How to make a mold (mold) from silicone for epoxy resin?

The basis of casting models for jewelry epoxy resin is silicone for pouring molds. They are called “molds”. Using the ebb tide, crafts, decorations and other items are created for various purposes. And with the smooth walls of such models, you can practically avoid sanding the resulting product.

• Application area of ​​silicone for pouring
• Silicones for molds: types and purpose
• The advantages of such molds
• How to make a silicone mold?
• Preparing tools and materials
• Main rules for filling
• Work algorithm
• Final stage
• How to make a silicone mold in the shape of a sphere and a hemisphere?
• Step by step instructions
• Recommendations for handling silicone for pouring
• Let's sum it up

Molds are available in craft stores or construction hypermarkets. However, the price of industrial molds often repels potential buyers. And the range of these products is quite narrow.

The article talks about how to make silicone molds for epoxy resin yourself. The publication covers:

1. Properties of liquid silicone.
2. Instructions with photos and video explanations.
3. How to do epoxy casting? Precautions for safe operation.

Application area of ​​silicone for pouring

Casting molds have received many functions. They are used:

• when working with clay, mastic or gypsum;
• Food Industry;
• as a tool for soap production.

Such molds are made from silicone, which is characterized by heat resistance. The material is completely safe for health. Therefore, the molds can be used for baking in the oven.

One small set of molds costs from three hundred rubles and more. Many people think that creating them is not easy. But this is not true if you know the exact algorithm of operation. Therefore, craftsmen who make figurines and jewelry make pouring molds themselves. Often this grows from a simple hobby into a profitable business.

Try to prepare several different casting models so as not to spend money on buying material again. After all, after opening the package (even with proper storage), silicone for filling molds remains suitable on average for no more than a month. Then it dries up. This forces you to spend money on re-purchasing the product.

Application area

Silicone is an organosilicon compound that is actively used in many areas of human life. The substance is especially popular in construction and repair, since it is based on the following:

• sealants;
• adhesive lubricants;
• water-repellent impregnations;
• primers;
• defoamers;
• adhesives;
• compounds, etc.

Culinary molds are cast from silicone for baking, freezing and storage. Silicone molds are widely used for making jewelry, figurines, and various decorative and creative items. Products made from this elastomer are used in the automotive industry and even in medicine, because it is hypoallergenic, non-toxic and completely safe for health.

Silicone is bioinert, does not react with surrounding surfaces, does not provoke corrosion of metals, can be used at extreme temperatures, in damp rooms and in direct contact with water and chemicals.

Silicones for molds: types and purpose

Silicone products can be used in production and everyday life. Therefore, molds for pouring silicone can be divided into two categories: factory-made and household, that is, made by hand.

In production, molds are created from industrial grade silicones. Such compositions are divided according to the active substance as a catalyst:

1. Tin. It makes very strong, stable molds. They have a long service life. Retains properties even under heavy load. Hardening occurs after adding tin compounds. They can also be used at home.
2. Platinum. Molds made from it do not shrink, because they are strong and durable. Immediately ready to pour. Silicone molds made from platinum are made colorless and resistant to high temperatures. Such properties significantly expand their purpose.

For home use, compositions with the following characteristics are usually chosen:

• Silicone based. It is obtained by combining pastes and reaction accelerators that are needed for hardening. They are sold on the market in the form of packages with two components. Complete hardening of the finished mixture occurs within 24 hours. They are convenient for home work because they do not require serious preparation - they exhibit properties at temperatures from +18 to +25 ℃.
• Decorative. When hardened, molds can be shaped into different surfaces - for example, a small wave.

What to make a silicone mold for epoxy resin from is a purely personal decision for everyone. On the shelves of construction stores there is a whole line of effective products for this purpose. And the choice of a specific tool depends only on your goals.

The only rule: do not rush to grab the product from the shelf. First, carefully study its composition and properties. To avoid buying a fake, ask the seller for a quality certificate. Check the packaging, it must be intact - without tears or other damage. Ask the consultant all your questions.

