Why water yourself?
Making silicone molds yourself is fun, offers many new possibilities and is more sustainable than buying cheap molds that quickly become dull and unusable. Homemade molds are quick to make and can be used more often than cheaper alternatives from the Far East. Watering it yourself is not only more sustainable, it is also not really more expensive than buying finished products. 1kg of our silicone costs around €34, a mold measuring 6x6cm weighs between 50 and 70g; You notice: watering yourself is quite cheap. Even if our blanks sometimes seem quite expensive, you should never forget that you can use our blanks as often as you want.
Which silicone is the right one?
There are countless silicones, but it should be mentioned first that not every silicone is suitable for every purpose. In this blog post I would like to talk about three silicones that are ideal for crafting. The silicones presented are suitable for: synthetic resin, soap, concrete and cast ceramics, and they are FDA approved.
Silicones and their benefits
C hoose Silicone Shore 20 (Buy here)
...is a soft silicone that is perfect for complex geometries.
It ventilates itself very well, and thanks to the practical 30 minute processing time and 4 hour curing time, you don't have any stress when working. Since it is transparent it can be colored in your desired color. Vacuum Recommended but not necessary.
C hoose Silicone Shore 30 (Buy here)
...is a medium-hard silicone that is very robust and durable when used with synthetic resin. Like the Shore 20 silicone, it ventilates well on its own, and thanks to the practical 30 minute processing time and 4 hour curing time, you don't have any stress when working. Since it is transparent it can be colored in your desired color. Vacuum Recommended but not necessary. The Shore 30 silicone is perfect for thin-walled silicone molds and flat silicone molds as well as working with acrylic blanks. Its medium hardness makes it the best choice because it is neither too hard nor too soft and has the best tear resistance of the three silicones presented.
C hoose Silicone Shore 50 (Buy here)
...is a hard silicone, due to the hearing viscosity this silicone vents more poorly on its own (vacuum is an advantage), thanks to the practical 30 minute processing time and 4 hour curing time you don't have any stress when working. Since it is transparent it can be colored in your desired color. Vacuum Recommended but not necessary. The Shore 50 silicone is perfect for large, very simple thin-walled silicone molds and flat silicone molds, e.g. for large cutting boards or small tables. Not suitable for delicate small parts as it sits less firmly than the Shore 30.
But how do you water it?
Before we get started, here are some tips! (Read processing time, curing time and safety instructions if necessary!)
1) Attach the blank to the floor. (we use painter's crep or bookbinding foil)
2) Attach the frame (we use our cast frames with the perfect height, but Lego or old yogurt cups and plastic containers also work)
3) Mix silicone (mix equal parts silicone well and thoroughly, paying attention to the walls and bottom of the cup)
4) If possible, vent under vacuum
5) Pour silicone (if possible, pour in a narrow stream, this will release additional bubbles)
6) Allow to harden
Tips and Tricks
You often read about release agents... The fact is: you actually don't need a release agent at all. Depending on what you are pouring, release agents extend the life of the mold, but can also have a slight impact on the result.
If you like to water a lot and work with viscous silicones, you should consider purchasing a vacuum pump and chamber. A vacuum pump can also be used to vent resin. Alternatively, you can put the silicone in the fridge for the first 30 minutes of the curing process or before mixing. This extends the curing time but results in fewer bubbles in your silicone mold.
To save silicone, you can also use filling material other than silicone. It's best to use silicone from the same manufacturer.
In order to ensure the surface quality is as perfect as possible, it makes sense to pour in two layers and only add the filling material to the second layer.
I hope you have fun casting your own silicone molds! If you would like to share your experiences with other readers, please contact us and comment on this post.