How To Make Homemade Silicone

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In order to make cute resin castings or jewelry with epoxy resin, it is essential to employ a skilful negative mold. These are bachelor in numerous designs to buy. If, however, yous want to dare special, individual forms or simply desire to build something yourself, then you can make a silicone mold without much endeavor. In this article, we volition show you how to make custom silicone molds for resin yourself.

Tabular array of Contents

1 Working with Epoxy Resin
ii What is the Best Epoxy Resin for Silicone Molds?
three Why Silicone Molds are the all-time Option for Resin Casting?
4 Virtually important Cistron for Resin Molds: Caste of Hardness
5 How to make Silicone Molds with Template
half-dozen How to make Silicone Molds without Template
seven How to make Resin Molds – Some Considerations earlier you lot start
8 Supplies you need for the Production of Silicone Molds for Resin
- eight.1 Best Silicone Mold making Kits Recommendations
  - 8.1.1 Best Value for Money: INCREDIBLE SOLUTIONS Silicone Mold-Making Kit
  - viii.ane.2 Premium Choice: BECKLY Silicone Mold Making Kit
- 8.2 Other Materials you need for making your own Resin Mold
9 How to make Silicone Molds for Resin – Step by Footstep Tutorial
- 9.ane Structure of the Frame
- 9.two Mixing the Silicone
- 9.iii Silicone Pouring
- nine.4 Removing the finished Silicone Casting Mold
10 Making two-slice Resine Silicone Molds
eleven Silicone Molds with Undercuts
12 Silicone Molds for Resin – Valuable Tips and Tricks
13 How to Make clean your Molds – Tutorial
xiv How to prevent Problems with Silicone Molds
xv Inspirations for DIY Silicone Molds

Working with Epoxy Resin

For working with epoxy resin, the resin and a corresponding hardener are the bones requirements. Depending on which project you want to devote yourself to, other materials such as dissimilar color pigments will be added. Often polished silicone molds are also needed. In that location are practically no limits to inventiveness when it comes to shaping: Cubes, assurance, pyramids, stars, hearts, flowers, coasters and all kinds of figures. Annihilation is possible and tin exist filled with epoxy resin to create beautiful works of art or gifts.

In the grade of your pick 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 together diverse elements such as glitter, stones, shells, flowers, etc. if y'all wish. Afterwards hardening, carefully remove your finished piece of work from the mold.

What is the Best Epoxy Resin for Silicone Molds?

When working with epoxy resin, the resin and a respective hardener are the basic requirements. Depending on which projection you want to devote yourself to, other materials such every bit unlike color pigments can exist added. Polished silicone molds are as well often needed to provide a glossier finish to your finish production.

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 cute works of art or gifts.

INCREDIBLE SOLUTIONS Pourable Plastic Articulate Casting Resin

You will require a lower-viscosity casting resin for your molds, equally this resin has a thin consistency that allows it to make full all kinds of shapes with great outcome. This resin has been formulated specifically for the purpose of pouring into a cast, and can be poured in layers of up to 2 inches thick.

This resin volition cure crystal-clear unless a color is added. This particular resin is peculiarly compatible with pigmented mica powders. You tin mix your resin liquid and hardener according to a 2:1 ratio.

Custom formula causes minimal bubbles and avoids craters
Epoxy when used and cured correctly it is safe with a depression odour
Mixes well with mica pigment powders and cures crystal clear

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Where most resins offer only a short period of fourth dimension with which it can be worked, you volition accept a significantly longer working time before this resin begins to harden. This is due to its low exothermic rate, which ways that it produces less heat every bit it cures. However, the thick-pour quality of this resin ways that information technology can take betwixt 36 and 48 hours to cure.

Epoxy resin tends to become yellowish when exposed to sunlight as a event of the sun's harmful UV rays. This resin has been made with boosted UV inhibitors to resist the effects of UV light and prevent yellowing. This production is also water-resistant, almost odorless, and produces no VOCs.

