The Crazy Easy, Crazy Cheap Way To Make A Silicone Mold

I've wanted to try this DIY for a while now, and I am PUMPED for you guys to see the results. If you've ever been intimidated by mold-making, then trust me, watch this:

OR, for you non-video-watching peeps who don't have 20 minutes and just want the basics, lemme sum up:

YOU WILL NEED:

- 1 tube of 100% silicone caulking (Walmart carries it, or any hardware store)

- dish soap, any brand

- a large bucket or bowl you never use for food prep

- something to mold (should be non-porous & something you can press in)

Please note this technique is NOT my own creation: all credit goes to Audrey Obscura over on Instructables. Since her final product is made of clear resin, though, I couldn't tell how much detail her mold actually captured. John and I decided to find out, so we tested several different items - and then painted & aged the results -  to get the most detailed comparisons possible for you guys. I think you'll be impressed; I was honestly quite shocked how well this works.

Right, here we go. Prepare to be amazed by how simple this is:

Step 1: Fill a bucket about halfway with water

Step 2: Add "lots" of dish soap - a tablespoon or more. This doesn't have to be exact, you just want the water super soapy.

Step 3: Squeeze some silicone directly into the water. Add just enough to make your mold - you don't need to squeeze the whole tube in at once.

Step 4: Knead the caulking with your bare hands, keeping it under the water as much as possible. This feels VERY FUNKY and is VERY FUN. 

Wheeeeee!

 (The dish soap forms a barrier on your skin, so the silicone won't stick.)

 Step 5: Once the caulking is firm enough, smooth out a small ball of it onto a non-stick surface (I used a clear transparency sheet) and press in the item you want to mold:

 

Step 6: Wait about 20 minutes, or until the silicone feels like hard rubber.

IMPORTANT SMELLINESS WARNING: You'll notice a vinegar smell while you're working with the silicone, which get exponentially stronger as it cures. Set the mold(s) outside for a few hours to air out, or at least work by an open window & later store them in an airtight ziploc.

Step 7: Peel out your item, and boom. YOU HAVE A MOLD.

Told you it was easy! Now you're ready to pour some resin and test out your new mold. Or use it for clay! Just no food items, please; this is NOT food safe.

I molded several objects with increasingly subtle, hard-to-capture designs, and there IS a limit to what will work -  but I think you'll be surprised where it is.  I recommend watching the last 5 minutes of the video up there to see all our results in action, but I'll also walk you through them here:

 Removing the resin cast from the mold.
(This is Amazing casting resin, btw, which is about $16 on Amazon or closer to $20 in local craft stores.)

 Side-by-side with fresh cast.

I sanded all my casts before painting, since my molds weren't all level. (Sanding tip: Put your sandpaper on a table and slide the casting around on it. It's easier that way, and will automatically level the back.)

Here they are sanded and sprayed gold:

It's still hard to see the detail with that shiny gold, though, so next I aged them with black acrylic.

Here we go, side-by-side comparisons after painting & finishing the resin cast

 The seahorse pin turned out perfect, zero loss of detail. It even looks better than the original.

 The resin snowflake DID lose a little detail, but only in the very middle:

This could be user error, though; maybe I didn't push the piece into the silicone hard enough?

 Another look:

 

The Mardi Gras coin was the worst of all my results, but honestly I'm still impressed:

 This design is incredibly shallow, so the fact that ANY of it came through is surprising. (As is the fact that I have a 2002 Mardi Gras coin hanging around my office. I mean, whaaaa?)

 The owl pin also ended up looking better than the original:

 You can bet I'll be using this on something steampunky in the future.

 And finally, the smallest and most detailed item I molded:

 The "Hufflepuff" at the bottom didn't QUITE come through, so there's a slight loss there. Overall, though, and given it's size? Awesome sauce.

Especially since the gold and black looks better than the silver, am I right?

Please note I am in NO WAY advocating you mold licensed merchandise or other people's work for resale, by the way. These things are just for me, and if/when I use them on new projects, they won't be for sale.

 I'm thinking these would make cool buttons on a vest for John. Eh?

In fact, this is a great tool for cosplayers and crafters alike. Keep an eye out for antique medals and brooches - or how about tiny frames with great scroll work? You could mold just the face of your favorite vinyl toy and turn it into a 3D pin. Or try sculpting something of your own and making copies! (Just make sure you seal the clay with a clear coat, so it's non-porous.)

I'm still brainstorming, so tell me: What else would you mold? 

Hope you guys give this a try! If/when you do, be sure to post a photo on Instagram and tag me so I can see! Then share this post or video with your friends so I can love you forever. ::MWAH:: (The FB & IG algorithms are kicking all our butts, so fight back - and keep the Pages you follow in your feed  - by commenting & sharing!) 

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