How to use a silicone baking pan

The convenience of this material has captivated almost all housewives: silicone products can be stored very compactly, folded several times - this does not deform them. They are also easy to clean, no scrubbing required. You can remove food without any problems by simply turning the “dish” inside out, even if it is a fragile cake. Baking in a silicone mold is prepared faster than in a metal one: for comparison, a tall sponge cake with a diameter of 25 cm is baked in 40 minutes versus the usual hour. However, you need to use such kitchen utensils wisely - only then can they last for several (up to 5) years.

Basic rules:

• Immediately after purchase, you need to thoroughly clean the silicone mold using a soft sponge and detergent: you need to get rid of the chemical composition on its surface.
• After each use, go through the inside and outside with paper napkins or rinse it with clean water.
• Never try to clean silicone with hard brushes - this will damage the structure of the wall coating.
• It is easy to remove baked goods from the mold: pull the edges, lightly press on the bottom to push the food out. Some large pies need to be helped with a spatula, but it should be wooden or the same silicone. No metal!
• Do not place silicone on open fire.
• Do not store such utensils near sharp or sharp objects - holes and scratches on the silicone appear quickly.

Do I need to grease before baking?

This material is very convenient due to its non-stick feature, so you can bake in it completely without fat, which is ideal for dietary recipes. However, when using for the first time, the mold must be lubricated with oil to “activate” this property. Further, if the material is of high quality, it will perfectly maintain this condition itself. Cheap silicone may cause the dough to burn, which will require cooking with fats every time.

There are a couple of nuances here:

• It is advisable to lubricate with odorless vegetable oil - you should not use butter.
• If you decide to clean your silicone molds in the dishwasher or use detergent, you will need to re-oil the inside of them before baking anything again.

What to put in the oven

The fact that this material is very soft causes some difficulties when working with it. Housewives do not immediately understand how to put a silicone mold in the oven, and therefore use it in the same way as a metal one. You shouldn’t do this: for every silicone dish you need a mandatory stand: a similar form made of glass or ceramics, or a tray. This requirement is due to the ease of deformation of the bottom when placed on the grid. Additionally, there are a few more subtleties:

• If you are planning to bake a tall sponge cake, pudding or cake, the weight of a large amount of dough can cause the pan to tilt and tip over. Place it in a deep frying pan, pan, etc. that matches it in diameter.
• Fill the molds after they are placed on the stand, not before.
• Keep in mind that in a gas oven, the silicone product should not come into contact with the walls or open fire to prevent melting.

The advantages of such molds

The traditional base for molds is an organosilicon compound (silicone). Most often, liquid two-component silicone is used for filling molds.

Its advantages:

1. Ability to harden without shrinking. The material will not need to be heated, because it will harden even at room temperature.
2. Often found in the food type, therefore it is involved in the production of molds for baking food.

Mixtures of gypsum mixed with a silicone-based sealant are often found. However, it is better not to experiment this way, because the quality of the mold will be several times lower. Therefore, experts recommend using two-component silicones. After all, for casting at home, working with them is much easier.

How to make a silicone mold?

Casting from epoxy resin is quite labor-intensive work. And it is impossible without mold. To make a pour, prepare at least one copy of the pouring mold.

To do this, the article contains step-by-step instructions. It contains the basic rules for preparation and an algorithm for making molds with your own hands.

Preparing tools and materials

First, prepare all the necessary tools. The main inventory list is:

1. Silicone for filling molds. We recommend choosing a silicone compound, which is also known as two-part silicone (rubber compound).
2. Syringes for correct measuring of catalyst. It is needed in the situation if you decide to work with a one-component composition.
3. Container and wooden stick for mixing the mixture.
4. Scales for weighing material.

Some of these components are available at home, the rest is in construction supermarkets or handicraft stores. We recommend placing your equipment conveniently at hand so as not to be distracted from your main work.

Main rules for filling

Before you begin, we advise you to carefully study several rules and requirements. First, make a trial attempt at making a mold. This way you can find out how effective the purchased silicone is for filling molds. If you notice that the material is sticking, cover the walls with a release agent (for example, wax).

To create a colored mold, use silicone dyes. Before pouring, place the mixture in a vacuum chamber, if available.

Have you decided to do this type of work during the cold season? Then the silicone should be allowed to sit in a warm place for 24 hours. Stir the material with care, otherwise there is a risk of air bubbles forming.

