How to cast a track Options

[bipto]

Rob posted this in another thread but I thought it was great info and wanted to promote it to it's own topic:

Some track casting tips.

Casting uphill (or down for that matter) is very easy to do. Its almost the same as doing a level track.

First, photograph, photograph photograph (!!!!) in as much detail as your camera will allow. Then, put your mold around the track (cardboard or whatever) GENTLY remove any leaves or other debris that may have fallen into the track after the animal passed. Dont remove anything that was stepped on by the animal, we want that in the track to see how the foot reacts to stuff.

Then mix your splash coat (thin runny pancake batter like) and spoon it in gently (we dont want to lose any details) so it covers the entire track and the surrounding 1/2 inch of soil. Allow this to setup, tacky to the touch.( We wait so the heavier stuff doesnt sink to the bottom, destroying or disturbing details.) Then mix a thicker batch of casting mixture (like wet biscuit batter) and pour it into the track, it will run to the bottom or lower end of the cast. Dont worry, your going to let that set up ! and continue to pour in layers, until the mold is full. At any time after the first coat, insert anything to lend support to the cast, chicken wire, rat wire, sticks, tent pegs.. whatever you have on hand will work.

When the mold is full, and dry to the touch, scratch in the following information on the back : name, date, location, track id number (if more than one track). Scratching puts this info directly into the cast, permanent marker isnt permanent, it can rub/wear off.

Removing track : dont just grab and jerk, it may break. Let it sit until you cant wait any longer, the longer it sits, the stronger it will be. Take a shovel, garden trowel, anything, and approx 2 inches outside your mold, dig under the cast, all the way around, then G-E-N-T-L-Y pry it up. DO NOT clean it at this time, pack it out, soil and all.
Put it in an oven at a medium temp, bake all the moisture out of the soil. Let cool, eat a cookie, drink a beverage of your choice. In short rapid bursts, blow the soil off the cast with compressed air or a bellows pump (an auto pump will work too) This preserves the details (dermils, scars). handle the front side (track side) of the cast as little as possible. If any hair is found stuck into the track, leave it in place, do not attempt to remove it.

Things to bring :
bag(s) of mix, approx 20 lbs for one track (minimum)
mixing container - coffee can, milk jug with top cut off, anything
mixing sticks (or find suitable sticks on site)
cardboard strips (i use cereal boxs) cut into 1/2 - 1.5 inch wide strips, notch these to connect them together , fit around track for a mold.
rubber gloves - mixing material can iritate or burn skin
water or a means to transport it from a nearby stream
small stove (only if temps are below freezing : bring water above freezing before mixing, material and freezing water will make a flakey, unstable cast, learned this the hard way
just because the waters moving, doesnt mean it above freezing temps)

camera - photgraph the track, in as much detail as your camera will allow, before casting. You can NEVER have too many pics or use too much casting material.
We pour casts thick, so we get the surrounding soil conditions, and make the casts STRONG .. a thin cast WILL break, either when you take it out, or pack it out, the thicker the better (mine turn out approx 2 inches thick above the soil line) i learned this the hard way .. please dont repeat MY mistakes *smile*.
You may even have someone video tape the whole process while your doing it, for evaluation and documentation. (strongly suggested)

And then mail ME a copy of the pics please.
Have Wonderful sucess casting !!!!!!!
feel free to write me if you have any questions or concerns regarding track casting. I learned from Rick Noll, and have cast many tracks myself.

Wavin'
RobUstes

[Fishbone35]

Rob did this??? That crazy muppet??? Will wonders never cease! 8)

[RobUstes]

Rob posted this in another thread but I thought it was great info and wanted to promote it to it's own topic:

Thanks Bipto

Like i said before ... i WANT people to see these animals
I WANT them to collect good evidence

Too many people will pour a cast with the first pour being too thick, ... it looks like plaster worms, not a foot. Once you pour anything into a track, its ruined (the actual track) there is NO second shot at it .... so best to get it right the first time

Wavin'
RobUstes

[bipto]

Hey, no problem! People looking to cast a track should print that off and carry it around with them...

