose for breathing through and just paint a layer on about 10mm thick. This goes off and then add a layer of plaster impreg bandage on top of that to give the mould stability. There's no joking during the process as the subject cannot move. Good fun and a great way to get all your friend's card details while they're out of action during mould making!

[@JonnyDIY]

Well that was a Nice, Fun Project April. Sometimes its nice to take a day off to do funny "tinkering" projects

[@mfwoodshop]

Cool idea, I did a casting of me holding a light socket then I wired it up to light up a bulb. Lots of fun and your right it does make a mess.

[@stacygray9852]

Love this!!! My husnand and I have always done the I LOVE YOU sign when we are driving away or sitting somewhere where we can't talk. Like at an event. For our 20th this year I want to make him a hat holder 'dish' with I LOVE YOU signed with my hands. So definetly needed a video on hands that are formed into a gesture not just plain hand mold. Thanks for the video.

[@markissboi3583]

IF your carefull you can use Sand Compact it well b4 you withdraw we made a Moulten led hand in 1970s but did in the ground 1 time soil was a bit damp and led erupted a bit 👍

[@PerkinsPartyof5]

Love this!! Just got the materials in the mail and now my kids and I are ready to mold our hands!!! Thank you🎉❤

[@AprilWilkerson]

Awesome! Make a great Memory to keep and in making it. Thanks for watching.

[@JeffGloverArts]

Great video! Thanks! I did something similar years ago (before I'd heard of alginate). I made a two part mold (of my clenched fist and forearm) from plaster of Paris, using dimples for the registration marks so the second half would align. I had to use vaseline as a release agent, then clamped the pieces together and poured the plaster for the positive. I implanted a bolt as well as this was designed to stand on a base (freehand pour and a little "machining"). The end result was a plastic lightning bolt gripped in the fist. It was the "Hand O' God" award for when one of us destroyed a client's files with our custom-written software (intended to fix a problem). NO ONE wanted to get this award! I like yours better and will be doing something similar soon.

[@SciHeartJourney]

I'm going to make a "gauntlet" for my hand to control a robotic hand. So I first need a "copy" of my hand to work with. I'm right handed, so I'll use my left. This way I can work on it while I'm testing it. Thank you for your video. This looks fun. I've found that the "Blick" website has a pretty good price for that Alginate.

[@ritterjon]

💥terrific idea! My kids would love this👍

[@williamellis8993]

Really neat! I loved seeing your parents make the casting and how much they are in love.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Yeah, they are the sweetest. : )

[@larrybe2900]

Gotta hand it to you April, we even love the wrinkles.

[@westcorkmucksavage]

Brick in the Yard Mold Supply is also in Texas. They are a good resource. I've always added the water to the alginate because it is so light, it floats. it's easier to mix if the alginate starts on the bottom.

[@versterker1981]

Thank you, exactly the technique I needed, beautifully done!!

[@BrothersMake]

Very cool! Got a cool idea for a fist bump light switch that this would be perfect for!

[@Wordsnwood]

Wow, you did a lot of casting! Turned out better than I expected. Sweet.

[@jimmcewan417]

you can pour a little casting mixture in and try to coat all the surfaces and add some glass fibers to the rest of the mix in order to strengthen the finnished mould

[@LOYALONESTILL]

Great make you smile video ! Nice family touch. Don't forget your man ! :) Great job !

[@FancyDeeOfficielle]

Thank you for providing what you used in this product. You did the hard work for me

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad it was helpful!

[@winterslastcrow]

Thanks for sharing! I'm going to try to make my hand as a holder for a pot to hold orchids.

[@thisisabadname7599]

Big ups isotunes pro And also a shoutout to their absolutely sound customer service

[@radish6691]

Are you kidding? Just last night I was looking up how to do this because I want to make coat hooks that are hands. I’m glad I didn’t order a bunch of stuff before watching this!

[@turbo2ltr]

I've made a cast of an amputee's arm stump, haven't done anything with it other than make a plaster positive, but plan to lay up some carbon fiber to make a socket for a custom prosthetic.

