Buzz
Silicone molds are widely favored due to their ease of use and the fact that they require minimal mold release agents. Although there are various types of molds available in different sizes, shapes, and designs on the market, you may not always find the perfect one for your own project. In this case, you can make your own mold. While silicone mold-making kits are available in stores, it can be much more affordable to create your own at home!
Steps to Follow
Using silicone and liquid soap
Fill a bowl with water. The water should be at room temperature – not too hot or too cold. The water level should be deep enough to fully immerse your hand.
Mix a little liquid soap into the water. You can use any type of liquid soap, including body wash, dishwashing liquid, or hand soap. Continue stirring until the soap is fully dissolved and no soap streaks remain.
- Mix in a ratio of 1 part soap to 10 parts water.
- You may also use liquid glycerin. Glycerin reacts with silicone and helps the silicone bond together.
Squirt a small amount of construction silicone into the soapy water bowl. Purchase a tube of pure silicone at a hardware store, but make sure not to buy quick-setting silicone. Use just enough silicone to coat the mold sample.
- Construction silicone is also known as silicone adhesive.
- If the silicone doesn’t come with a nozzle, you’ll need to buy a caulking gun. Attach the nozzle to the silicone tube, cut off the tube’s tip, and make a small hole at the end.
Knead the silicone in the bowl of water. Wear gloves and submerge your hand into the water, grabbing the silicone and kneading it. Knead until the silicone is no longer sticky while submerged in the water. The kneading process will take about 5 minutes.
Shape the kneaded material into a thick disk. Start by rolling the material into a ball shape between your palms. Place the ball on a flat surface and gently press down. The disk of material should be thicker than the mold sample.
- If the silicone is still sticky, you can rub some soapy water onto your hands and knead the material on a surface covered with a thin layer of liquid soap.
Press the sample item into the silicone disk. Be sure to place the side with the design facing down. Gently press the edge of the mold into the sample object to ensure there are no gaps between the silicone and the sample.
Wait for the silicone to set. Silicone never hardens like stone, it always retains some flexibility. You only need to wait a few hours until the silicone becomes firm enough that you can still bend it without leaving an imprint when you press down with your finger.
Remove the mold sample from the mold. Grip the edge of the mold and gently bend it backward. The mold sample will loosen and pop out. Tilt the top of the mold down to slide the sample out.
Use the mold. Press clay into the mold, then remove the clay and wait for it to dry. You can also pour tree resin into the mold, but you must wait for the resin to set and harden before removing it.
Use silicone and cornstarch
Press a small amount of construction silicone into a plate. Purchase a tube of pure silicone from a hardware store; this product is typically in the form of a silicone-filled tube with a nozzle. Squeeze a little silicone onto a disposable plate. You need enough silicone to cover the mold you want to cast.
- Construction silicone is also sold as silicone adhesive. Be sure not to purchase the quick-setting type.
- If the silicone tube does not come with a nozzle, you will need to buy a caulking gun. Attach the silicone tube to the gun, cut off the tube’s tip, and make a hole in the tip.
Pour twice the amount of cornstarch as silicone onto a plate. If cornstarch is unavailable, you can substitute it with corn flour or potato starch. Keep the container of cornstarch nearby so it’s easy to sprinkle more when needed.
- If you want to add color to the mold, you can drop a few drops of acrylic paint into the mixture. This step won’t affect the mold’s effectiveness.
Wear plastic gloves and knead the two ingredients together. Continue kneading until the silicone and cornstarch form a pliable mixture. At first, the mixture may feel dry and crumbly, but keep kneading. If it gets too sticky, you can add more cornstarch.
- You may notice some cornstarch left in the plate, but don’t worry. The silicone will absorb enough cornstarch for the mixture.
Shape the silicone into a disk. Start by rolling the silicone mixture into a ball between your palms, then place it on a smooth surface and gently press it down to flatten, making sure it’s thicker than the sample object you want to mold.
Press the sample object into the silicone disk. Be sure to press the design side of the object facing down, with the back on top. Use your fingers to gently press the mold’s edge into the sample object, ensuring there are no gaps between the object and the mold.
Wait for the silicone to set. This process will only take around 20 minutes. Once the mold has hardened, you can move on to the next step. The mold will still be flexible but not easily deformed or dented when pressed.
Separate the mold sample from the mold. Hold the edge of the mold and gently bend it backward. Flip the mold over to release the sample. If necessary, you can use your fingers to pry it out.