[ranshirl]

Hey thanks a lot. I did print it off for future reference.

[Paul1968UK]

I was going to raise this topic myself.

Several books refer to lifting the entire track out after using a fixing adhesive to firm the soil around the track - does anyone have any experience of this ?

Also, I have often heard reference to using dental compound in addition or instead of plaster - any ideas ?

Paul

[RobUstes]

I was going to raise this topic myself.

Several books refer to lifting the entire track out after using a fixing adhesive to firm the soil around the track - does anyone have any experience of this ?

Now, why would one firm the soil? When the casting compound is poured onto it, thats that ... no need to waste your money. Besides, i feel that spraying anything into a track will cover up fine details that may well be picked up by the casting !!

Also, I have often heard reference to using dental compound in addition or instead of plaster - any ideas ?

Paul

Dental stone is good, but runs on the expensive side (20-50 bucks per 25 lb bag). Hydrocal or Duracal works about the same (for capturing details and workability) and cost significantly less (approx $25 for a 50 lbs bag). Plaster is actually a last resort. It gets flakey, crumbly, and weak. Not a very good material, but great to practice with

[Arkansan]

Hey thanks for all the info Rob. This is an area I need all the help I can get with. I have never cast a track. Of course around here, there is little need for it...LOL
But just incase I do end up finding one in some soft soil (fat chance) somewhere, I would like to know how its done.

I also heard it said that you should spray the area around the track with hairspray to firm the ground. But it does seem that it could affect the details somewhat. Might miss out on some good dermal ridges!

My printer is out of ink, but as soon as I get a new cartridge, I will be printing that info and keeping it in one of my research bags. :wink:

[Paul1968UK]

The 'firming' technique is used to firm the whole area around the print, so that the entire print can be dug up and removed for examination without making a cast - seems a bit over the top mind you - if Grover Krantz couldn't get the scientific world to recognise the footprints as authentic, then no-one else ever will.

That being the case, the casts will really only be for personal use.

When in London a few months ago, I met a guy who had made a cast of an oran-pendek footprint, and retrieved hair, which predicably came back as 'no known species'. - He was very upbeat about it, thinking that this would prove the existance of the creature - it was kinda sad, knowing that others had been down this road and got no-where.

If you read Krantz's book, he sound very dispondant at the end of his section on footprints - I must read his earlier book one day to see how his attitude back then compared.

[bipto]

My printer is out of ink, but as soon as I get a new cartridge, I will be printing that info and keeping it in one of my research bags.  :wink:

There's a joke in here somewhere about casting a printer, but I can't think what it is...

[Arkansan]

I'd sure like to "cast" my printer.....cast it right out the window!

[Paul1968UK]

You should see my printer cartridge bill !

I reckon I spend around $500 per month on printer cartridges for this little office - there is only two of us in here !

Paul

[Arkansan]

Wowser!!

[Streamrunner]

Orang-Pendak Dude **
Paul, I would enjoy talking to you about your conversation with that fellow.
I am sorry to hear he was soo excited about unknown potentially primate hair.
Happens. But, since there is no such animal, its hard to get excited..
but we all know that.. it takes this secondary evidence to push for continued resources and time and effort to punch these ideas through.
They are doing some neat stuff with that subject and I just recently grabbed a book on it.
Aint read it yet though... Lke, we are supposed right?
Anyway, I just hope that those guys and gals keep on keeping on cause they are on the ... excuse me... right track .

[Streamrunner]

BTW, Rob U -
thanks for the neat casting ideas. I don't know if I will ever get a chance to use it though but I hope so.

[Paul1968UK]

Orang-Pendak Dude **
Paul, I would enjoy talking to you about your conversation with that fellow.
I am sorry to hear he was soo excited about unknown potentially primate hair.
Happens. But, since there is no such animal, its hard to get excited..
but we all know that.. it takes this secondary evidence to push for continued resources and time and effort to punch these ideas through.
They are doing some neat stuff with that subject and I just recently grabbed a book on it.
Aint read it yet though... Lke, we are supposed right? 
Anyway, I just hope that those guys and gals keep on keeping on cause they are on the ... excuse me... right track .

