Hirst Arts and Hydrostone for Dungeons and Dragons

I'm going to explain the easy way how to cast with Hirst Arts Molds and Hydrostone. It's easy to get caught up in the technical side, but don't overcomplicate it. These molds will help you up your terrain crafting level for Dungeons and Dragons to the next level.
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Hirst Arts: hirstarts.com
AMAZON LINKS TO STUFF I USED IN THIS VIDEO:
“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
Hydrostone: amzn.to/2ISME9d
Debubblizer/Surfactant: amzn.to/3mozSx8
4" Dental Lab Vibrator: amzn.to/3nrw3bx
Lunch Tray: amzn.to/34lTega
Gloves: amzn.to/3r1yDY7
Clear 18 oz Solo Cups: amzn.to/2WkIha7
Air Tight Container: amzn.to/3gUk8Ax
BabyPowder (place some between molds when storing them): amzn.to/3gPiCzS
Putty Knife Set: amzn.to/38c8E7x
Poster Putty Tack: amzn.to/39vTADF
Food Scale: amzn.to/2KwyUkU
Plastic Bags: amzn.to/34hHGuh
Winsor & Newton Series 7 Size 1 Brush: amzn.to/2Tzzctm
Vallejo Black Primer: amzn.to/2vFWmp3
Vallejo Grey Primer: amzn.to/3aGQXwJ
Vallejo White Primer: amzn.to/3cQVWvk
Vallejo Paint Set: amzn.to/2TQbDvh
Liquitex Flow Aid: amzn.to/3oYnvtb
Aleene's Tacky Glue: amzn.to/2K1dWeo
Krylon Matte Finish Spray: amzn.to/2Aj3ji1
#TabletopWitchcraft #HirstArts #Hydrostone

[@OverkillJOE1]

Bruce already has THE BEST molding videos ever!!!!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I'd say he knows what he's doing :)

[@oldmanofthemountains3388]

I was skeptical of the granite top until you put the gloss varnish on it. That final step really brought it to life!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thanks for hanging in there... I'm happy I made a believer out of you :)

[@oldmanofthemountains3388]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT I really like how all of these items turned out. Many of these would make great objective markers for tabletop wargames, too!

[@B143DP]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT Question though, which gloss varnish did you use? I don't see it in the description (unless i missed it)

[@clockworkdungeons7367]

I love his molds! I have used them for years to make dungeon tiles

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I'm very impressed with them.

[@darkcarnage5435]

Where can I get the molds?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

@@darkcarnage5435 There’s a link to his website in the video description.

[@darkcarnage5435]

Found it. Thanks

[@danas612]

You did a beautiful paintjob on that table and accessories.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you Dana.

[@readhistory2023]

I've used a butter knife to skim off the molds and if you don't have a dental vibrator you can just tap the side of the mold on all sides lightly to shake the bubbles loose. Nice job on marbleising the desk top by way. Looks nice. I've thought about doing something like that on columns for a cthulhu temple.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you. Yeah you could definitely tap this on the table to get rid of the bubbles. The Hirst Arts website shows how to make a board to do this as well.

[@SkyySkip]

The Hirst molds are awesome. Been using them for years and they are still in great shape. Very cool to see them getting appreciated

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Yes, great detail and well made.

[@rickchollett]

Hirstart molds are awesome! I'm still using the same ones I bought way back in 2003!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I agree, they are awesome!

[@JosKelly]

Thank you for this! Years and years of mixing plaster in paper cups and I never once thought to knead the whole mess in a baggy! Oy.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

haha, you got it Joseph. Glad the video helped!

[@keithpogue6080]

I have used Hirst Molds for years. I use Modern Materials Die-Keen Green dental plaster - a dream to work with and super durable. Lots of great videos over on Bruce's site.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Cool, I’ll have to check that plaster out. Thanks Keith.

[@JaxBrinkmannKiBonWhite]

The detail is amazing. Great job!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Than you :) I'm really impressed with it as well.

[@m003100]

I’ve been doing lots of hirst arts and I agree they are that good!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Right on!

[@patrickmasse7159]

Your méthode to mixt powder and water is very clever. The marble looks soo real . I think you wrote a spell for a fire elemental « come and burn the covid »

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

haha, yeah that would be some spell Patrick.

[@OKTabletop]

One of the best products in the hobby. Did my 1st video on Hirst Arts molds featuring simple dungeon tiles and a few complete builds. I'd say about 90% of my terrain is made with Hirst Arts. Excellent job on the marble tabletop

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you.