[@bransonhauntedhills]

As a haunter, we use livecasting often! I loved seeing your parents casting their hands while holding hands. I would like to do that with my hubby! I have watched every single one of your videos but haven't been commenting since I have been laid up after surgery earlier this year. Now it's time to go back and comment on all of the ones I missed commenting on! Huge fan!

[@TheWoodBasher]

What a fun project for something so simple! Nice work as allways!

[@AprilWilkerson]

yes exactly, it's simple but extremely fun!

[@BrianJones-vq8hs]

Hey that Encore plastics mix cup was made in Cambridge, Ohio. I know i use to work there. It always fun to see there products in videos and tv.

[@chaseware3181]

I love this April I have been watching since 15K subs and may I say your one beautiful woman who does a bunch of beautiful work.

[@jewdd1989]

Omg!!! I’m an interpreter (developing) and oml the asl handshapes that can be made!!!... endless I love you sign or I really love you, abcs etc

[@viper5788]

I wish someone could interpret your comment to me lol jk idk haha. That would be cool for you and your clients I'm sure! Just a joke! No disrespect intended! I hope you find this funny

[@carlosgarcia3390]

That's a great "Hook 'em Horns" cast! Gonna have to try it.

[@bradalms6753]

That's a lot of fun. I like to see the love of your parents: not many keep close like that. Thanks

[@ggattsr]

It has been such a blast watching you become the online superstar of DIY in Texas. Keep it up.

[@flightofapaullo72]

I gotta try this! 👍 Have a great day April!😃

[@AprilWilkerson]

: ) you too!

[@kennethtibbitts6641]

SUPER COOL IDEA APRIL!

[@Natschke_Family_Adventures]

That is pretty cool. I've started taking pallets and making piles of wood out of them.

[@gearhead4526]

If you put a couple drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid in the plaster/drywall mixture when mixing it up, it will for the most part solve the problem with the bubbles forming at the surface.

[@mrcannamike5636]

My kit came in Tuesday, looking forward to making a couple molds.

[@eddiewethington1224]

Awesome April. The rock-on symbol is very identical to John Dudley’s Nok-On archery symbol. Very creative.

[@billythekidpi]

Great and very unique project April. You inspire me to make better KZbin videos.

[@Fuddpucker2009]

And you cook as well......when do you have time...great job!!

[@FigmentsMade]

The drill holder is such a fabulous idea! I haven't done this kind of casting since college but I had forgotten how much fun it can be. Thank you for the reminder!

[@darrinplank]

I’ve made all kinds of molds. My head, hands, body parts, friends head casts. I also did skulls for my wedding that were translucent and put LEDs tea light candles in them . They’re on my KZbin.

[@07serda]

Excited to try and thanks for posting the idea!

[@dustinfarinha2836]

Would your mold material handle moderate heat? Like melted wax?

[@maehay4065]

This is so cool!!! This is something I would love to do with my 90 year old father. 👍

[@taracotta4246]

perfect, thanks for making this video. although it brings me right back to the dentist's office when they did a mold of my teeth to make a plastic retainer post braces !

[@BeInspiredwithDominic]

What a hands-on experience. Way to rock on while protecting your hearing! Also, I need some of that stuff now... Thanks for sharing, April!

[@jajablonsky]

Very Cool. I'll have to give this a try myself to hang keys inside the house. Thanks for the great information.

[@rachelmiller-artprojects4103]

Great idea April! You should do some with resin!!

[@jonsanchez55]

Love the video! Well structured, but the best part by far was your folks at the end. Cheers!

[@robertevans6481]

Cool...and you are closing in on 1million subs...congrats

[@shogun678]

You rock April

[@stevenstacey8117]

This seems like pretty cool idea

[@OfficialGlitchLab]

We casted my parents hands before my mom passed away it came out so awesome just need to 3d scan it to preserve it.

[@tonyburelle6633]

I think those castings are great, the Banshee Moon channel did some a month or so ago very cool, love what you're using your hand for

[@SimpleElectronics]

Hey, I'm a new subscriber and I'm loving the content so far! No idea how come the KZbin algorithm hasn't suggested your videos before this month? Oh well! Keep it up!

[@censusgary]

Fun! I didn’t think you could pull your hand out of there without ruining the mold. But you did! The cast of your parents’ clasped hands is a very sweet idea.