Pros

Blemish- and water-resistant
UV-resistant
Depression odor and cypher VOCs
Longer working time
Very little shrinkage

Why Silicone Molds are the best Choice for Resin Casting?

Due to the fact that information technology acts equally a release agent, silicone is ideally suited as a fabric for casting molds. The finished resin objects can be easily removed from the mold subsequently curing due to the flexibility of the silicone.

Some other advantage is that silicone is considered non-toxic. The fact that it is used as a common textile in the product of baking molds or even pacifiers proves that this material is completely harmless. In addition, almost no allergies to silicone are known to appointment.

At that place is already a very big selection of ready-to-utilise silicone molds on the market. Peculiarly beginners of this technique can fall back on baking molds made of silicone or polished silicone molds made especially for working with resin.

If you are interested in ready-made silicone molds for epoxy resin casting, hither are our recommendations:

Centre mold, circular mold, ellipse mold, rectangle mold, square molds, tweezer, finger cots
Very suitable for making resin coasters, jewelry holder, bloom pot holders, bowl mat etc.
Fabricated of loftier-quality silicone, very flexible and durable

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Package totally have eighteen items
It includes i sphere, one cube, 1 diamond, one triangular pyramid, ii measurement cups, two different crystal stone molds, x wood sticks
Very flexible, easy to clean and it re-usable, not easily damaged

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Fabricated of silicone, which is flexible and shine, resistant to fierce
Tools: screw eye pins, stirrers, droppers, spoons, hand twist drill
Many dissimilar shapes, such equally square, rectangular, circular, etc.

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However, a disadvantage of many of these silicone molds (peculiarly blistering molds) is that the load on the material is extremely high when working with epoxy resin. The starting time signs of habiliment, e.g. a dull surface, are quickly visible. As a result, it becomes increasingly difficult to remove the resin from the mold. In addition, as already mentioned, many molds are available. Still, these are of course predetermined and may limit your own creativity. The solution: You tin can easily brand your ain silicone mold!

Almost important Cistron for Resin Molds: Caste of Hardness

The bones textile for the production of silicone molds is silicone rubber. You can become it at your local dealer. Silicone rubber is a soft mass that hardens very rapidly and is then extremely elastic. Notwithstanding, silicone is non infinitely flexible: If the material is overstretched, information technology tin can easily break or scissure. The caste of hardness determines the brittleness of the material.

Silicone safe is bachelor in various degrees of hardness. The degree of hardness of the silicone is indicated in Shore. The rule of pollex hither is: the lower the Shore value, the college the elasticity.

Shore 0 to 20: Soft material with a very high flexibility. However, this fabric is also relatively unstable.
Shore 20 to 40: Quite dimensionally stable material with medium elasticity.
Shore xl to lxxx: The fabric is quite hard and hardly rubberband. It is very dimensionally stable, but also slightly brittle.

The degree of hardness you should choose for your project depends on what you want to apply the silicone for. Yous may besides notice it easier to work with one caste of hardness than with another. You tin only try it out.

Basically, soft silicone has the advantage that you lot can easily remove your finished work from the mold after it has hardened. However, the form is also very unstable at a low degree of hardness and deforms relatively quickly. In this respect, silicone molds with a higher Shore value are of course more than hard to handle, as the casting is not so like shooting fish in a barrel to remove. In addition, care must be taken that they do not pause or tear during release. If treated carefully, however, they can be used very frequently because of their high dimensional stability. Because they practically practice not deform at all.

In addition to the degree of hardness, the viscosity of the silicone also plays a function in the selection. Depending on the project, you can choose between thick or sparse silicone safety.

If you want to make chocolate or baking molds with silicone, you must make certain that the material used is food prophylactic and heat resistant. A oestrus resistance up to 200 ° C should be given.

If yous want to work with epoxy resin, concrete or other chemical casting materials, you should start make certain that the silicone you lot use is resistant to chemicals.

If y'all are not sure whether your silicone meets your requirements, read the manufacturer'south information sheet or contact your dealer for advice.

