Epoxy resin does not adhere to just a few materials, so it is important to choose the right mold or material for making the mold. Molds for epoxy resin have been neatly categorized into three categories:
Silicone molds
The most commonly used ready-made molds are those made of silicone. On our e-shop, you will find various types of molds, which you can choose from here.
Molds do not have an expiration date, but they should be considered consumables. Regardless of the quality of the silicone, the resin will erode the surface of the mold over time, causing it to "burn out". The surface of the mold will become dull, and products from such molds will also be dull. They will not be as shiny as is typical for resin. Unfortunately, the shine of the molds cannot be restored, but don’t throw away such molds. They might still be useful if you need a matte casting.
Burning of the mold by resin is a natural damage, but the mold can also wear out due to mechanical impact. Therefore, be careful when arranging decorations in the mold using tweezers and toothpicks. We strongly advise against stretching or squeezing the molds. If you stretch the silicone too much, it will not tear but will show damage. The mold will unfortunately not return to its original state, and the deformation will be visible on the resin casting.
With proper use, the mold retains its original properties even after repeated use. Our personal experience and feedback from customers, however, show that it is unrealistic to expect to use the mold in its original quality more than 8-10 times.
For working with a silicone mold, a separator is not necessary.
Want a custom mold of a special shape? You can make it from silicone with the help of our video guide.
Polypropylene (PP) molds
Polypropylene is another material to which resin does not adhere. However, it is a more expensive material and is thus suitable for making molds that we will use very frequently.
For working with a polypropylene mold, a separator is not necessary.
Metal and wooden molds
Practically any material can be used as a mold, but it is important that the mold is at least somewhat movable and allows for the removal of the product, and a separator must also be used. Without a separator, epoxy resin will stick to the mold, and the casting will be difficult to remove.
For metal molds, use a liquid separator, and for wooden molds, use polypropylene tape (PP).
For homemade molds, it is absolutely crucial that they are well-siliconized, sealed with hot glue, or possibly filled with acrylic sealant, and have no tiny holes. The sealing must not be done with materials prone to erosion or seepage. Everything may seem fine for the first few hours after casting, but then it may become apparent that the sealing is not perfect in some areas and all the resin may leak out.
If you choose to make a wooden mold, don’t forget to sand its surface first so that the separator tape adheres perfectly.
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