Take care of your working conditions too. The temperature in the room should not exceed 25 degrees. If it is above this mark or below 18 degrees, then the time for the mixture to transform into a gel will begin to change even with the same amount of catalyst. This will reduce the quality of the finished mold.

Prepare the product whose shape you want to repeat. Its surface should be glossy, since silicone will repeat even small imperfections on the surface of the object. Then they will become noticeable on the epoxy resin casting.

How to bake in a silicone mold in the oven

Cooking with such molds is no more difficult than with ceramic, glass or steel. Choose a suitable design and you won’t even have to come up with decorations for a quick biscuit. Follow the basic rules given above, pour the dough, send it to the oven, microwave oven or multicooker. Silicone baking utensils are versatile and easy to use, especially if you consider these professional tips:

• Before cooking in a mold, rinse it and wipe it dry: it accumulates dust and static well, no matter where it is placed.
• Due to the high thermal conductivity of silicone, dishes are baked very well, so the optimal temperature will have to be selected again - it may be lower than usual.
• If this is your first time using a silicone mold, carefully monitor the dish: it will not take as long to cook as you are used to - the time will be reduced by approximately 15-20%.
• Check the manufacturer's information on the packaging: it may indicate at what temperatures a particular utensil should be used and where.
• Let the baked goods cool before removing them.

Is silicone harmful for baking?

Neither steel, nor ceramics, nor Teflon, nor glass have seen such a number of disputes regarding the safety of a material that comes into contact with food. They talk about the dangers of silicone for baking non-stop, each time putting forward new facts and hypotheses. However, where is the truth, and where is just an attempt to find a non-existent danger? Chemistry experts confirm that such products can have a negative effect on the body, but only if they are chosen and used incorrectly:

• Trying to save money, some manufacturers release molds made of “technical” silicone to the commodity market: a cheap material, often supplemented with low-quality dyes. As soon as they begin to heat up, harmful substances are released, which, together with the food inside the form, enter the human body.
• Medical or “food grade” silicone does not pose such a danger, no matter what temperature it is exposed to. It is suitable for both children's baking recipes and for preparing food for sensitive organisms - there is no release of harmful substances into the environment. However, in terms of safety, it still cannot be compared with ceramics or glass.

Work algorithm

Apply plasticine to the prepared solid base in a thin and even layer. We press the part we are going to copy into it. If it is flat, then you need to place it in plasticine approximately halfway from the borders of the mold. Volumetric objects need an additional layer of material.

Next we walk around the perimeter of the part. We press it against the plasticine to make a clear border (with a toothpick or a match). We make sure that the plasticine is adjacent to it closely, otherwise the pouring silicone will flow under it.

After the preparatory procedures, we form the walls for the mold. Make sure that there is a distance of approximately seven millimeters between the walls and the parts. We smooth out all the joints. We make a series of indentations at the bottom of the container to avoid displacement of the halves of the created shape.

Mix liquid silicone for filling molds with a catalyst according to the principle in the instructions. We recommend using a kitchen scale to accurately calculate all proportions. Then pour the resulting mixture into a plasticine mold. We do this slowly and smoothly so that voids do not form.

There are materials for pouring molds that can harden within a few minutes. Therefore, study the description of the purchased product so as not to get into trouble. After completing all operations, the mold must be removed to a quiet place so that the silicone hardens.

When complete hardening occurs, all plasticine can be completely removed. To do this, first remove the side sections, and then the bottom ones. You need to hold half the form in your hands, inside of which there will be a copied product. We place the mold on new plasticine and again line up the walls along its perimeter. We glue the joint carefully so that it is sealed.

Cover with a wax separator according to the manufacturer's instructions. By the way, it can be ordinary Vaseline or paraffin. We fill the silicone exactly as for the first half. We wait for final hardening and remove the second form.

Final stage

Now let's move on to the last step. To do this, remove the plasticine and separate the two parts. If the separator did not cope with the task, then simply cut them off from each other and remove the part that was copied.

Silicone molds for epoxy resin are ready. When the creations have completely hardened, they can be used immediately for their intended purpose.

