Want to learn how to make a mould for resin jewellery? It’s simple. Pick up the Flexi Mould Silicone Compound and use our step-by-step tutorial on resin mould making below. You’ll soon be able to make your own resin mould and create resin jewellery pieces that are completely unique to you. Find out how to make silicone moulds for resin below.
How to make resin moulds at home
Whether you’re a resin expert looking to build on your product range, or a jewellery maker who’s looking to expand their repertoire, learning how to make a mould for resin casting is easy – once you know the right steps. From start to finish, we’ll talk you through how to make silicone jewellery moulds at home, allowing you to create truly unique pieces that are bespoke to you.
Selecting an object for resin mould making
The first thing you’ll need to think about before you make your own resin mould is which object you want to base your silicon jewellery moulds upon. In order to create a mould, it’s important that you have an object or model that will make the process straightforward. Remember that the more detailed and oddly-shaped the object is, the more difficult it is going to be to create a mould from it.
If you’re just starting out and still learning how to make resin moulds at home, then it may be a good idea to start with a simple shape with a flat back. An object that can be turned into a pendant or earring with a flat back is going to be easy to make into a mould for resin casting. This is because you can pour the resin directly into the mould and, as it settles, it will leave you with a flat backed pendant anyway.
Some resin mould making ideas:
Still not sure which object you would like to use to form your silicone moulds for resin jewellery? Give some of these ideas a try:
- Start simple. This is particularly beneficial if you’re only just starting to learn how to make moulds for resin. Think about objects that are lying around the house that could be made into a unique jewellery piece. Do you have any old buttons lying around? Small toy figures? Or perhaps you’ve collected some shells from the beach? The custom resin moulds you make are only limited by how creative you are when it comes to finding a model!
- How are your woodworking skills? If you’re creating a simple shape, then initially carving it out of wood could be the answer. Or, if you’re looking for something more complex, you could enlist the skills of a local woodworker to help you out.
- Have a more complicated object in mind? Find a CAD professional who can produce a model prototype for you. This will make sure that your resin mould is completely unique!
Resin mould making for beginners
Now you’ve selected or made a model, you’re ready to learn how to make a mould for resin casting.
Let’s start with some health and safety tips first…
Before you get started, it’s important to know the safety measures involved with resin mould making. Although the Silicone Moulding Compound is non-hazardous, we’d recommend using protective gloves. This is because the compound itself can become quite slippery and more difficult to work with when it comes into contact with your skin – which makes it particularly difficult when you’re first learning how to make a mould for resin casting. If the compound does come into contact with your skin, simply wash with soap and water.
Prepping resin mould making supplies
Aside from your silicone jewellery mould compound you may also need:
- Mixing cups
- Ice lolly sticks (handy for mixing)
- An old food container (to fill with your compound)
- Electronic scales
Mixing the silicone jewellery mould compound
| Flexi Mould Silicone Moulding Compound Technical Details | |
| Mixing Ratio: | 1:1 (equal parts) |
| Working Time: | 40-50 minutes |
| Setting Time: | 6-7 hours |
The most important thing to remember when mixing together your silicone compound is that it has a simple mixing ratio of 1:1. This makes it easy to measure and manage so that you get the right consistency and the correct result for your resin moulds.
Are you using smaller amounts of the compound to make your own resin mould? Make sure you measure each part of the compound using plastic cups and electronic scales. This will make sure that your mixture is accurate and will set properly.
Once mixed together the compound can be worked for 40-50 minutes. But it’s unlikely you’ll need to speed through this stage, especially if you already have all your supplies prepared beforehand. Just make sure you leave ample time for your mould to set – this can take up to seven hours.
How to make a silicone mould for resin casting
Now you have all the technical details to hand, here’s how to make a silicone mould for resin casting in eight simple steps:
- Weigh out equal amounts of each part of the silicone compound using your electronic scales and plastic cups.
- Pour the white catalyst into the blue base and mix until the compound is a consistent pale blue colour. This usually takes about one minute.
- Place your chosen object or model into an old, clean food container. Make sure that there is ample room in the container for the model to fit comfortably without it touching the edges of the container. You may also want to glue this down to stop the object from shifting as you pour the compound into the food container.
- For the best possible results, pour the mixed compound slowly and steadily until it fills up to the object you’re casting. Slow pouring will stop bubbles from forming in the mixture and leave you with a smoother casting.
- Not enough compound? No problem. Simply mix some more of the compound in the same way, ensuring that you use equal parts of the base and the catalyst. Once mixed thoroughly you can add this directly to the silicone jewellery mould. It will bond to the existing compound easily.
- Leave to set for at least seven hours, or longer if you have the time to spare.
- Once set you can remove the object from the mould and remove the mould itself from its old food container.
- Now you’re ready to mix and cast resin jewellery pieces!
Learning how to make resin jewellery moulds will give you the flexibility to produce unique jewellery with little cost and effort. Once you perfect resin mould making and resin casting, you’ll be able to come up with some imaginative jewellery pieces for your collections. All you’ll need to get started is our easy-to-use silicone moulding compound as well as some colourful resins to get you inspired.
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