[@negotiableaffections]

Nice to see plaster casting coming back - cheaper than resin and I think easier [or less intimidating] to use. One BIGGIE though - DO NOT put plaster powder or 'unset' mixed powder down your home sinks. Plaster can set underwater and will block up sinks no problem. Better to clean off with water and papertowel onto old newsprint etc and discard all leftovers into garbage bin. And you should add the plaster to the liquid and leave to stand for 1min before mixing to ensure the chemical reaction that sets plaster to take place - it may generate heat. These are beautiful new molds with great detail, well worth experimenting with.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Really good point Keith, thanks for sharing.

[@perrygrosshans8537]

Very cool. At the gaming store I used to work at PT, we sold those casts. As a tip, you can also use dental plaster instead of hydrostone. It is a little less expensive (you can get a huge bag for pretty cheap), and is harder than regular plaster. It isn't as hard as hydrostone, but might be another option for people. :)

[@clockworkdungeons7367]

Merlin's Magic is my favorite dental plaster

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Great tip Perry, thank you :)

[@GoblinsCorner]

Diggin' the molds, and certainly the paint job on the alchemist table. Nice work!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you :)

[@RPRsChannel]

I recommend making molds of the Hirst Arts molds; they are a bit small for 1 casting.

[@Michael-vn8gz]

I did this for the 4 inch and 6 inch round fieldstone tower molds. The 4 inch round tower mold infamously only has 1 floor tile, the mold I created has around 10.

[@Hepabytes]

@@Michael-vn8gz the catwalk floors for the spaceship were like that since they need to meet up and there's only one of each on the mold. But if you do a master (possibly in resin) and then cast it that seems to be the way to do it.

[@Michael-vn8gz]

@@Hepabytes I thought I might need to do my masters in resin but I was able to get a good mold using merlins magic hobby stone.

[@charlesslaton5924]

Yeah, I got a castle set once. A bunch of bricks and stones you'd use to build walls up. No where near enough on the mold. So I cast it a few times and made a 10 brick mold so I could bulk cast them.

[@01dogofwar]

I love Hirst art molds, so awsome to use and I wish you could make more stuff using your style and hirst molds.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I’ll be incorporating them into my builds :)

[@scottsarcanecraft379]

Great video. I have been tossing around the idea of purchasing a couple of these molds. After this video, I will definitely pick up a couple now and see what I can do.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Awesome! Have fun... I know you will.

[@JohnGunter_Johnprime]

I've had my Hirst Arts molds a long time and I love them. You definitely want to use some kind of hydrostone, personally, I use Merlin's Magic, but you don't ever want to use regular plaster of Paris, because of how brittle it is!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Yeah I read a lot about that before I started. Hydrostone was a clear winner in my opinion. Thanks John.

[@nathanielsizemore3946]

Nice expansion to your normal builds. Keep it up, and I'm looking forward to the final build.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you Nathaniel 👍

[@craigkniffin4948]

New to the miniature hobby...your videos have been a big help with inspiration...cant wait to try this stuff out...currently working on a diorama that some of those parts would be great to have...thanks for the video

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

You got it Craig, thanks for watching and welcome to the crafting community!

[@elliottsaunders4904]

Love bruce and his works, great man great product

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I agree.

[@MRaadesign]

Top notch work. The molds look great and so do the casts. I always use resin instead of hydrostone. Really nice painting on all of the parts too.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you :). I’m sure I’ll get into resin at some point as well.

[@thecraftingbrothers9448]

Thanks for sharing these. Now I want to get a set.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Yeah, I'd like to get my hands on the whole set :)

[@PatrickSamphire]

Very nice! I wasn't convinced that marble effect was going to work when you started, but it turned out amazing. I should trust you more!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I made a believer out of you.. awesome :) Thanks Patrick.

[@chadtompkins2282]

That’s pretty neat. I have been making my small detailed pieces by hand primarily with plasticard. Something like this would certainly save time.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Yeah, I've been messing with these a bit. It's nice to be able to dig though everything I made for builds.

[@Gravehaven007]

Fire wall spell if I’m not mistaken is what you put in the book! Great video man!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you.... close on the spell... Fire Ball :)

[@Nat1videos]

That marble effect paint job looks awesome ! I’ve never cast anything before , but I may just have to give it a go . Nice one John, great video 👌

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you. It's fun and after you do it once or twice it no big deal at all.

