Use and maintenance of Silicone Molds - 10 Practical Tips
Silicone molds are ideal for making works of art from epoxy, jesmonite and plaster. If you buy a silicone mold, you want to enjoy it for as long as possible. We would therefore like to share some practical tips so that you can enjoy your silicone mold for an extra long time. Discover everything about cleaning your epoxy silicone mold here.
There are many types of molds. In our assortment you will find more than 250 small and large silicone molds for epoxy, jasmonite or plaster. These different molds are often used for making decorations, jewelry, key rings and making other art. Of course, our molds are made of high-quality silicone and are therefore often reusable. Only, how can you clean a silicone mold to be able to use it for a long time?
Tip! Are you going to cast epoxy in a mold? Always use a good quality epoxy such as Epoxy casting resin or ready-made UV Resin .
Tip 1: Check your silicone mold
After purchasing your silicone mold, it may still have rough edges on the mold. It is important that you remove these completely. The rough edges can scratch your artwork.
Have you used a mold before? First remove the excess hardened epoxy. This can be done with a wooden stick or a spatula. However, make sure not to apply too much pressure, otherwise the mold can be damaged. You can use warm water with soap or acetone.
You can dispose of the excess epoxy with acetone via chemical waste.
Tip 2: How do you get a deformed silicone mold back into shape?
Silicone molds for epoxy or baking forms are (fortunately) very flexible. The thinner the mold, the more flexible. The disadvantage is that such a flexible silicone mold will also deform more quickly due to the mass of the epoxy resin or, for example, careless storage. During shipping, molds can sometimes be slightly deformed or bent.
Before pouring, first check if your mold is neatly straight in shape. You can wring and squeeze a deformed silicone mold a little to get it back into shape. If this doesn't work? Then you can try to reform the mold by placing a heavy object in or around it. A third option is to tape the silicone mold to your work table.
Tip 3: Cleaning silicone mold epoxy
Cleaning your mold can be a big job. By using the right products, you can make cleaning a lot easier. What do you need to clean your product?
- Acetone, alcohol or acetone
- Soft cloth
- Soap
Removing epoxy after it has hardened can be a challenge. If you cannot remove the epoxy resin with a plastic spatula, you can opt for acetone. The chemical reaction between acetone and mixed epoxy will dissolve the epoxy resin. Use latex gloves to protect your skin.
You can also remove the epoxy resin or pigments with vinegar. After cleaning with either option, it is important to clean the mold with warm water and soap.
Do not use scouring pads or steel wool. These can irreparably damage the surface.
Tip 4: How do you remove glitter and powder from a mold?
With glitter or pigment powder you can finish your creation, but this often sticks to the silicone mold. To remove remaining glitter or dust you need a piece of tape, sticky tape or a lint roller. Simply go over the mold with the sticky part. All glitter and dust will stick to the sticky part.
Tip 5: What is the best way to store molds?
Silicone molds are best stored dust-free. You can choose to put the mold back in the grip bag in which it was delivered. But you can also wrap the mold in plastic foil. The most important thing is that no dust gets to it.
You can then store all the molds you have in a plastic box. Store the molds on a flat surface, otherwise the mold can become deformed.
Tip 6: How to remove epoxy air bubbles?
When working with epoxy, air bubbles can occur. Many customers remove these with a lighter or blowtorch. This sometimes works, but be careful. Epoxy is flammable at too much heat. If you get too close to the edges of the mold with your burner, it will damage the mold because the epoxy will stick to the mold. This means that there is a big chance that the mold will rub when you demould your artwork.
Tips to remove epoxy air bubbles
- The best way to remove air bubbles from epoxy resin is to let it sit for a few minutes after mixing and stirring the epoxy resin. This will cause most epoxy air bubbles to burst. It is also best to let the epoxy work for a while after pouring it into the mold itself, then most air bubbles will burst by themselves.
- Heat the epoxy resin in a bain-marie for a few minutes: no warmer than 40 degrees Celsius, and only then pour the epoxy.
- Spray your creation with the Bubble Blaster spray and the bubbles will pop after a few seconds. Don't do this too often, because then you can get a haze on your creation.
- If you want to approach it professionally, you can opt for a vacuum chamber or pressure vessel.
- In a thick layer of epoxy (1.5 cm and thicker) air bubbles develop faster than a thin layer. Therefore never pour too thick a layer at a time.
Tip 7: Safely remove your artwork from a silicone mold
After pouring, carefully remove your creation from the silicone mold. Always do this slowly: first loosen the edge and then remove the entire silicone mold. Do not stretch your mold too much when removing it, as this will cause the silicone to stretch, making the mold dull or cracking. This will shorten the lifespan of the silicone mold. Epoxy molds can last a long time if used correctly.
Tip 8: The epoxy is stuck to the mold
If epoxy, plaster or jesmonite is stuck in the mold, place the mold in the freezer for 30-60 minutes. This will not harm and will ensure that your creation comes loose. You can also try to wring your creation loose with soapy water. This works especially well with molds such as rods, pots.
Tip 9: What is the lifespan of a silicone mold?
Unfortunately, molds do not last forever. Molds become increasingly vulnerable through the use of epoxy resin or plaster. Some molds only last 5 times and others can be used 20 times, for example.
Using epoxy resin, plaster, candle wax or jesmonite can cause your mold to warp or become slightly distorted. To still use the silicone mold 1 or 2 times, you can stick it to a flat surface with double-sided plank tape. If the mold does not keep its shape, it needs to be replaced.
Tip 10: Pouring a silicone mold
In order to cast properly, it is important to know in advance how deep you can cast with the epoxy resin, jesmonite or plaster you are using. This is especially important for large objects such as a vase or flower pot. This is often indicated on the product page.
Epoxy always shrinks a little during the curing process. For the best result, it is best to pour the mold a little fuller, which creates a bulge of epoxy just above the edges of the mold. This then shrinks nicely flat.
There is also a difference between casting in thin layers and thick layers. The thickness of the layer also affects the curing time. Once cured, you can no longer make it more flexible. So take this into account before you pour the epoxy into your mold.
More information?
Do you have questions about making art, jewelry or casting/coating floors or other objects? At itsOkay, several epoxy experts work with each their own expertise. We are happy to help you.
Please contact itsOkay customer service or take a look at the Epoxy knowledge center .
