How to Make a Mold: The Long Awaited Tutorial by Zildjian!!

[- Z -]

This is part 1 of a 2 part tutorial set: How to make a mold. Be patient, there are 35 slides....

Here we go....

[jbarb78]

Nice, I used lego's for the box my first time too.

[Tony]

Nice pics man.

How big did you make the pour holes? I use a large plastic syringe to shoot the resin in.

Also would pressure casting a mold like this be ok at 30-40psi if the mold wasn't pressurized either? I read something about resin spikes if you pressurize only on one process or the other.

[Matticus Prime]

So biblical looking!
Excellent tutorial!

[Mangamike]

this is a nicely done tutorial Z, great job

[zartanman]

WOW... Thats the best most easy to understand mold making tutorial ever! Thanks Z!

[JaZzMan26]

Awesome Z, these are the same steps I took. I think where I messed up was relying on my universal mold release to work between pouring the the 2 halves of the mold and should have used vasoline.
I plan to give it another go as soon as I get more material in. Thanks!!!

[starwarsgeek]

Nice tutorial... a couple quick questions/comparisons to the way I do it.

1) Is there any particular reason why you use the Mold Max 27T over other Smooth-On products? I've used the OooMoo and love it, but the molds are fairly weak and tear easily. How is the tear strength on the Mold Max?

2) No pressure for the mold making? When I make my molds I put them under some pressure for the first few hours to help push any air bubbles out. Helps greatly IMO. Or is it something with the Mold Max that you don't need pressure?

3) For small parts, isn't it easier to make a one part mold? You'll end up with much less seem lines and if the mold tear strength is great enough you'll have no problems pulling the casts from the one part mold.

4) Why not add something to the parts/clay before pouring the rubber for the pour spouts?\

Great stuff though, thanks!

[- Z -]

Nice pics man.

How big did you make the pour holes? I use a large plastic syringe to shoot the resin in.

Also would pressure casting a mold like this be ok at 30-40psi if the mold wasn't pressurized either? I read something about resin spikes if you pressurize only on one process or the other.

I will send you better pictures this weekend, but I also use syringes to cast.... so they are plenty big enough! You will see that I also use pressure to cast.... with the mold max series I have never had resin spikes. The stuff is super strong.

Nice tutorial... a couple quick questions/comparisons to the way I do it.

1) Is there any particular reason why you use the Mold Max 27T over other Smooth-On products? I've used the OooMoo and love it, but the molds are fairly weak and tear easily. How is the tear strength on the Mold Max?

2) No pressure for the mold making? When I make my molds I put them under some pressure for the first few hours to help push any air bubbles out. Helps greatly IMO. Or is it something with the Mold Max that you don't need pressure?

3) For small parts, isn't it easier to make a one part mold? You'll end up with much less seem lines and if the mold tear strength is great enough you'll have no problems pulling the casts from the one part mold.

4) Why not add something to the parts/clay before pouring the rubber for the pour spouts?\

Great stuff though, thanks!

Thanks... to answer your questions:

1. You answered your own questions on this one. The tear strength is ungodly for the mold-max series of silicone. Also, the mold will last MUCH longer than the Oomoo product. I have mold dating back to 2005 that are still going strong with literally NO damage or degradation.

2. Nope. With the mold max series, the cure time is SO long, the majority of the air bubbles work themselves out. With the quicker curing product, I do vacuum degass.... by ever since switching to the Mold Max, I have not had to.

3. You could and I have, but I prefer the 2 piece mold. To me you have more control when injection molding.

4. Preference, I can get a super small and intimate connection between the spru and item this way. It comes down to personal preference.

I think anyone that has made molds/casts for any period of time has developed there own personal preferences. Some work for everyone some work for none. It is definitely and maddening and expensive venture.

[starwarsgeek]

Oh, I almost forgot to ask... what kind of bootleg LEGO's are you using??!!? LOL