His name was Adam Davies, an Internet Manager fro Stockport (near Manchester).

I think he was best described as an 'enthusiastic amature', and by that I mean no disrespect - he made a very good point about not needing a string of letters after your name to research and find these creatures - you just need the get off your butt and get out there !

His talk was more about arranging the expedition, who was in charge of what, how they enlisted the help of local guides and a cook, and how these sorts of expeditions if done correctly can add valuable dollars to the local economy.

When I asked him about dermal ridges on the footprint he had cast, he didn't have a clue what I was talking about though.


This is an article that appeared in the Times newspaper.

Explorers Find Evidence Of Sumatran Yeti
[Original headline: Team 'find traces of Sumatran Yeti']
A team of British amateur explorers may have found evidence for the existence of the Sumatran Yeti.

Early analysis shows that samples of hair and footprints taken on the team?s trip to the Indonesian jungle do not appear to come from any known primate in the region. Some scientists believe that they may belong to the orang-pendek, or Sumatran Yeti, a creature first mentioned by Marco Polo after he visited the island in 1292.

Clumps of hair are to be sent for DNA analysis in Oxford to determine whether they are those of a new species, which would most likely be a relative of the orang-utan or the gibbon.

The orang-pendek is reputed to resemble the orang-utan. It has orange hair and stands about 5ft tall, but walks with a more upright stance and lives mainly on the ground. It is not supposed to be dangerous to people.

Adam Davies, an Internet project manager from Manchester, led the expedition to the mountain rainforest near Gunung Kerinci, in western Sumatra. ?We are getting indications from the scientists that we may be on to something, and I have no doubt myself that this creature exists,? he said. ?We heard its calls, and we?ve discovered a trail that can?t be explained by anything else.?

? Story originally published by:
The Times, London / England | Mark Henderson - Oct 27.01

In fact, the article is incorrect, as the strands of hair were not suitable for DNA analysis, so were sent to a 'hair' expert for the composition of the hair to be analysed.[/url]

[Angie]

This is great! Thanks Bipto, for directing someone else to this thread through another thread that I read... ... ...Anyway, I was looking for info on casting and this is definitely the thread I wanted to read.

Great info Rob, I am going to try to follow your instructions to a T. I have never casted anything before so I can't make any promises that I'll get it right.

Where do I get this hydrocal or duracal? Will my local hardware have any good casting material?...Thanks a bunch!

So much to do so little time.

[Fishbone35]

Angie, here's a link to U.S. Gypsum's distributor locator map. Maybe you'll find someone near you. Good luck!

Fish

http://www.gypsumsolutions.com/distributor/map.asp

[Sean V]

Track casting info is great to have around, I remember when I cast my first track, there was no one there to help me out, so I thought I'd just wing it. Needless to say, I ruined the track. If I'd had info like this it would have been a snap, and I'd have another cast track to place on the shelf.

[RobUstes]

Angie, Fishys link has a search engine on it, to locate the closest dealer of the product. But for basic practice, regular plaster is good enuf

Practice with your own track, if you dont have a yard, buy a bag of play sand, and a small wash tub (sink size) for your very own "Track Cast Simulator" for use in an apartment or during rainy days. You'll need to mist the sand so it will hold a track of your own foot well, otherwise, its like building a sand castle a mile from the surf

Take a field kit (small bags of casting stuff, a canteen or water jug, and your cardboard strips, mixing sticks etc) outdoors, and practice on your dogs tracks, or walk down to a stream and cast some racoon , possum, turkey or any other track you may find. Doing this on a small scale will help prepare you for the vastly different field conditions in which we find our Big Ol Stinky Friends tracks

[Angie]

Thanks a bunch for the link Fishbone, I'm gonna try to get some from one of the Detroit distributors. It's just over an hour away but my in-laws live near there and maybe I can talk my brother-in-law into picking some up.

Hey Rob, I just printed your instructions. Gonna put them in my Track Casting Kit.... ...Well, I dont have one yet but I will soon. I will buy some regular plaster as well, like you suggested and make some casts of my dogs prints and maybe a cast of my kids feet would be kind of fun to do and nice to have.

