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To create a silicone mold, gather materials including a plastic masterwork, knives, and a structure to hold the mold. Pour silicone around the piece to be molded, let it cure for 24 hours, then cut and separate the mold halves. Spray with release agent to prevent sticking.
The first step in pouring silicone is to gather the necessary materials. A masterwork of some sort will be needed to create the mold; this masterpiece will shape the mold, allowing the user to create duplicates of that piece. The master should be plastic, as the silicone will not bond to the plastic and thus create the mold without tearing, breaking or otherwise being damaged. A few different types of knives will be needed for this process, as well as a structure that can hold the mold, the silicone blend itself, and a release agent.
Silicone casting begins with the creation of a base and wall structure that can hold the silicone in its liquid form. This can be done with a variety of materials, and kits are available for purchase to make the process much easier, depending on the size of your project. Once the structure is in place, the piece to be printed is set inside; it needs to be lifted slightly from the base, usually with small braces, so that the silicone can be poured onto all sides of the piece. The main piece must be in place correctly before the user starts pouring the silicone, otherwise the mold will be imperfect. The piece should also be inspected carefully for burrs or imperfections.
The silicone material usually comes in two bottles. The silicone components are mixed with each other in a 1:1 ratio. The master should be sprayed with wax to make it easier to remove the silicone once the process is complete. Once the silicone mixture is ready, it can be poured into the mold container around the main piece. The silicone solution must cover all parts of the master and must be thick on all sides to avoid a weak final mold. Pouring the silicone slowly will prevent air bubbles from forming in the final mould.
After the silicone is poured, it needs to cure for 24 hours. It will harden, but still be flexible. The mold will be removed from the container and cut in half; once the blade reaches the center piece in the center, the two pieces of silicone can be gently separated. While silicone is flexible, it can still tear, so the process of separating the two pieces must be done slowly and carefully. The two halves of the silicone mold are then sprayed with a release agent to prevent the plastic to be molded from sticking to the silicone.
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