Initial Consistency
The initial consistency is the texture of a Plastiform product right after mixing, before it hardens. It determines how you apply the material and what geometries it can reach.
There are three initial consistencies: Fluid, Pasty, and Manual Putty.
Fluid
Fluid products have the texture of syrup or honey. They flow under gravity and fill cavities on their own. This makes them the default choice for complete impressions of internal forms: bores, threads, grooves, and closed cavities.
Fluid products come in cartridges. The standard size is 50 ml. The XL range comes in 400 ml cartridges, 1.7 L bottles and 10.2 L cans. They require a dispensing gun and a nozzle to combine the two components.
An XL product can share the name of a 50 ml product, F20 and F20 XL for example, but it is a different product, not the same one in a bigger pack.
Use a Fluid product when:
- You need a complete impression of an internal shape (looking for a diameter or a radius)
- The surface is horizontal or the material can be contained
Do not use a Fluid product when:
- The surface is vertical or overhanging. The product will flow out before it polymerizes
- You need a partial impression on an external surface. If the shape does not contain it, it flows away before it polymerizes.
Pasty
Pasty products have the texture of toothpaste. They hold their shape after application and do not flow. This makes them ideal for external forms, vertical surfaces, overhangs, and partial impressions.
Pasty products are only available in 50 ml cartridges. They require a dispensing gun and a nozzle. The only difference from Fluid is the viscosity.
Use Pasty when:
- You need a partial impression on an external or vertical surface
- The surface is angled or overhanging and a Fluid product would run off
- You want to avoid building a dam or support to contain the material
- You are injecting into a small-diameter through bore or a very deep bore, where a Fluid product would run too far down to be recovered
Do not use Pasty when:
- You need to fill a small closed internal cavity. The material is too thick to flow into fine detail and air pockets will form
- The opening is so narrow that even a Fluid product struggles
Manual Putty
Manual Putty products have the texture of modeling clay. You scoop equal amounts of base and catalyst from the pot, knead them together by hand for 20 seconds at most, and press the mixture onto the surface. No dispensing gun or nozzle needed.
Manual Putties come as two pots, A and B, of 450 ml or 45 ml each.
Use Manual Putty when:
- You do not have a dispensing gun or prefer not to use one
- You make impressions frequently and want to avoid hand fatigue from squeezing a gun
- The surface is easily accessible by hand
- You need an economical option for high volume use
Do not use Manual Putty when:
- You want to inspect the surface finish. Its 10 µm resolution does not capture fine surface detail
- You need a complete internal impression. Putty is too viscous to follow the contours precisely
- The surface is very small or intricate. Hand application makes it hard to control on tiny or complex geometries
Selection Table
| Fluid (F) | Pasty (P) | Manual Putty (M) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal complete impression |  | Small through bores only |  |
| External or vertical surface | | | |
| Needs tools | Dispensing gun and nozzle | Dispensing gun and nozzle | None |
| Packaging | 50 ml cartridge (XL range: 400 ml cartridge, bottles, cans) | 50 ml cartridge | Two pots of 45 ml or 450 ml |
Rule of thumb: If it is an internal cavity you cannot reach by hand, use Fluid. If it is an external or vertical surface, use Pasty or Manual Putty based on whether you have a gun and how much practice you have.
We treat an internal cavity wider than 50 mm as an external surface. Unless you need a complete impression, a Pasty or Manual Putty product is easier to work with there.
For product-specific recommendations, use the Plastiform Finder or read about Final Hardness.
