Removal Of The Object From The Resin Mold
Now it is time to remove the object from the resin mold! This step is very important as you do not want your mold to break or damage at all. Be gentle with this step and your mold should be absolutely okay. Basically, all mold-making kits will state the same thing, whatever you do, do not pull the object out with force! You want to bend the mold away from the object slowly and carefully, eventually allowing your object to pop right out. Do not pry or pull!
Now, your mold should be free of its object and you may need to spray an anti-adhesive before using it. This is to make sure that your mold does not get stuck to your casting material. First, however, give your new mold a rinse with some soapy water, you are now ready to cast your resin!
Well, that wraps up our guide on resin mold kits. You should now have quite a large understanding of silicone rubber, the various hardnesses you may require for your project, and what the best silicone mold kit out there is! We wish you happy mold-making and hope whatever you plan on making comes out exactly as you hoped! Happy Crafting!
Different Types Of Resin Molds
Instructions for making a mold with EasyMold Silicone Putty:
Preparing the surface
Since the surface of these wood buttons are rough and porous, we coated them with a sealer. Using a paintbrush, apply a coat of liquid glue over the surface of the wood button.
If the glue settles at the top of the buttonhole, poke it with a toothpick.
Take time ensuring all crevices are coated and then when the glue is dry, turn buttons over and seal the other side. Allow glue to dry fully before proceeding with the silicone putty.
Creating the Mold
EasyMold Silicone Putty has 3 minutes of working time at regular room temperature, which means you need to work quickly. Read the instructions on the packaging prior to starting any resin project.
Mix only enough to make one mold at a time. Measure equal sized amounts of components A & B.
For these 3 long driftwood buttons, my components were each about two tablespoons each.
Quickly knead together the components until it is a uniform color, free of any swirls. This process takes about a minute.
Roll the kneaded components into a ball and then flatten so you have enough to wrap fully around the sides of the driftwood button.
Press putty firmly around the button.
Leave the button inside the mold for about 25 minutes while it cures. Remove the button and the mold is ready to be used!
Were looking forward to making our beautiful coastal-inspired resin buttons.
Make Your Own Silicone Mold The Frame Construction
- Concentrate on building the frame first. This should completely enclose the object you want to duplicate and be as tight as possible to prevent silicone from passing through. Use a smooth base plate, but no glass. Silicone rubber does not repel glass, so removing it can be a real nuisance. It is therefore also advisable to use smooth wood for the base plate.
- The base plate is enclosed by four smooth side walls. For these you can also use smooth planed wood or MDF boards. The walls should be about ten millimetres higher than your object. Seal the joints of the mold as far as possible. You can use modelling clay for this. To smooth the joints, use a toothpick or cotton swab.
- Place your object in the frame with the side to be modelled facing upwards and fix it to the floor, ideally with hot glue, strong double-sided adhesive tape is also possible. The object must not slip under any circumstances when filling the silicone mass. Now the silicone mass is mixed.
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Using Heat With Silicone Rubber
You might be wondering just how heat-resistant silicone is, and with good reason! While you have likely used and seen silicone rubber used in various applications, you likely are not even aware of how vast its use really is. This includes being used inside machinery and objects that you use every single day! These items rely on their silicone parts to work properly and include things like your motor car, laptop, and cellphone!
So, how much heat is too much and how much of it can silicone rubber withstand? Many silicone rubber molds can, at any degree of hardness, withstand temperatures of up to 302 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 10,000 hours. All without bending or losing shape or form. Depending on how the heat is applied and what the quality of the silicone rubber is, the integrity of the silicone will vary. What we mentioned above is a general guideline, set according to researchers. Silicone is not a very good conductor of heat, so it is often an affordable and cheaper way to insulate things.
There is usually a large amount of silicone rubber used inside resin mold kits, and most have very high-quality silicone rubber that can properly withstand higher temperatures.
You need to consider the limitations of your resin mold kits and their reason, depending on the grade used, should you want your molds to last longer.
What Is Silicone Rubber And How Does One Use It
Obviously, this is quite a broad question. In a sense, it is like asking one to describe how wood or water is used. There are just way too many ways one can use silicone rubber to explain it all in one article. But, if someone has never seen or heard of silicone, you may find it easier to explain the substance to them and give them a pretty decent idea of what it is and how to use it. Here is some interesting history on this wonderful synthetic substance.
Silicone was discovered in 1842 by a man named Jöns Jackob Berzelius. His discovery was made possible because he was experimenting with chlorine solutions. Since that day, humanity has found a plethora of ways to use silicone! Being such a flexible substance that is also quite durable and even somewhat heat-resistant and also airtight, means that silicone will not cause damage to the surfaces it comes in contact with.
Silicone can be used in electronic applications as well as plumbing!