[@PiratePyroFilms]

Awesome video mate, I've had about 30 hirst arts molds for about 2 years now but never settled on a cast mix, toyed round with Merlin's magic plaster but barely found any. Hydrostone looks like its worth a shot!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

You go it, go for it. I've been using it in a few builds (not out yet :) ) and so far so good.

[@Terrainosaur]

I hope a lot of people see this. (I have 44 molds.) Also, I posted it to the Fans of Hirst Arts Fantasy Architecture group on Facebook.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Awesome, thanks for the FB page.

[@sethhanson5771]

Nice video, I had a bunch of these molds and used them quite a bit. The molds cost around $30 to $60 a piece so depending it could add up quick. If making buildings or towers you have to make A Lot casts and it can be messy. I found plaster buildings a little on the heavy side depending on the size and plaster is easy to chip. Not taking anything away from the video or Hirst arts, I did sell my molds off about a year after I got my first 3D printer. As a comparison you could purchase a 3D printer for (resin or FDM) for $300 or less and there are LOTS of free files like these to print. Again good video - for the record I did make The Cathedral, still have it too.

[@TroyPacelli]

Great video! I have some of these molds; I got them many years ago at GenCon, but never actually used them! I guess I've been kind of intimidated by the process. So this vid is going to help me break them out and actually use them, finally. BTW, they also have a graveyard mold that uses resin instead of plaster, and your Graveyard Gate vid from 4 months ago got me thinking about that. You might want to check that out, too.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Ahh cool. I'll check that out. You should definitely give this a go. I didn't know what to expect, but now I'll cast something while I'm waiting for other stuff to dry or cure... it's that easy.

[@KylaraKuhn]

Really nice and easy.. nothing wrong with using something like that instead of crafting it yourself. you still have to incorporate it :)

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

That's right :) I had a really fun time with these. You'll see them again!

[@ScratchBashing]

Can you do a pinch test and break/squish one of the casts? They look great, just curious about the strength of the thinner details.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Ahh... this brings back the days of working with compression testing machines :) It's pretty durable, but if you drop it, there's a good chance it'll chip. As far as crushing any of the pieces in your hand that'll only happen if you're trying to do it on purpose.

[@ShinobiAlphaOG]

Been tiling out my laps, this vid feels very familiar somehow 😃. Although my vibration table was a mallet.

[@Michael-vn8gz]

I own around 30 of these molds. Huge investment? Yeah but endless terrain building possibilities.

[@xornxenophon3652]

Well, if you calculate price in relation to hours of entertainment, it is a good price and even far cheaper than going to the cinema.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Awesome ! I agree Xorn. It's a great hobby so why not!

[@erc1971erc1971]

Years ago before I starting crafting I bought some painted up terrain off of ebay. Those pieces are looking quite familiar in this video.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Really... it's possible they are from these molds.

[@MyklCarlton]

Excellent work! Hydrostone is fantastically durable, I have a GW throne they released about 20 years ago which has suffered the usual number of knocks and drops, still unbroken. Suggestion for comic relief piece - the same alchemist bench, but after a huge failure (or success, if you were after massive explosions!).

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

haha, that's a great idea Mykl. Thanks :)

[@user-vv1bd9dz6j]

Хороший обзор. Мрамор столешницы и фолиант узнаваемы на 100%. Лайк!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Спасибо, попробовал. Я остался доволен результатом.

[@manowar665]

Like I don't have enough stuff in my shopping cart, sheesh. Great stuff as always, thanks man. 🤘🏼

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

haha, sorry. These will make some awesome little set pieces for ...hmmmm...HeroQuest!

[@manowar665]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT The second you said "alchemy bench".......

[@aaronbono4688]

The Hurst arts molds are great but the problem I've had with molds in general is that you have to use a dental stone or plaster and that gets heavy especially if you use it for the stonework and roof tiles for a building. Also it's fragile if you drop it, it'll break easily.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Yeah I can see it adding up in weight. I'll definitely give the roof shingles a go and see for myself. So far the little pieces are amazing for fine details.

[@justanotherdayinthelife9841]

Loved it, TY

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you for watching.

[@qwaurk985]

I like to fill the molds then have extra and cover the entire top of the mold with plaster. Then use a piece of acrylic and lay it flat on top and push down until it's on the mold and excess plaster has oozed out the sides. Let it dry then remove and demold. It's more consistent to get a flat bottom on the pieces than the scraping method.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Interesting... thanks for sharing.