I will keep ya'll posted on how it goes..

[Redwolf]

Great info Rob thanks!

I had a quick note though. I chatted with some guys at the Hillsboro conference and one of them mentioned that you want to be sure whatever you use to "stabalize" your cast, be sure it's not made of something that will rust.

For practice I got some good old "fix-all". I will get the spendy stuff for use in the field.


Redwolf

[RobUstes]

OOOHHH thanks Red, i forgot about that part ... yeah, stay away from steel if at all possible, but if thats all ya got, then thats all ya got !!

Rick Noll explained to me, after i had shipped him some casts for examination (and they kinda exploded in the air shipping process) that steel will rust, creating a gas INSIDE the cast, and when at a higher altitude (in an aircraft), may crack or destroy the cast. The gas will expand, and the force being greater than the strength of the cast ... well, Rick has a few of my casts in pieces now. I had used some concrete rebar i had laying around, but i think a smaller diameter steel wire would be alright. Aluminum is much better though.

[ecwool]

Here's something that we have found that works really good for reinforcing casts, Fiberglass joint tape. Just cut it to size after you have poured the cast halfway. Then finish pouring.

[Redwolf]

Here's something that we have found that works really good for reinforcing casts, Fiberglass joint tape. Just cut it to size after you have poured the cast halfway. Then finish pouring.

That sounds like a great idea, thanks for sharing it!

Redwolf

[Fishbone35]

Here's something that we have found that works really good for reinforcing casts, Fiberglass joint tape. Just cut it to size after you have poured the cast halfway. Then finish pouring.

That sounds like a great idea, thanks for sharing it!

Redwolf

Craig is one cool dude that way!

Thanks from my side of the pond too, Craig. Good idea!

[ecwool]

Craig is one cool dude that way!

Thanks from my side of the pond too, Craig. Good idea!

Jim, thanks for the kind words. I try to assist whenever possible. Hope you, Redwolf and others find it helpful.

[Streamrunner]

Hey neat Craig. Thanks. Rob you wanna reiterate about how much cast material it takes to make a footprint... like average size say a 15 incher?
Then how about a Thor 18x7 incher ? Anybody else wanna jump in there I would be interested in comparing thoughts.

[RobUstes]

About 12 lbs for an average size track , i know that sounds like alot, but it isnt really, the stuff is dense, and weighs alot for its size.

Thors may take upwards of 20 lbs ... i'll see (soon i hope )

[Streamrunner]

Good luck with that one Rob. If he picks you up and looks at you really close
oh.. never mind. he he he Thanks for that cause I was wondering how much over the 12 pounds you thought it might go. That's amazing stuff. Of course Thor is an amazing guy. And so's you Rob.

[RogerKni]

You should see my printer cartridge bill!  I reckon I spend around $500 per month on printer cartridges for this little office - there is only two of us in here!  --  Paul

I suggest you go to the online catalog of your office-products supplier and, in the search box, enter "ink jet cartridge refills". If you don't get a match on that or something similar, try Google. Refill kits use a syringe to inject your empty cartidges with cheap new ink. You can save a lot.

Since low-end printer mfgrs. make most of their money on the sale of cartridges, they tried to discourage refilling by saying that this practice voided the user's warranty. But the (US) government made them rescind this. I don't know what the situation is in the UK.

[JayleeD]

I have a couple of questions on the subject of casting tracks.

1) I used the link looking for hydrocal and duracal and of course the nearest supplier to me is like 2 1/2 hours away. Will #1 moulding plaster work? And if so, should it be applied as mentioned in Rob's instructions?

2) Most of the tracks of animals that I've seen (no big guys, just canine and cat???) that I would like to cast have been on very sandy creek banks. Are the same methods used in sand?

Help!

[RB]

No expert here Jaylee, but I thought I had read somewhere about using sugar water to set a print in sand before you pour the goop into the print…

I think it’s a trick sand castle builders use to keep their sand castles firm… firm… firm…

I just like to say firm… firm is a funny word … “the law firm was firm on the firm firm”…