Best silicone for molding?

[Hecubus114]

I need advice on what silicone to buy for mold making - I will be molding a Vader facemask. I have absoultely NO idea what is what, so I need some help. Obviously, I want something quality, but at the same time not overpriced. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[SgtFang]

I need advice on what silicone to buy for mold making - I will be molding a Vader facemask. I have absoultely NO idea what is what, so I need some help. Obviously, I want something quality, but at the same time not overpriced. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Here you go-

http://www.silicones-inc.com/

ask for GI-1000 or GI-1100

Good Luck! :thumbsup

-Sarge

 

[Hecubus114]

Thanks!

 

[ArtisanProps]

Honestly, I prefer Smoothon.com products.
I've never had one single problem with thier stuff
and they carry a great product for brush on applications
which is what you want.. Rebound 25, and Dragonskin make
great molds.

 

[Hecubus114]

and thank you!

 

[SgtFang]

Honestly, I prefer Smoothon.com products.
I've never had one single problem with thier stuff
and they carry a great product for brush on applications
which is what you want.. Rebound 25, and Dragonskin make
great molds.

Isn't Dragonskin more intended as an animatronic skin? Seems like it might be more pliable than needed for a mold.

Smooth -on does make some great stuff as well.

-Sarge

 

[TK1536]

yeah, the Rebound 25 stuff is really nice in my limited experience. Plus, it mixes 1 to 1 and needs no degassing.

 

[TK1536]

Isn't Dragonskin more intended as an animatronic skin? Seems like it might be more pliable than needed for a mold.

Smooth -on does make some great stuff as well.

-Sarge

I've made small, simple molds with it before - but yes, it's made for more industrial uses. Really strong stuff!

 

[asok]

yeah, the Rebound 25 stuff is really nice in my limited experience. Plus, it mixes 1 to 1 and needs no degassing.

What all have you made with Rebound 25? I have been using OOMOO 25 and looking for something a little better.

 

[Djinn]

I think I can hijack this thread for a related question.

What is a decent RTV silicone for pewter casting? I have played around the boards a looked up some stuff but I never found a definitive answer about that.

 

[Vandark]

What is the best rubber to use with the minimum ammount of skill involved?

I was imagining something I could simply pour over my sculpture without any brushing or degassing (whateve that is!!) A 1 to 1 b mix.....I like things easy........can anybody help? I'm really struggling!:cry

 

[exoray]

I think I can hijack this thread for a related question.

What is a decent RTV silicone for pewter casting?

Platinum based silicones, get the melting/casting temperature of the pewter you are going to use and make sure the Platinum silicone you use can handle it, or simply contact the manufacture and ask them what they recommend, they will probably asked you for the melting temp so have it handy...

What is the best rubber to use with the minimum ammount of skill involved?

Smooth On's 'OOMOO' line of silicone, I personally hate it because it makes soft weak molds that tear and fail quickly, but it's easy for the newbie to work with...

As for a general purpose silicone it really depends on what you are looking for and your personal preferences... Play around and find one that works for you...

Smooth On's 'Mold Max' line even though I really don't like their products as a whole, it's always a good standby silicone for me...

Alumilite's Quickset it sets fast for quick molds or when I want a harder mold as it's a lot harder then most common silicones...

In the end though for general purpose I prefer using Dow Corning HS II silicone for most stuff... It's high tear strength I have found to be a BIG plus in my book and from experience, for tough molds it has performed the best for me...

There are pros and cons of all of them, so to ask which one is "best" is pretty objective and pretty much an opinion only...

 

[Rhett J Martin]

What Ex said . . .

 

[ArtisanProps]

Isn't Dragonskin more intended as an animatronic skin? Seems like it might be more pliable than needed for a mold.

Smooth -on does make some great stuff as well.

-Sarge

Actually your right, but just because a product says it's for one application
doesn't mean you can't be creative... Dragonskin has a little softer feel then
the rebound, but the tensile strength is better as well as it's shaping memory.
If for what ever reason you have to really pull on the silicone to get it off your
new cast you won't have to worry about the silicone retaining it's original shape afterwards....

Just a tip: after you put down your print coat (first coat) every coat following
it, I use a hair dryer to heat the silicone for about 3 minutes.. This helps a lot
in thickening up the material so you can spread it on with a spatula in thicker
layers instead of the slower brushing method.. You'll finish your mold in half the
time this way

 

[Rhett J Martin]

or buy their thickening agent. A small amount (about 5 oz.) thicked 600 oz. enough to do an entire TIE helmet! Solid stuff!! (Smooth On's, that is)

 

[Darth Voorhees]

What all have you made with Rebound 25? I have been using OOMOO 25 and looking for something a little better.

Ive done a vader mask /helmet, and a friday the 13th Hockey mask with rebound 25. I like it alot and have had no real problems with it.

As for casting a vader mask with it, it works very well. One thing i was recently told is once you get to your final layers you may want to add a thickener to the silicone as it tends to pull away from the sharp edges of a vader mask. you want to make sure you get all the high edges covered well. By adding the thickener, you can get the rubber to stay put and should have no problems.