[@ZombieQueenYugi]

I think you said Fire Ball with a flame as the secret hint on the next page! ☄️

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

That's it, paying attention ... I like it :)

[@naturephotographyworkshop7696]

Amazing!!!!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you :)

[@aequanimus63247]

Thumbnail game is on point

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thanks!

[@23nacho23]

Horst arts molds rock. I have a bunch

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I'm a fan too

[@MarkLewis...]

I let a fellow Wizard take "Fireball"... I pick "Lightening Bolt", just in case the enemies are immune, or resistant to fire damage, and then we got it covered... Besides, she's such a DnD pyromancy anyway. Lol. I'll definitely look into this now. Nice crafting and thx 4 the tip!!!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

You got it Mark... sound spell array too!

[@seymourbutz5353]

Damn, I wish people would just send me craft stuff haha, the moulds are so good but SO EXPENSIVE!! 😫

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I'm currently using them now for a build... they do come in very handy :)

[@seymourbutz5353]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT I have so many ideas that I want to do if I had them, specifically for Marvel Crisis Protocol but, like I said, they’re so expensive!! Looking forward to seeing your build tho!

[@AzraelThanatos]

If you're using them a lot, you really want to get a dehydrator to get them fully hardened quickly

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I put my in front of my dehumidifier.

[@TheTheronal]

little vasaline on the tray will work as a release

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Cool idea, sounds a little messy. Is it a pain cleaning the mold afterwards?

[@TheTheronal]

​@@TabletopWitchCRAFT just use really thin layer(dont have to be messy) wipe on with a chip brush (not super thick)and wipe most off with a paper towl, if you get to much, just leave a thin barrier. i use it in my bowls wen i make plaster molds it allows me to get plaster out easier wen it hardens. you can use it on silicone(really thin) as well when your making a two piece silicone mold it will allow the two silcone halves to separate when cured. you can substitute dish soap on silicone like the vasiline just let it dry all the way. but dont use the soap on the tray , ;) oh you could put a small trash bag on the tray and wen your done pull off the bag and throw the excess plaster away, clean tray.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

@@TheTheronal Nice, thanks for the explanation.

[@TheTheronal]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT welcome

[@NeoPunisher123]

Very nice - can you tell us which four molds you used in the video?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thanks, yes I used this mold for the table: Mold 59 (Unique Inn Accessories) and I used these in the video as well to show off the molds: Mold 85 (Cavern Accessories), Mold 240 (Wood Shingle Roof), Mold 320 (5/8" Pipe), Mold 321 (3/8" Pipe)

[@johnclark8587]

What set are those? That kind of stuff is what i have been looking for for my scatter terrain. Thank you. And thank you for helping turning me on to this craft. Yes, i know. Newb

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

That's great John, welcome aboard. Check his site out, link in the description... there are so many. To make the table I used the Tavern Mold.

[@kevinshields8425]

FIREBALL!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

You got it!

[@corneliusperkins7363]

Cool video. I have a couple of questions for you: How does the hydrostone compare to resin in terms of price per volume? I've been doing resin casting, but it's too cold for that here now. How does hydrostone compare to resin in terms of durability? Like what would happen if you dropped that cool table on the floor?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thanks Cornelius. I'm not sure on the resin side as I haven't worked with it yet... it's on the horizon. As far as durablity... yeah I wouldn't want to drop these from too high.

[@corneliusperkins7363]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT fair enough, thanks.

[@jamesjohnson-xc5qm]

What's the music at the beginning called

[@davidrinehart7415]

The bag thing seems over much to me. I've just used clear plastic cups for the hydrostone and water for years. Easy to pour into the molds too.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I was just worried about introducing air to the mix and trying to reduce the particulates in the air.

[@davidrinehart7415]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT Totally. But if you're vibrating the molds as you pour them, that helps a ton. I also quickly drag a cheap brush through the mold spots to release stubborn air bubbles. But whatever works is the way to go!

[@ZombieQueenYugi]

What did u use to stick the items to the thing you are holding to paint?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I added a link to what I use in the Amazon links in the video description for you. Poster putty tack.

[@anneangersbach]

How exactly does that hydrostone stuff vary from regular plaster of paris? It kinda looks the same and I'm having trouble finding a German translation/equivalent.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

It's not as brittle... holds up better to damage.

[@harrietcraig7817]

How heavy is the hydrostone? Would making an entire building with it make it too heavy to move around? Are all the Hirst Arts molds the same scale?

