Silicone molds?

**Junit** · 02-09-2009,07:05 AM

Has anyone tried making molds out of silicone before?

I found a link - Taxidermy.Net Forum - Making a Simple Rock Mold with Silicone Caulk

And was wondering if that, or something similar, has worked for anyone else?

**Junit** · 02-09-2009,07:31 AM

It looks like you would just coat an object with petro jelly and then rub silicone over it.

**Bubbels** · 02-09-2009,10:50 AM

Ha! I was resealing my bathroom this weekend and started to think how this stuff is very similar to latex. I might have to pick up a tube just to see how well a mask mold would work with it. Another thought I had was to use it as cartilage to connect bones in a skeleton. Could really give it some good flexibility.

On the down side I am not sure how safe this stuff is, if you would want to wear something made out of it. On top of that, I think the smell from silicone is much worse than latex. I think it took a good 24 hours for the smell to dissipate in my bathroom. But $2 to $3 a tube, could really turn into a "poor mans latex".

**UnOrthodOx** · 02-09-2009,11:52 AM

I haven't tried a MOLD...BUT...

We did make a quick and dirty um...I guess "hat" is the best term for it...when my son decided to be Darth Maul "with horns and everything". (he had this thing for a few years he'd pick costumes he thought I COULDN'T make)

It was too late to make a proper mask, and none of the bald caps fit him right to do it with appliances, so we used what I had in the garage.

Let me rummage around...

Ah, there it is, 2006

The soapy water doesn't really keep it entirely off your hands. It got EVERYWHERE. The smell was awefull, and it was difficult to get it all even and shaped. But it more or less "worked".

I wasn't impressed with it's ability to retain fine details either. Flat rock, basic shapes, sure. Intricate design with lots of undercuts? Nope.

But, the hat is still flopping around on my work table with no damage. (the boys played with it till it didn't fit either of them anymore)

**Lurks in the shadows** · 02-09-2009,02:17 PM

While the smell is worse, it is actually less harmful. Latex has ammonia in it, silicone caulk has acetic acid.

Once cured, silicone is (generally) very safe for skin contact, but read the label! There are far too many kinds of silicone to just take my word that they're all safe!

Bear · 02-09-2009,03:18 PM

I make silicone molds, and masks, all the time...what are you wanting to mold?

**nightrideproductions** · 02-09-2009,05:06 PM

I just tried this tonight after reading the whole article. I put some silicon on a skull that I sprayed with PAM. im going to let the first coat dry overnight. Ill let you know what it looks like when I get a cast done.

**partsman** · 02-09-2009,07:55 PM

If anyone is interested in getting the article as a Word document, just PM me as I've distilled all of the entries which constitute the tutorial out of the original forum along with the photos associated with them for easier reading. Just leave me your e-mail address, and I'll send you the document.