Before starting, have your molds ready. A thin coating of GM Foam Mold Release should be brushed onto the interior mold surfaces of both positive and negative, and allowed to dry thoroughly. Excess release can be whisked away with a dry brush. We use an O’Haus triple beam balance for gram weights.

If your foam gels too fast, cut a minute or two off your ultra-refining time, or use a little less gelling agent (11 or 12 gms). If your foam gels too slowly, add a minute or two to your ultra-refining time. LARGER BATCHES USE DIFFERENT SCHEDULES. Undercured foam will spring back too slowly. The latex base needs to be shaken once a week, to keep the “serum layer” from settling on the bottom. Using foam latex is a skill, and it can be tricky. Please call for information, schedules or technical support.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUNBEAM MIXMASTER LARGE BOWL

2-1/2 BATCH MIX Soft mix: 6 to 6-1/2 volumes Temp 68-70º F, humidity about 45-55%

5. NOW FOLLOW STEPS 5 THROUGH 8 ON THE SMALL BOWL SCHEDULE FOR FILLING, CURING, AND DEMOLDING.

Backbowling (turning the bowl backwards by hand) is the most effective way to disperse the GELLING AGENT. Do it slowly, so air won’t be mixed in. Variations in the above schedule are to be expected, since weather conditions are so different. Temperature and humidity variations affect the working time of the foam. The main principles to remember are:

To correct for these conditions, use these tips: In hot and/or muggy conditions, cut the GELLING AGENT DOWN TO 30 GRAMS, AND CUT A MINUTE OR TWO OFF THE REFINING TIME. In other words, pour less GELLING AGENT into the mix, and pour it sooner. For example, in an 80° F. room, you may have to pour at 13 or 14 minutes elapsed time, instead of 16, as the schedule shows. Another way to extend the working time is to add extra Foaming Agent. This protects the latex from gelling as fast. A large Sunbeam Bowl could take up to 90 or 95 grams of Foaming Agent, to work properly in a very hot room of 85-90_F. We also have a product available called Foam Stabilizer which is designed for high temperature and humid conditions. Foam Stabilizer extends working time when used at the rate of 1 to 3 grams per 150gms latex base.

In colder and drier conditions, the reverse is true. To prevent a very slow gel, you can use more GELLING AGENT (for example, 40 to 45 gms / 375 gms latex base), and ADD A MINUTE OR MORE TO THE REFINING TIME.

Where very soft batches are desired, we recommend using 5-10 grams GM Flow Increaser™ per large batch, added to the bowl before whipping. The Flow Increaser has a frothing effect on foam, if added at the beginning of the mix. The resulting batch can be whipped close to the top of the bowl, if desired, or any height less than that. Backbowling during the high speed whipping cycle will add greater height to any mix. Remember that the higher you whip the foam, the softer it will be, but it becomes more difficult to pour, and tends to trap more air, since it is thicker at high volumes. The Flow Increaser can help the pourability when added during the refining speed. We also have another additive, called MICAD™. Using 2 to 5 grams of MICAD per 375 gms Latex will give greater volume, and softer foam, without making the cells too large. There is a slight slowing of the gel when using MICAD, so add extra gelling agent when using MICAD. And as always, all of our additives are compatible with each other. You can use combinations of Flow Increaser, Stabilizer, Micad, and Cell Choke, as you see fit. Just be careful not to over whip, or to retard the gelling by adding too much of these additives. If you are looking for the softest foam possible, these fine additives will work for you.

Using foam latex is a skill, and it can be tricky. Please call for information, schedules, or technical support.