In your home, you will find silicone everywhere! Inside the kitchen, you likely own a pair of silicone oven gloves, baking trays, cupcake molds, basters, containers, and even an egg flipper! When it comes to your car, silicone was used to insulate exposed wires, create gasket sets, and even seal off oil containers. It is also often used to create trim on a vehicle or for the grip on a screwdriver and then even used to make the container in which your tools are stored inside!
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Remove Object And Heat Cure If Needed
I removed the snowflake from the mold. After the cure time, the mold is ready to use. However, the instructions say that if youre using a resin casting product, concrete, or plaster, the mold needs to cure at room temperature for 24 hours first.
If youre feeling impatient, you can heat cure the mold by putting the mold only in the regular oven on aluminum foil or a cookie sheet. The guidelines say to place in the center of the ovenor at least 6 from the heating elementsand make for 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. I did test out heat curing mine, and it worked just fine.
Use An Object To Create An Impression
Im using a wooden snowflake ornament to make an impression. The instructions for the putty do say that some items may contain sulfur or stearates, which can inhibit curing. Soaps, for example. If the item youre using to make an impression has one of these, just coat it with acrylic spray to seal it first. The instructions also recommend testing a small piece of putty on the item first, but I skipped that.
I quickly pressed the snowflake down into the silicone until I was happy with the placement. Then I took a knife and cut out around the snowflake just to make the mold look a bit more professional. I left the snowflake in the putty for the entire cure time, which is 25 minutes. Actually I left mine in for a bit longer because I was working on something else.
I was really impressed with how quickly the putty began to solidify. They arent kidding when they say it has a 3-minute working time. And between 4 and 25 minutes, it solidifies completely. Pretty amazing.
Want more resin projects? Check out my epoxy resin paint pour for beginners tutorial and my tips on whether to use a shiny or matte silicone mold for resin projects.
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Inspirations For Making Your Own Molds
Advanced DIY-artists are welcome to try their hand at a chess game made of epoxy resin. This project means a lot of work, but the result is an absolutely brilliant gift idea for chess friends.
Jewellery made of epoxy resin looks noble and modern at the same time. Maybe your little daughter would like to wear mummys or daddys favourite piece of jewellery but it is too expensive to simply put it in her hand? Duplicate it with epoxy resin and fill the resin with glitter particles or little stars. Your childs eyes will shine!
Even noble pendants with dried flowers can be made of epoxy resin. If you use a self-made casting mold made of silicone, you are completely free in your design possibilities.
Simple molds made of silicone are available everywhere in the trade. However, if you want to let off steam creatively, you can hardly get past your own silicone mold. However, with our instructions for mold production, hardly anything can go wrong. Just give it a try!
How To Make A Concrete Mold Using Silicone Cast An Existing Object To Make A Cement Planter
You can make a silicone mold to cast a concrete planter. If youre like me, youve probably got an object lying around your home that youve been thinking that would be such a cute planter!.
But maybe its not suited to be one because its glass or metal and doesnt have any kind of drainage, or maybe its a nice wood and you dont want to ruin it?
Well, you can make your own concrete mold by replicating any object to make it into a cement planter.
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Mix It Together On The Stove
After youve decarboxylated about 3.5 grams of cannabis, heat a cup of coconut oil in a saucepan until it gets around 130-150°F . Add the marijuana, and simmer the mix together for about three hours or so, stirring frequently.;
You can also use a double-boiler. Just put water in the bottom pan, add the coconut oil to the top section, stir in the cannabis and heat at 130-150°F for about three hours. With a slow cooker, just combine the oil and the weed and cook on low, also for around three hours.;
Whichever method you used, once youre done simmering the oil and cannabis mix, strain the oil to remove the plant matter, and bottle it up somewhere safe.;Keep in mind
Congratulations! You now have your own batch of cannabis-infused coconut oil that you can use for any occasion.;
Making Your Own Concrete Molds
Learning to make;your own concrete molds is cheaper than buying them. Which makes it a great idea. Its really not that difficult of a task, once you get the hang of it and used to the smells. In this guide, I will tell you how I do it. Plus Ill add a video of the guy who I learned from myself.
Like with any new adventure, practice is key. Your first few attempts;might not turn out great, but thats;how you learn! Remember, if it was easy, everybody would do it!;Im going to tell you how to make latex rubber molds with a fiberglass shell for support. So, enough with the intro lets get down to business!
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Get Your Project Ready To Pour
Level the mold on the worktable. If required, place the mold on wooden blocks to allow access to the bottom of the mold for clamping wood slabs or other embedded objects. Adjust level as necessary with wood shims, washers, or other items available in your shop space.
