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Making moulds

sfurini

Graduate Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2015
Posts
478
Location
United Kingdom
First Name
Stewart
Hi
There's a current thread about resin supplies and a question has come about where to buy moulds. I make them (much cheaper - though not as neat as resin saver moulds I've seen on the web).

Make a positive first - wood, covered in vaseline/petroleum jelly to stop silicone sticking to it. Also, it's screwed together so it can be taken apart to get the silicone mould out once set.

2015-10-17 15.24.52.jpg

I use ordinary bathroom silicone. You don't get the same neat finish as you can get with the pourable rtv silicone. I empty a tube or two into a bowl of warm water with washing up liquid in and I wear gloves! Mould the silicone into a lump under the water and then force into the mould. Once in the mould I used a piece of mdf to force it down as much as possible. This piece of mdf forms a base to the finished mould.

2015-10-17 15.24.59.jpg

The finished and used moulds...

2015-10-17 15.25.15.jpg

I know they look a little messy but when turned the blanks look ok...

2015-09-20 18.44.17.jpg
 

Jim

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Posts
15,617
Thanks for adding Stewart .. If it works then it's a good un .. :thumbs:
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
That smell caused me temporary blindness one time I was heavily into fish keeping 26 aquariums and I had a breeding tank with a metal base leaned over it to coat with silicone it felt next day like a welding flash all gravelly. There are so many slicones these days this one you used sets well.

Peter.
 

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,679
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Like you Stewart I made mine from silicon and found it works a treat instead of lining the mould with vasoline I used cling film and made the square block to form the recess seperate and held it in place with double sided tape so once it was removed the box is used as a support because I only made mine 1/2" thick all round saves on silicon. At the moment I use a clamp to hold the loose side. The reason I left one loose side was for easy removable during the making as well as being able to lift it out when the resin has set.
 

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sfurini

Graduate Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2015
Posts
478
Location
United Kingdom
First Name
Stewart
Nice one. I've got a block like that from when I was using PR. The alumilite is more pricey and so I've restricted myself to just single pen blanks for now. I'm tempted by the polyurethane resins from the supplier you use but I'm not sure they will do for pen blanks. Have you ever used it?

cheers

Stewart
 

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,679
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Nice one. I've got a block like that from when I was using PR. The alumilite is more pricey and so I've restricted myself to just single pen blanks for now. I'm tempted by the polyurethane resins from the supplier you use but I'm not sure they will do for pen blanks. Have you ever used it?

cheers

Stewart

I am using PR at the moment but am tempted with PU as well which many say is very similar to Alumilite
 

sfurini

Graduate Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2015
Posts
478
Location
United Kingdom
First Name
Stewart
Am just casting now with my last alumilite. Will give PU a go when I generate some funds. ....

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sfurini

Graduate Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2015
Posts
478
Location
United Kingdom
First Name
Stewart
38cf3fdf4671273c686166914159f982.jpg


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