[@clockworkdungeons7367]

The hydrostone isn't terribly heavy. But if you were to make, say, a full replica of Hogwarts, then it would definitely be too heavy. I have a cathedral I built using Bruce's patterns and I think it weighs like 8-10 lbs?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Spenser, you're my official moderator for this video haha...

[@reneesteeves3698]

does that spellbook teach you how to cast Fireball?!

[@TroyPacelli]

Looked like Fire Wall to me.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Nailed it :)

[@erc1971erc1971]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT I thought it said "Farewell 2020" LOL

[@kimnobles7687]

Hi, can I ask what you are using the hold the objects you are painting?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Of course, they are 1" wood dowel sticks. I use tack to hold them to the surface.

[@kimnobles7687]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT thanks!

[@martoz9286]

Shut up and take my money ahahah wonderful painting

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you Marco :)

[@proft7211]

Could you use resin in the hurst molds?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Great question, yes you can but it will reduce the life of the mold much quicker than using something like Hydrostone.

[@Underworlddream]

I didn't realize how small they were, got the idea they were 4 times that size.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Yeah, tell me about it. There are potion bottles the size of a large pin head !

[@Underworlddream]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT For the price I can probably make and cast 4 mold of simular size for that price, with the lock down I have plenty of free time to do it as well.

[@SlytherinReviews]

could you use resin in these moulds, I'm asking cause if I get I am looking at finishing a custom desk for myself that would be used for my Game consoles, laptop, and Intel NUC 10th Gen i5 for normal stuff and with space left over for D&D model painting/resin moulding making or crafting D&D items with the space being used for KZbin review videos with new D&D items appearing in the background

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I wouldn't use resin in them. You could make some casts with these and then make some silicone molds from that to pour your resin.

[@entirious9638]

I can't find these molds anywhere on Hirst's page, can someone help!!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Hmm... they're all on there... worst comes to worst you can email Bruce.

[@AriesFury11]

Is hydro stone better to use than plaster or sculptymold? I’m just getting into casting bits and pieces and am constantly trying to soak up more info.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Well for the purpose of these molds you wouldn't want to use sculptamold. Plaster of Paris is ok, but is the most brittle option to choose from. The hydrostone is nice, but I recently tried casting with Orthostone and it was much harder. I spoke to the company that makes Orthostone and they also make Merlin's Magic and Excalibur. I'll be trying Excalibur next as the rep I spoke with sold me on it's application!

[@AriesFury11]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT Thank you so much! I’m currently trying to decide which Hirst molds to buy now..lol. This is your fault ;-) Also thank you for the links you include with your videos..makes purchasing so much easier 👍

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

@@AriesFury11 You got it, I'm glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@maximem.ste-marie3578]

how much time did it take to cure completely ?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

24 hours

[@AnonOmis1000]

Can the hydrostone be sanded? That table looks a bit wobbly and thatd drive me kinda nuts, personally.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I haven't tried to sand it. I'm sure it can be. The table is level btw :)

[@AnonOmis1000]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT I meant the alchemist table you made. It looked like it was rocking a bit. Maybe you just nudged it and that's what I saw.

[@RaiderAvian]

11:30 It says "Fire scroll" Can I burn my copy of "maids of Grey," please?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

You go it !

[@maximusdarja]

What is the difference between Hydrostone and Plaster of Paris?

[@clockworkdungeons7367]

Plaster of Paris, while good, is very brittle compared to Hydrostone or Dental stone. I'd recommend using Marlins Magic if you go the route of Dental Stone

[@maximusdarja]

@@clockworkdungeons7367 Awesome, thanks!

[@perrygrosshans8537]

@@clockworkdungeons7367 Ha! Great minds think alike! I just mentioned using dental plaster as an option above as well. :)

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thanks Spenser... spot on.

[@DiceLifeJohnny]

Can u make a good video on making your own molds ?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I literally just did that in my latest video :)

[@DiceLifeJohnny]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT oh damn hahaha. ill check it out

[@social3ngin33rin]

just from the picture, I'm guessing fireball or firewall

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

One of those would be right :)

[@davidrinehart7415]

OH HOOO, once you start casting Hirst molds, you can't stop. Take it from a lost soul of 20 years.... Enjoy your new addiction!

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I can see this as a really nice addition. I'll be casting for a long time :)

[@01dogofwar]

Fire spell

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

That's it!

