When you need to create beautiful and unique resin art pieces, you may think of resin molds. Definitely, they are essential tools on it. In this article, we’ll dive into all that we need to know about silicone molds for resin.
How many kinds of molds are there for resin?
There are generally three kinds of molds for resin. Namely, silicone molds, plastic molds and metal molds. What are some difference between them? For small resin pieces, people tend to use plastic molds for they are more affordable. For large resin pieces, they would use metal molds, especially when working with hot resin. And for flexible and reusable purpose, silicone molds would be the best choice. In practical application, silicone molds are the most popular one for resin casting because of its durable and handy features and more.
Another important reason is that silicone’s inorganic makeup enables it be resilient to heat and cold and even chemical exposure. As we all know, silicone can bear up to 400 degrees celsius, silicone molds can be safely applied in cooking, too, such as silicone molds for chocolates, ice pops, lollipops etc. Many people choose them because they are non-toxic, no VOCs or BPA and cost-effective. It will not contaminate any food in it after cured.
The Most Popular UV Resin Mold
Silicone molds work great with UV resin. We can directly pour the UV resin into the silicone molds and let it cure under UV light. Keep in mind on its the curing time. Generally speaking, the curing time is closely related with the thickness of the resin layer as well as the UV lamp strength.
When we mentioned the popularity, we have to bring up the increasingly popular mold — UV resin mold. It has been a great choice for crafting and jewelry making. Why is UV resin so popular? There are roughly three reasons:
Firstly, it cures fast. It always enables great excellence in small areas for sealing.
Secondly, it comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and colour choices. Even some complicate designs like animals and customized shapes work great, too. This can explain why so many handicrafts enthusiasts love to use UV resin to make jewelry.
Thirdly, it’s easy to use. Simply pour UV resin into the mold and will cure under UV light.
Tips and Tricks for UV Resin Molds
- Choose a UV resin
When you need UV resin, there are four factors for you to think of.
- 1 Curing time of the UV resin. A good UV resin will cure within one or three minutes
- 2 Air Bubbles. As we know, bubbles on the project surface will impact the look of output. So Try to choose a UV resin that forms fewer air bubbles.
- 3 Transparency: If you need transparent or clear resin, simply pour the resin directly into the mold.
- 4 Color: If you need colored resin, pour the resin in a mixing cup, add your desired color and mix thoroughly.
- Thin layer
As for UV resin, it’s recommended to apply a thin layer nearly 3-4mm for perfect setting and curing.
- Environment
It’s recommended to apply in a well-ventilated space.
- Storage
Store UV resin in a dark, cool, and dry place at a temperature of 5-25°C. Or refer to the manufacture’s instructions.
How to use Resin molds?
For all mold for resins, the whole process is simple and fast. We can summarize it into four words–Prepare, Mix, Pour and Cure.
Step 1: Prepare the mold. Clean and dry the mold thoroughly. Here you can use a mold release agent to avoid sticking.
Step 2 Mix the resin. It’s recommended to follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully. You can add colorants/additives as you wish in this step.
Step 3 Pour the resin into the mold. This pouring process should be slow and careful. Do remember to fill all cavities and release all air bubbles nicely.
Step 4 Cure. Allow enough time for the resin to cure. After that, you can remove the resin craft from the mold.
Tips and Tricks for a successful resin casting
- 1 Use release agent to avoid sticking.
- 2 Mixing the resin thoroughly will ensure a proper curing.
- 3 Remove any air bubbles from the resin for a better curing.
- 4 Ensure the resin cures evenly.
- 5 Patience
It’s Never Too Late or Too Early to Get Started!
SioResin provides sustainable UV resin and waterbased Polyurethane. If you like to know more, please don’t hesitate to contact us at sales@sioresin.com and our engineer and experts team will figure out the right solution for you.