Next, you can add your wood slab or embedded item to the mold cavity. Be sure to clamp down the object to avoid having it float during the casting process. Use a block of wood covered in sheathing tape between the wood and the clamp, to ensure the clamp does not bond to your project.
Warning: If your wood slab is warped, excessive clamping force can cause the mold to warp as well. Adding a stiffener, like a second thickness of mdf, to the base will help prevent the mold from twisting.
Let Cure And Remove The Object
After my mold was done curing, I used a popsicle stick and a spoon to pry it out of the container. The good news is that this silicone cures really well. It was very tough and strong. The bad news is that that meant I couldnt easily get my succulent out of the silicone. I didnt leave enough of an opening at the top.
Heres what I did. First I cut off the corners to hopefully give me more leverage to pop the succulent out. No dice. So I decided to pry the succulent out. Its a good thing I wasnt keen on keeping the succulent, because I ended up pulling some leaves off in the process. Oops! Definitely leave a bigger opening than I did!!
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Working With Epoxy Resin
For working with epoxy resin, the resin and a corresponding hardener are the basic requirements. Depending on which project you want to devote yourself to, other materials such as different color pigments will be added. Often polished silicone molds are also needed. There are practically no limits to creativity when it comes to shaping: Cubes, balls, pyramids, stars, hearts, flowers, coasters and all kinds of figures. Anything is possible and can be filled with epoxy resin to create beautiful works of art or gifts.
In the form of your choice you give the finished epoxy resin mixture. Either we use the mixture crystal clear, or colored with liquid colors or pigments. You can then add various elements such as glitter, stones, shells, flowers, etc. if you wish. After hardening, carefully remove your finished work from the mold.
How To Make Your Own Silicone Mold: Easymold Silicone Liquid Rubber
Theres a second way to make your own silicone mold that I tried out and want to share. While the first version used a silicone putty to make an impression mold, the second using a pourable/brush-able liquid silicone to make a mold.
Much like the putty option, EasyMold liquid pourable/brushable silicone rubber is great for a wide variety of molds: resin, wax, baking, chocolates, ice cubes, soap, plaster, clay, concrete, and low-melt metals. The biggest difference between the putty and the brushable/pourable silicone is that the putty is for impression molds.
That is, pushing something into the putty to make an impression of it. The liquid pourable/brushable silicone rubber is for blanket, glove, or block molds. It is also non-toxic, FDA compliant, and food grade.
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How To Cast Anything With This Two Ingredient Mold
Sometimes its just fun to play around and create for the pure joy of it case in point this little concrete pear. When our blog was MIA a few weeks ago, I went into a total downer. And when this girl gets down, she goes shopping for food. Anyone else do that? So while walking around our local store, I spied a plump, little green pear with the cutest butt ever. Weird, I know. If Im not feeling up tin cans to make a washing board Im checking out the butts on pears ;Anyways she came home with me and rather than chopping her up for a fruit salad, I decided to make a two ingredient mold, and immortalize her as a paper-weight instead.
Kinda cute right?!!! Shes been drizzled with a rich copper paint sauce. If I ever master the art of cooking Id love to make a baked pear dish with a drizzle of sauce. It looks like something that could be served in a 5-star restaurant. Okay, maybe not So since the only recipes I know how to follow are those that involve a strange mix of ingredients, let me share how to make a mold, using only two ingredients that can be used to cast almost anything.
Okay, before we get to the tutorial, be sure to follow us on , , , , and hit that subscribe button below so you never miss a post
Right, lets get to the tutorial. Its easy, fun and will open up sooooooo many new crafting possibilities.
Apply Sealer & Release Agents As Necessary & Finish Preparing The Model
Apply;appropriate sealers and/or release agents to the mold box.
As mentioned previously, the plywood used for this mold box is not sealed. We coat it with Pol-Ease®;2350, a white petrolatum dissolved in mineral spirits, which serves as both a sealer and release agent. No additional release agent is necessary.
When using;a non-porous mold box, consider applying;Pol-Ease®;2500 Release Agent instead .
Not sure which release agent to use for your particular project? Our Sealer & Release Agent Selection Guide;may be helpful.
Apply a release agent to the model.
We also apply Pol-Ease 2350 Sealer & Release Agent;to the model itself. Pol-Ease® 2500 Release Agent is another option that could;be used in this case .
Allow sufficient time for the solvent in Pol-Ease 2350 to evaporate before moving on to the next steps.
Seal any areas around the model where rubber may leak. There are;small gaps at the base of this model, so we seal that area with plasticine clay . Other options for sealing include caulk and hot glue.
Smooth and flatten the clay as best as possible:
Place the model in the mold box and secure the bottom board to the mold box walls:
Place the mold box and model in the proper position for pouring the liquid rubber:
Seal the edges of the mold box with plasticine clay to help prevent rubber from leaking outside of the box:
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