[@JimmiWazEre]

I used to have about 15 of them. What I discovered was: To get enough sets to make something that looks as good as a pre bought model, you need to spend more than £100 on molds Plaster costs £25 a bag Those vibrating tables are also very expensive It takes days of casting to get the materials collected before you build Casting creates a massive mess Building takes ages, because the glue has to dry before you can expect it to hold its own weight The structure you build is incredibly heavy It's difficult to store And it's very fragile. I sold all my gear for about £200 and used that money to buy 5 or 6 plastic cast terrain sets. Should have just done that in the first place.

[@RaiderAvian]

I wonder if using different materials could make a difference. If it can make lighter models, glueing and painting may depend on the glue used and how paint is sealed and protected. As for storage, I am not sure how big or complicated your builds are. Any comment I can make on it depends kn your game and set up. Modular builds that can stack could help with storage. In addition to using suggestive building techniques that makes the players use their imagine while the builds acts as an aid. (ex. a short wall could represent a very tall one.Another is the 'less is more' approach when it comes to embelishing).

[@andytate5670]

I find them too expensive so I borrow my mates. They are good but the expense of them doesn't really justify not crafting your own bits for a lot less for me. and you can always make moulds of your own stuff and cast those.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Well if you can borrow them go for it ! :) It's a huge time saver for me... I'm a fan.

[@kornolis]

Would plaster of Paris work too?

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

It would, but it's more brittle I've been told.

[@kornolis]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT thank you for the feedback!

[@ericmueller6836]

You can mix 90% plaster to 5% sand and 5% Portland cement. This is pretty close to hydrostone. I mix mine a bit runnier. Once vibrated the excess water comes to the top. And can be scraped off or dabbed with paper towel.

[@James-io1pk]

Why hydrostone over some of the other stuff recommended by Hirst? Just curious.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Just trying out some different products. I’ve used Orthostone as well with really good success. They make Merlins Magic and Excalibur. Next on my plate is Excalibur. I talked to the rep for quite a while and he has me sold... we’ll see. Great question btw.

[@James-io1pk]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT I appreciate it. I've been beating around the bush about Hirst for a while, but think I am going to dive because I think it may be a more sustainable product than the primarily foam I have been using.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

@@James-io1pk Sure thing.

[@swellerferret2506]

Already have 9

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Yeah, I can see wanting to collect these :)

[@oscaramaya7022]

Great video, use more to make dungeon tiles.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Thank you.

[@jonannett]

Surely that's a tome of fireball.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Nailed it Jon!

[@TheBlackFrog79]

I can't find these molds at a decent prize. Shipping cost to my country (Italy) is huge 😐

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Aww man.... sorry to hear that.

[@Voiidpriince]

Hmm that’s a lot of plastic waste tho, I wonder if there’s reusable alternatives even if it takes longer or is messier

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

You can reuse the cups, so the only plastic waste would be the bag... no salvaging that.

[@serkaven9470]

fire ball spell

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

You got it :)

[@jeremygriffin620]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT lol that was my guess too, good show. The two "L's" settled it for me.

[@jameslarkin276]

"I don't even know what this is" - Me most of the time I am painting

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

:)

[@AnonOmis1000]

Do you have to worry about hydro stone going down the sink drain? I know here in the US our sewer infrastructure can barely handle toilet paper.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

Yeah, don't let it wind up in your sink.

[@AnonOmis1000]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT so what is the best way to dispose of dust or excess? Just dump it with the water in the trash? Out in the garden?

[@Nobodyinparticular603]

I cant stand the look of these moulds sadly. I hate the brickwork

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

There are so many different molds, I wouldn't disregard them all because of one mold.

[@MagicofAramis]

I miss when this channel was a crafting channel. Now every new video is an advertisement for this random product he just got for free and wants us to pay for. Pro Tip, if you have to wait until they send them to you for free, then you were NOT willing to spend money on them and shouldn't be encouraging others to do so.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

I’m not waiting for “them” to send items to me for free. I contacted them because I wanted to use this product in a few upcoming videos and the owner was nice enough to send them my way. These are all cool components to our great hobby. I’ll have no shortage of introducing cool and exciting things to my channel. I’m not just crafting from foam in every video. I hope you understand.

[@MagicofAramis]

@@TabletopWitchCRAFT Thank you for your response, I stand by my comment. I feel like I'm being sold a product and taught how to use it instead of being taken along for an awesome build.

[@TabletopWitchCRAFT]

The whole point of the video is to teach you how to use it so when I show it in other videos I can link this one and I don’t have to show this process over and over. You’ll definitely see videos like this on the channel this year. My builds can get complicated, and I need all the time I can showing my builds not the same stuff in multiple videos making them extremely long.