If you want to make your own silicone molds, you tin can choose between two options: A negative mold with original mold or a negative mold without original mold. We would like to explain the differences between these two variants in more detail below.

How to make Silicone Molds with Template

The negative muld with original mold is perfectly suited for the production of a duplicate. For such a project you need a frame. This ensures that the silicone does non spread uncontrollably later on pouring in. If you want to build the frame yourself, orient yourself to the dimensions of the object you want to reproduce. Since silicone is quite expensive, this procedure makes sense in order not to consume unnecessarily much of the material. Your self-made frame has to exist absolutely tight. This is the only way to ensure that the silicone does not flow out into possible cracks or underneath edges during pouring. Instead of using a frame, you can also utilize empty plastic packaging to pour in the resin.

At present you can place the blank in the frame and set up the silicone. As e'er, y'all should follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Then spread the mixture evenly in the frame and let information technology harden. The mold can then simply be removed from the frame.

How to brand Silicone Molds without Template

To brand the silicone formable for this blazon of processing, pour the mixture into a basin containing a mixture of h2o and detergent. Then enclose the prepared blank with the now flexible silicone. Make certain to utilize sufficient mass. If you are also sparing with the silicone at this bespeak, your mold volition later become brittle and unstable.

If yous want to make a silicone mold in this way, don't forget that the mold must accept an opening at the end through which the object can exist removed. Alternatively, the mold can be cut open at one point after hardening.

Bilder: Van Rossen / JLORTIZ / shutterstock.com

How to make Resin Molds – Some Considerations before you start

Earlier y'all outset casting the mold, you should call back nigh your project. For example, the option of the right silicone mass depends on the nature of the blank. The following considerations should be fabricated in advance:

What is the surface of the blank similar? Is it very smooth or does it have grooves, edges or ornaments? This is important in order to decide on the optimum hardness of the silicone. If the surface of the blank is irregular, y'all should utilise a soft Sillkon and then that the resin casting can be removed from the mold later. With a simpler bare, a silicone with a higher degree of hardness also works.
How large and heavy is the bare? With which material should the mold later be poured? These considerations are besides important when choosing the right degree of hardness. If y'all have prematurely decided on a soft material, problems with the stability during the subsequent pouring of the mold are quite possible.

In guild to be able to make silicone molds yourself, it does not necessarily take to be the expensive special silicone. It is also possible to use bathroom silicone, which is much cheaper to buy. Especially for beginners it offers itself to reach to this economical alternative. So you don't get annoyed nearly unsuccessful, expensive attempts. When using bathroom silicone, however, you should be aware that you lot can only employ it to make elementary silicone molds. Filigree, detailed illustrations will not piece of work.

Supplies you lot demand for the Production of Silicone Molds for Resin

If you desire to brand a silicone mold yourself, the blazon of your project determines the exact cloth requirements. The following list is based on a negative mold with an original mold:

Best Silicone Mold making Kits Recommendations

Your creativity is your only limitation when it comes to creating your own silicone molds. If you desire to make a silicone mold yourself, the nature of your projection will make up one's mind the exact fabric requirements. The following list is based on creating a negative mold with an original mold or template:

Best Value for Coin: INCREDIBLE SOLUTIONS Silicone Mold-Making Kit

This silicone mold-making kit contains two components that, when combined, volition upshot in a yellow, not-toxic rubber silicone fabric. This product produces no olfactory property and is very easy to use. With a uncomplicated mixing ratio of 1:i, the 2 parts of this kit are easy to combine. Y'all should mix the components together thoroughly for 5 minutes, after which you volition have another 5 minutes with which to mold and shape the silicone.