[@jamesstanlake4064]

Ages ago I used to make hand castings with wax and made candles with them. Nice job.

[@ManCrafting]

I need to do something to get more organized. Maybe I need a hand. 🤘🏼

[@AprilWilkerson]

haha, an extra hand in the shop is always a bonus. ; )

[@anastacio1177]

Your kinds need fenger

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Super cool idea and project. Need to paint part of one hand Gold

[@DICASDOMAU]

Great scott!

[@ohgary]

I didn't recognize your name at first and wondered why you had a table saw and router table in your art studio. Now I get it!

[@carolwidmayer-flint9320]

What did you use for plaster product? It looks really good and hard -- is it water safe? Outdoor safe? Thank you

[@BigFive1905]

Really nice project, April. Regards from Madrid, Spain.

[@iamepimethus]

Well I don’t want to be the first to make an inappropriate comment (which is out of character for me) I just want to say kewl project gal!.....and congrats to all for being such fine folks!

[@johnday7362]

This would make awesome Halloween Tech

[@salvationbordercountry3800]

You lucky bugger. You have a gigantic shop! I have to use my living room in my mobile home. Oh well, whatever it takes, Right? Lol

[@nenolpunk]

Could you use the alginate instead of the plaster when making the hand mold?

[@froglobster]

Gotta hand it to you, creative girl as usual..long time sub!

[@CoffeeRoastin]

Your parents almost made me cry. Very sweet.

[@NoAgendaFPV]

Excellent mic-ing of the disassembly of the alginate, haha

[@stephenkrall7609]

Very cool....it doesn't look too difficult to accomplish. Thanks for sharing.

[@tooolboxx]

Was one bag of each sufficient for casting one hand?

[@jvapper]

R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio. Metal will never die. Nice job April. Good luck!

[@TheSliderW]

Can the algea be recycled or better, reused ?

[@Sara-zu1hx]

You literally remind of Pam from the office!

[@raynoladominguez4730]

Very cool. I am going to make some wall brackets to hold some of my guitars.

[@collindavis2656]

Where do I buy the stuff you used? I didn’t see it in the description. So awesome!

[@hoddskittv8580]

How many pounds of alginate and casting did you use to do just one hand?

[@jonjsharp]

I'm going to try this with my 6th grade class! Sweet video.

[@georgew84]

Did you get to do this and if so how'd it go?

[@jameshutchins3396]

Always wanted to do this with furniture. Great fun!

[@shespraysshesays3128]

Hello. I would love to make a candle using a hand shape like this would I just follow the same steps for the silicone then fill it in with wax? Great video btw

[@daniellewis5814]

You’re Clever . Rock On

[@frankslittleworkshop]

Nicely done. Should have made one when you were at MC. The fun you could have had shaking hands with all us Brits. Keep up the awesome work. 🤘

[@AprilWilkerson]

haha now there is an idea!

[@scottgroveartist]

We did - I cast Aprils hand and others, showing them all how to do this process. Unfortunate she didn't mention me.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

I'm sure it wasn't a vindictive omission. After watching this I did see on someone else's channel from their makers central visit where you were casting her hand. So people can see who passed on the idea 😁. You obviously did a good job of showing how to do it 👍. Nice job 😁.

[@christofix]

This is awsome. The details in this copie are amazing. I hope they will not steal it and go to your safe and open it with your fingerprint hahaha

[@AprilWilkerson]

: ) haha yes that would be a problem.

[@christofix]

@@AprilWilkerson it becomes safer again to keep it in a sock under your mattress, Oooopss.... now everyone knows where to look again hahaha

[@jeroendewit_Online_Marketing]

Can I use resin to cast ? Would be a nice gift of the kids hands for the misses

[@crzy4htrods]

How many bags of each did you use? Did it take a bag of each per project or can you get more than one use per bag?

[@kevinetheridgemakes]

SO COOL!!! Nicely done!

[@80cardcolumn]

I liked this project. I laughed at 5:33 when you shook hands and did the Elvis impersonation. Thank you very much. 😃

[@pgreenawalt]

Nice idea!

[@dimplepranav5868]

How to determine the amount of alginate powder needed??