Use the mold. Press wet clay into the mold, then remove it and let it dry. You can also pour tree resin into the mold, wait for it to dry, and then remove it. The extraction process is similar to how you would remove the sample from the mold.
Use 2-part silicone
Purchase a silicone mold kit. These can be found at specialty stores that sell molding materials. Sometimes these kits are also available at large craft supply stores. Most kits come with two containers labeled “Part A” and “Part B”. You may also need to purchase these components separately.
- Don’t mix the silicone yet.
Cut the bottom off a plastic food container. Find a thin, inexpensive plastic food container and use a utility knife to cut the bottom off. Don’t worry if the cut is uneven; this piece of plastic will form the top of the mold.
- Choose a container that is slightly larger than the object you want to mold.
Apply several overlapping strips of tape across the top of the box. Remove the lid of the box. Cut several strips of packing tape and lay them horizontally over the opening of the box. Overlap each strip by about 0.5 cm. Leave a few centimeters of tape at each edge of the box.
- Press your finger along the edge of the box for a tight seal.
- Make sure there are no gaps to prevent silicone from spilling out.
Fold any excess tape onto the edges of the box. When pouring silicone into the box, it may seep through gaps in the tape and leak out. This step will prevent silicone from spilling and damaging your work surface.
Place the object you want to mold into the box. Set the box on a firm surface with the cut bottom facing up. Place your sample into the box, pressing it against the tape, ensuring that the sample doesn’t touch the sides of the box or other objects if you’re using multiple items. Also, make sure the side of the object with the design faces up, with the back pressed against the tape.
- Objects with a flat back are ideal for this method.
- Clean the object before placing it into the box if necessary.
Measure the silicone according to the manufacturer's instructions. You will mix Part A and Part B together. Some silicones are measured by volume, while others are measured by weight. Read the product instructions carefully and measure accordingly.
- Pour the silicone into the provided cup in the kit. If the kit doesn’t include a cup, you can use a disposable plastic cup.
- You need enough silicone to cover the sample with a layer about 0.5 cm thick.
Mix the two parts together until the mixture becomes uniform in color. You can use a wooden stick, popsicle stick, spoon, fork, or plastic knife to stir. Continue stirring until the mixture is evenly colored with no streaks remaining.
Pour silicone into the box. Use a stirring stick to scrape out all the silicone to avoid wasting any. The silicone should cover the top of the object with a layer about 0.5 cm thick. The silicone layer may tear if it is too thin.
Wait for the silicone to set. The setting time depends on the brand of silicone. Some brands may be usable after a few hours, while others need to be left overnight. Be sure to check the product instructions for specific timing. Avoid touching or moving the mold during this time.
Remove the mold. Peel off the tape from the box once the silicone has set and hardened. Gently slide the silicone mold out. You may notice some thin silicone strands around the mold. If they are not aesthetically pleasing, you can trim them with scissors or a craft knife.
Remove the sample from the mold. The objects inside the box will stick to the silicone layer. Gently bend the silicone back so the objects pop out, similar to how you would remove ice cubes from an ice tray.
Use the mold. Now you can pour resin, clay, or even chocolate (if it’s a food-safe silicone mold) into the mold. If using clay, you can remove it as soon as it’s still wet. For resin, you need to wait for it to completely set before removing it.
Tips
- While silicone tends to be less sticky, it’s still a good idea to spray a little non-stick oil into the mold before pouring in the resin.
- Molds made from construction silicone and dish soap or cornstarch are not suitable for making candy. This type of silicone is not food-safe.
- If you want to make candy molds, you need to purchase a two-part silicone mold kit. Be sure to carefully read the product label to ensure you’re buying food-safe silicone.
- Two-part silicone molds are more durable than construction silicone molds, as they are made from professional-grade molding materials.
- Silicone molds are not permanent and will deteriorate over time.
- The best silicone molds for pouring resin are the two-part molds.
Warnings
- Avoid getting construction silicone on your skin, as it may cause irritation.
- Construction silicone can release harmful fumes, so make sure to work in a well-ventilated area.
Items You’ll Need
Using Silicone and Liquid Soap
- Water
- Liquid soap
- Bowl
- Water
- Prototype material
- Plastic gloves
- Construction silicone, silicone adhesive
Using Silicone and Cornstarch
- Disposable container
- Cornstarch or corn flour
- Prototype material
- Plastic gloves
- Construction silicone, silicone adhesive
Using Two-Part Silicone
- Two-part silicone kit
- Disposable cup
- Stirring stick
- Plastic food container
- Utility knife
- Packaging tape
- Prototype material