Make Your Own Silicone Molds, Easy 1:1 Mix Ratio
Compatible With Epoxy Resin, Casting Resin & Other Sculpting & Casting Mediums
Safe & Piece of cake To Use, Nutrient Grade Once Cured, No Need For Mixing Cups, Stir Sticks, Etc

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This silicone produces no bubbles, as any that do appear will be gone within less than two hours without whatsoever need for degassing or heating. The mixture volition harden subsequently v minutes and will need to cure for a period of 20minutes at room temperature, although this may vary depending on the size and thickness of your mold. Individuals that are new to making their own silicone molds should opt for this product, every bit it is simple to use and easy to clean. You tin create molds for any number of applications.

Pros

Non-toxic
Odorless
Nutrient Safe
Easy to use

Premium Choice: BECKLY Silicone Mold Making Kit

This silicone mold gear up is a premium product that is like shooting fish in a barrel to employ and will produce top-quality results. With a simple ane:1 mixing ratio, this depression-viscosity liquid tin exist mixed and poured with the utmost ease. The sparse consistency of the liquid makes it ideal for capturing particular in your molds.

Very easy to mix: 1:1 mixing ration
Pot life: ~thirty minutes
Cured after 6 hours, ideal for Resin

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The silicone mixture will begin to harden after a pot life of 30 minutes at room temperature, and volition require half dozen hours of curing time. The product should be stored at room temperature for the best results.

The silicone will cure to a purple color, meaning that information technology is not the best choice for adding your own colors. Despite the expensive price, this production offers slap-up value for money and is of an first-class quality.

Pros

Releases bubbles automatically
Uncomplicated mixing ratio
Great for complex molds with a lot of detail
Easy to employ

Cons

Containers are difficult to reseal
Can be messy to work with
Cannot add color

Other Materials y'all need for making your own Resin Mold

Professional digital calibration with LCD display and TARE function
High precision accurate to 1g (5 kg maximum weight)
Ideal for weighing casting resin and laminating resin

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Hot glue gun with warm-up fourth dimension from 3 to 5 minutes
Perfectly bonds metal, cardboard, plastic, forest, electronics, etc.
30 glue sticks included

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MDF is made from wood fibers and is a strong and easy to use and to cut
These MDF boards or very well cut with no precipitous edges, ready to employ and glue
Each board measures v.875 10 7.875 x 0.0785 inches

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Modelling compound EFA plast archetype, white, 3 kg
Air drying and clay like
Can exist painted or varnished when cured

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mixing cup
wooden mixing sticks
Silicone Spray
talcum powder
Carpeting pocketknife
Cotton fiber swab or toothpick
the item to be reproduced

It is extremely important that very little or no silicone runs out of the frame during the pouring process. Therefore, with the help of the toothpick or cotton swab, all joints are closed with the modelling compound and the frame is sealed besides equally possible.

How to make Silicone Molds for Resin – Stride past Pace Tutorial

At outset glance, it probably sounds very difficult to brand silicone molds. With our step-by-pace-tutorial it will be no problem fifty-fifty for you as a beginner to make a successful negative mold.

Construction of the Frame

The frame into which the silicone is to be cast must be sealed every bit well every bit possible then that no fabric leaks out later due to possible cracks. In addition, the frame must completely enclose the bare.
The base plate of the paradigm should exist smoothen. All shine materials except glass are suitable for this purpose. This would not repel the silicone and thus the later on release without damaging the silicone would be practically impossible. The best manner is to apply a smooth MDF board. Smoothly planed woods is also very suitable for the iv side walls that enclose the base plate. Now mucilage the sides to the base of operations plate using a hot mucilage gun. These side walls should protrude your blank by almost 10 millimetres. The joints of the mold should be thoroughly sealed with modelling compound. Cotton swabs or toothpicks are suitable for smoothing the compound.
When the frame is finished, identify the bare in information technology. The side to be pictured must point upward. The object can be attached to the base plate with some double-sided adhesive tape or a drop of hot mucilage. Ready the blank well enough and then that it cannot slip when you fill in the silicone mass.

