Activa ArtPlaster Professional Casting Plaster, 5lb (2.27kg) | Make Strong, Self-Hardening Perfect Reproductions Within Minutes

Originally, I had a not so good review of this product. I guess I was getting all the ratios wrong and/or not letting things cure long enough. I also saw that you should add the product to the water, not water to the product, which may have changed things some. Anyway, I love the smooth surface and durability of my finished tray! To make it easy on myself, I weighed out the product, then in a separate bowl that I would do the actual mixing, I weighed out the water (xx grams product ÷ 1.5 = xx grams of water). I then slowly added the product to the bowl while stirring with the beater attachment from my hand mixer (which I never used for food and never will). I let the mixture set in the mold for like 2 hours and it came out beautifully. Sorry for the bad review the first time, I'll be using this as a cheaper alternative to resincrete for items I plan on painting or hydro dipping.

Love, so easy to mix

INSTRUCTIONS ARE INCLUDED INSIDE THE BAG, you'LL just have to search around with your fingers. As for what I use it for, I mix it a bit thicker as I use it for terrain making. In a mixing cup, I add the powder, a bit of sawdust, some coloring and then the water. I'll either add more water if too thick or more power if too thin. PERFECT results for my needs/requirements!

Strange perfume odor, might be unpleasant for some (other plaster I bought also has this smell but not as strong). Castings are harder than regular plaster of paris, cures quicker and doesn't "chalk off" like plaster, BUT it is also much more brittle. Thinner castings broke just picking them up. Regular plaster costs about 1/4 the price, but I had to go to several local stores to find it. So there is something to be said for Prime shipping for this fancy plaster. If you are wondering about any benefits worth the extra price, I would probably just get some local store plaster again, would only get this if I couldn't find anything locally or had a more serious project. Other reviewers said detail is better and has less bubbles which I agree, in those ways it is better than regular old plaster. For my application the extra price is not worth it. Other reviewers said paint doesn't stick, I painted with a wash with cheap acrylic craft paint, and it took no problem. Used for diorama rock castings simulating crags and cliffs.

I liked that it is very easy to use. The instructions were easy to follow. My grandson and I made several characters. After drying we painted them and made magnets for the refrigerator.

Wasted about half of it trying to find the right consistency for pouring into molds bc I went by the directions and it was way too thick and hardened before I could pour.

I rarely review products, but have to review this because it is so good. How can this be that different from Plaster of Paris? You'd be amazed... First of all, it casts beautifully. Very durable and lots of detail. More importantly, it has great adhesion to anything porous. And it can be thinned, colored (with universal tints or pure pigments) and painted on in layers without becoming flaky or brittle. The perfect plaster. I'm an artist and designer and have worked with many plasters and casting mediums. This is by far the best.

The instructions were inside the bag but they differ from the ones available on their website. I accidentally added too much water and thought I ruined my project. I ended up just setting it aside for a couple weeks and it hardened right up. So, even though I couldn't use it as quickly as intended, the project was still salvageable.