How to use Foaming Gelatin

Click for Slideshow Step 1:  Heat the negative mold in a warm oven until warm to touch.  This step is optional but may yield a better appliance surface.  Remove and apply release (Vaseline dissolved in Mineral Spirits works good but some use cooking spray).  No need to "bake out" like with Foam Latex. Click for Slideshow Step 2:  Apply release to the Positive side of the mold.  It is optional whether this side is heated or chilled in the freezer prior to foaming.  If chilled it should only be cold to the touch and not frozen.  The goal here is only to speed up the gelling time.  Experience will dictate what is appropriate.
Click for Slideshow Step 3:  Add 3½ Tsp water to the total contents of "Part B" and stir with the small stick provided.   Do not use the same stick to stir "Part A".  Allow Part B to completely dissolve for at least 2 minutes.  The longer the better. Click for Slideshow Step 4:  Remove Part A from its container and place it in the large container provided.  Melt the Gelatin Base (Part A) in a microwave oven for no more than 1.5 - 2 minutes.  Do not overheat (boil).  It is better to remove early and allow the unmelted part to slowly dissolve while stirring.
Click for Slideshow Step 5:  MOST IMPORTANT.   Allow the melted gelatin to cool for between 5 - 10 minutes depending on the melted temperature, until the gelatin is only warm to the touch but not gelled yet.  The hotter the gelatin is when it is foamed the more translucent the foam will be but it will have a coarser and uneven cell structure with heavier body. Click for Slideshow Step 6:  Add the dissolved Part B to Part A while stirring.  It will immediately begin to foam.  Stop stirring at this point and allow the foam to rise.
Click for Slideshow Allow it to rise without stirring until it has stopped rising. Click for Slideshow It will continue to rise until almost a quart of foam but this foam is unstable and needs to be refined.
Click for Slideshow Step 7:  Once it has stopped, stir the foam to refine the large bubbles until an even cell structure is reached.  It should be at a Meringue consistency.  It is possible to reheat the foam to allow the foam to pour into a mold or to inject.  Some do this anyway and claim a much better foam.  They heat for about 30 seconds only and stir again. Click for Slideshow Step 8:  Load your molds.   Spatulate the foam into the warm negative mold and close immediately.  This step is the same as for Foam Latex.  Be careful not to trap large air bubbles.   You can also inject the foam but the mold needs to be warm.
Click for Slideshow Step 9:  Close the molds immediately after filling and either clamp or stand on the molds to insure a thin blending edge.   Place the closed molds into a freezer to gel.  Depending on the size of the mold and its temperature it will take between 30 minutes to an hour before you can remove the appliance.  The longer the better but still faster than baking Foam Latex. Click for Slideshow Step 10:  You can tell that the foam has gelled the same way that you tell if Foam Latex has gelled.  Poke the runoff and if the runoff bounces back its ready.  Remove the mold from the freezer and peel the flashing from the outside of the mold.  This will keep the foam from sticking to the mold while opening.  A screwdriver will help in the initial opening but it should be done slowly in much the same way a Foam Latex mold is opened.   Once open, powder the inside of the appliance.
Click for Slideshow Remove the appliance from the negative and place it back on the positive.  Powder it and it is ready for either application or prepainting with our Silicolor and Airbrush Grade Prosthetic Cosmetic.  For application we recommend Spirit Gum as the adhesive and to inhibit perspiration, we recommend our Sweat Stop topical antiperspirant / astringent.