Mixing the Silicone

After you have weighed the required corporeality of silicone yous mix the ii components in a ratio of i:i. For mixing you use a mixing cup and a wooden spatula. Exist careful non to waste too much silicone. For this you tin either calculate the book or the approximate need with the help of a measuring stick.
It's a skillful idea to mix several small portions instead of one big portion of silicone. These can be mixed more easily without clumping. Since silicone is very tough, it is almost impossible to stir a very large amount of it. And so it is ameliorate to split the silicone by using several pocket-sized cups.
To loosen the bubbles in the mass you tin can knock the cups several times with the bottom on the tabletop afterwards mixing. Before pouring the silicone into the frame yous should wait a few minutes. This is the merely manner that whatsoever air tin can actually escape from the mass.

Silicone Pouring

If you take chosen wood as the fabric for building the frame, it must be thoroughly sprayed with release agent earlier pouring in the silicone. Alternatively, you lot tin can also glaze the frame with oil. But beware: Non all oils are uniform with silicone and may attack the surface of the cloth.
Therefore, you should detect the manufacturer's instructions in advance.
Now the silicone mass tin can be poured over the blank into the frame.
Pouring the silicone into a large object with a smooth surface is quite easy. Here the liquid silicone is poured slowly from relatively large height over the blank. Make sure that it is completely enclosed with the mass.
In the case of a blank with many edges, corners, angles or cracks, these must be poured out first. This works best with a very thin silicone jet. And so y'all can frame the residual of the silicone. This procedure guarantees that all details are visible in the later on analogy.
The frame is then filled with the remaining mass until it protrudes about v millimetres to a higher place the object.
Finally, the air bubbles should be removed from the molded silicone. To exercise this, carefully tap all four sides of the frame so that the air can escape. Then you tin can let your mold harden.

Removing the finished Silicone Casting Mold

The curing time of the silicone mold depends on the silicone used and its size. It tin can vary between one and 24 hours. If y'all want to check if the silicone is completely cured, you can gently press information technology into the mold with a finger. If you find that the mass has hardened, the silicone mold is at present released from the frame. If it has been thoroughly treated with mold release agent or oil, this is ordinarily no problem. For the final straightening of the edge, it is best to employ pair of scissors, a rug knife or a scalpel.
In gild to keep the silicone supple and to maintain it, you can rub information technology with talcum powder afterward releasing it from the frame and later each use.

Making two-piece Resine Silicone Molds

For resin casting, double-layer molds are of course super suitable. When working with epoxy resin, impressive, three-dimensional objects tin be created, into which various materials such as stones, flowers or other objects tin exist cast.

Merely also for model builders, 2-part forms are of form very interesting because they tin can produce different objects. With two-part silicone molds, parts of different sizes and different materials can exist combined without problems. With materials such as physical or plaster, house facades, gates or bridge pillars can be created, which tin be beautifully painted and decorated after hardening.

In improver to the materials already listed above for a simple mold, you will also need some modeling clay for ii-part molds. With this, you make full-upwardly the frame halfway. The surface must so be smoothed and the corners well lined.

At present press half of the bare into the clay and fill up the silicone into the frame. Later hardening, the dough and the silicone mold are removed. The finished silicone mold is placed direct back into the frame. The blank is so placed in the previously made recess. In social club to exist able to separate the mold halves well from each other afterwards on, you must now spread out the mold with Vaseline before pouring liquid silicone into the frame again. This silicone compound must also harden well.

Silicone Molds with Undercuts

Silicone molds with so-called undercuts can be a detail challenge. Blanks with undercuts have clearly visible, protruding corners and edges that can get in the manner when they are removed from the mold. If these undercuts are relatively small and you are using soft silicone (Shore 0 to 20), these edges should not crusade whatsoever major bug. A little more tricky will exist the case with larger undercuts. In this case information technology is advisable to make a 2 slice or even multi piece mold. You lot should make up one's mind in whatever case for the flexible soft silicone safety and pay meticulous attention when removing the object that it is not overstretched.