How to make a silicone mold in the shape of a sphere and a hemisphere?

The most popular types of molds for epoxy are spheres and hemispheres. Therefore, craftsmen are often inclined to make molds for epoxy resin with their own hands in this embodiment.

It's a little easier than creating a flat or voluminous mold. Follow the step by step tutorial to make the spherical resin mold correctly.

Step by step instructions

When combining the silicone mass and the catalyst, you must thoroughly knead the mixture so that no lumps form in it. Then we take an ordinary plastic glass and drop a very small amount of instant polyurethane glue onto the bottom. We put several glass balls in the glue so that they stick and do not move.

We pour the silicone material onto the products in a very thin stream. Then tap the bottom of the glass on a hard surface to remove any air bubbles. When they rise to the top, carefully pierce them with a thin needle or toothpick.

Press the glass balls into the prepared material about halfway. We wait until the silicone for pouring molds has completely hardened. This usually takes about a day. When the time is right, remove the silicone balls. We take the shape out of the cup and carefully cut it. You can use the finished casting immediately.

Recommendations for handling silicone for pouring

Before pouring the silicone mold, prepare your work area. Silicone molds are a magnet for debris and dust. Therefore, they must be carefully looked after and stored only in closed boxes.

Products must be laid out in one layer to eliminate the risk of deformation. After all, silicone is a material that is easily susceptible to mechanical damage. Therefore, make sure that the finished form is not scratched.

Before pouring epoxy resin, the mold must be washed with soap and dried. The castings are removed from the molds by holding them under a stream of water. Follow the recommendations, and then you will keep the molds in good condition so that you can use them more than once.

Let's sum it up

Icon molds are accessories that are easy to make at home. Therefore, there is no point in buying factory molds. Just follow all the basic rules and instructions exactly to make your own mold.

If you have any questions, we recommend watching a video on how to use silicone to fill molds at home:

In Moscow, we recommend buying goods only from well-known brands. The type of mold and the product made in it depends on the quality of the material.

Making silicone molds

Silicone molds are presented in stores in a large assortment, and yet it is not always possible to choose the appropriate option. Many craftsmen prefer to prepare molds themselves in order to reduce costs and get the product they really need. You can create forms in different ways, including using silicone sealant.

Materials and tools

To make molds, you need to prepare the following devices and consumables:

• catalyst - 2.5 mg (white spirit solvent is suitable);
• good quality silicone sealant - 100 ml;
• acrylic paint - required amount;
• glycerin - 10 drops;
• a plastic cup;
• spoon and pipette;
• container;
• sand;
• blank for mold;
• vegetable oil or soap;
• brush.

Mixing ingredients

First you need to combine all the liquid components together. Place sealant in a plastic cup, add glycerin and paint using a pipette. Mix the mixture well and add white spirit. Then mix the composition until it becomes homogeneous.

Mold casting

After combining all these components, a composition is obtained that is well suited for casting any shape. Adding a solvent allows you to reduce the rate of silicone hardening and have time to perform further necessary actions with it.

The order of subsequent work is as follows:

• take any container or other container without holes;
• place in a container a model of the future shape, which was previously sculpted from plaster, polymer clay, plasticine or other available means (usually they paste over a suitable product with such materials, then carefully remove the convex master model);
• fill the workpiece with sand to accurately calculate the amount of silicone solution required;
• pour sand, lubricate the master model with oil or soap, secure it in a container;
• apply silicone to the mold, carefully working out the smallest bends of the relief, let the material dry;
• after 5-10 minutes, fill in the remaining silicone;
• after 8-10 hours, detach the finished mold from the master model.

Using sealant - second method

There is another way to make molds from silicone, however, with its help they are less elegant, and small details are not always clearly visible. In its pure form, the sealant is quite sticky, so you need to add potato or corn starch to it. The proportions must be chosen so that the end result is a thick “dough”. The sealant should be placed in a disposable glass, adding starch little by little and preparing the mass.

After kneading the dough, you need to take a master model, grease it with cream or oil, then stick it with silicone. Leave the workpiece for a day, then detach it from the base. Another option is to press the master model into the dough ball, carefully align the edges, and after a couple of minutes remove the product.