If it is not possible to remove the blank in the normal way, y'all can cut the silicone mold at ane border then remove the blank. The resulting cut can then exist airtight by attaching some very tight rubbers to the mold. This makes it very easy to remove the cast role from the negative mold later.

Silicone Molds for Resin – Valuable Tips and Tricks

If it is besides expensive for you to build a wooden frame in advance, then there is a very uncomplicated culling. Take a base plate fabricated of smooth planed forest and then place a frame fabricated of Lego bricks which you gum to the plate. With this you lot are admittedly flexible in size and shape. When sealing and later pouring in the silicone you proceed in the same way every bit with a wooden frame.
The optimal room temperature for drying silicone is between 18° and 22° C. If the temperature is higher, the textile may clump because information technology dries likewise rapidly. If the room temperature is lower than 18° C, the drying procedure is unnecessarily prolonged.
Another fiddling trick if you lot are unsure how much silicone you lot really need: Build the wooden frame as described and prepare your blank to the base of operations plate. Now fill up the mold with rice until it is nigh one centimetre higher than the object. Since the weight of the rice corresponds approximately to the required amount of silicone, yous just have to counterbalance information technology now.
An important tip at the end: In order not to lose the joy of your project at the beginning, kickoff programme a relatively simple class and take your time for the implementation. Gradually you can increase the level of difficulty.

How to Clean your Molds – Tutorial

With our tips yous will get the silicone mold back in perfect condition.

Simply put the non-solid epoxy resin in the freezer. The common cold makes the liquid resin crystallize and the biggest damage is repaired. This trick also works with UV resin, but hither you should try it with a longer curing time beginning. Please put your silicone molds just packed and labeled into the freezer. Preferably into an empty compartment. Contact with nutrient must be avoided in any case.
Most of the resin should now be easy to remove, leaving simply remnants. These are best removed with a lot of dishwashing liquid, which yous rub into the mold with gloves and rinse with h2o. Place the mold on a lint-free cloth to dry.
Meanwhile the mold looks better and could theoretically be used again. But the residues would stick to the new resin. For all perfectionists who desire to invest another five – 10min of work, they now resort to adhesive record. Just use the adhesive side to get the remaining resin, pigments and glitter residues out of the mold and it should look similar new and is ready for your next resin casting

How to prevent Bug with Silicone Molds

No open fire at the Mold. Called-for away bubbles is a popular method to get rid of the annoying air bubbles in the resin. Just exist conscientious: Avoid whatever contact with the silicone. Silicone molds can be heated up to 180° Celsius for a brusque time. A lighter reaches temperatures between 800° and 1300° Celsius – and then way too much.
Mix the resin according to the packaging instructions. Even minimal deviations can cause the resin to get unnecessarily warm and thus cause your mold to age more than apace.
Merely apply colors that are suitable for resin. Acrylic paints can cause the resin to boil and impairment your mold.
Never clean your silicone molds with sponges or other acidic items.
Y'all can use release agents. Release agents will degrade the end of your resin work, merely will help your silicone mold terminal longer. Our suggestion: Use release agents only for complex shapes that are difficult to mold or if you already notice that the quality of your silicone mold is deteriorating.

Inspirations for DIY Silicone Molds

Even if you don't have too much experience in making silicone molds all the same, y'all can withal dare to make minor pieces of jewellery. There are no limits to your creativity. Pendants in diverse shapes made of epoxy resin and embedded materials are real middle-catchers.

If your kid is fascinated by your favourite slice of jewellery, you tin create a beautiful duplicate with sparkling extras such every bit glitter particles.

If y'all are already a piddling more than experienced in casting molds, accept upwardly the challenge of a self-cast chess game fabricated of epoxy resin. A unique gift idea for chess lovers, where the high endeavour pays off in the cease.

The sky is the limit – yous can even build out a guitar with your own silicone mold.

Common silicone molds are easily available on the market. If, nevertheless, yous desire to let off steam and create a truly unique slice, yous can't avoid making a DIY silicone mold. Just give information technology a try – with our tutorial nothing can get incorrect 🙂