How to use silicone molds? 

They have been used in the world of modeling and crafts for many years, and have been essential to create pieces to make models or dioramas, as well as to decorate game tables of different board games and Wargames. This type of mold is used thanks to their great capacity to reproduce details, their resistance to high temperatures (normally up to 240ºC) generated by the materials we introduce in the containers, and finally their non-stick properties that allow the pieces to be unmolded very easily. 

The idea is to find a silicone mold that includes the type of parts we are looking for, instead of having to make my own. If we have to manufacture it, the complexity is much higher.

Mold Filling Materials

There are a wide variety of products for mold filling with different properties, toxicity, and cost. 

The best products to fill them, ordered by drying or setting time would be: 

• Polyurethane resin, the curing time of each casting is 3 minutes. This material is quite toxic, has a very low price, and generates very characteristic yellow parts. This resin has an unmixed shelf life of 6-12 months depending on the state of conservation. The copied pieces are quite resistant to breakage in case of falling to the ground.
• Acrylic resin, curing time 30 minutes. Generates white pieces with a hardness similar to porcelain, it is a non-toxic material that is mixed with water as a hardener. On the other hand, the pieces are fragile and could break if dropped on the floor. 
• Modeling pastes or putties need about 90 minutes to dry depending on the type of putty and are usually quite resistant pieces. These pastes have little or no toxicity compared to polyurethane resin, but the production of pieces is quite slow since each hole of the containers must be filled 1 by 1 pushing the pastes manually. 
• Epoxy resin is a bi-component resin with similar toxicity to polyurethane resin that generates completely transparent parts ideal for water effects, but it needs 24h to dry. The pieces obtained are very resistant.

The best option for quality/price/ease of use and for its low or null toxicity would be the acrylic resin that you can find in several formats on the Web of Green Stuff World. 

To further customize your creations, you can incorporate Airbrush stencils to add intricate patterns or textures to the finished pieces, enhancing their overall aesthetic appeal. 

Types of silicone molds for wargames

The main classification of these products would be by the number of sides:

1. 1-sided: these are simple where we will always have pieces with 1 side without detailing. 
2. The 2-sided molds are and seek to duplicate all the faces or sides of a figure. Depending on the shape of the figure it is often not possible to duplicate a figure, being a very complex process.

Another way to classify them would be through their hardness, in which we would have a very hard product from 60ºShore-A hardness, medium hard molds 35/40ºShore-A hardness, and finally very soft and flexible ones of 15/20ºShore-A hardness. The softer a craft mold is, the easier it is to break it. The harder a modeling mold is, the more difficult it will be to remove the parts from the inside. 

These are just some of the designs you will find in our online store, but there are many more! Feel free to stop by and choose all the ones you need to make your wargame unique and exclusive, with your own personal brand. 

Stonework

They are used to produce stone constructions such as pillars, walls, ceilings, doors, arches, or windows, in a very detailed way so that they can be combined without mistakes. It is a special mold for use with epoxy, resin, acrylic, or polyurethane resin. It has a scale of 1:48 and allows both the creation of independent pieces and to combine them to create a larger and unique one.

Dungeon

This product are ideal for creating the most exclusive Dungeons DnD, as you can create them in your own style using acrylic, polyurethane, or epoxy resin.

Cemetery

They allow you to create cemeteries, complex mausoleums, and other pieces specific to Haunted Graveyards. 

For roofs

To build houses and buildings in models and dioramas in different scales depending on the model, offering very detailed results. Each one of them measures 6×12 cm. 

Columns

One of the most simple and useful is the column mold. This mold allows obtaining capitals of columns and pillars of different styles very useful in the creation of models. 

How to clean silicone molds

If you want to continue to have accurate and detailed results in your figures and decorative shapes, you must take care of the products and clean them every time you use them. They should not be rubbed with scouring pads or the like, as this will cause scratches that will be reflected in the figures. 

For correct maintenance, use the specific metal scrapers that will remove the resin remains. Then, you can rinse them with water and a neutral soap and let them air dry for their next use. If you need to dry it to continue using it at the moment, do it with a soft microfiber cloth and if possible new to avoid damage. 

How do you keep the resins from sticking to the mold?

Each resin requires its own release agent although many products such as acrylic resin do not require any. 

Some liquid or spray release agents are commercially available, but they can generate bubbles if they are not completely compatible with the filler material to be used, or they could affect the detail of the pieces if too much is used. The best release agent for polyurethane resin would be talcum powder. 

Types of silicone for molds

There are different types of silicones according to their catalyst: liquid and silicone putty. 

The liquid one is a liquid bicomponent product that you have to mix in a proportion, that you need at least 24 hours to set, and that will allow you to make cast copies of the part. This is the easiest and most economical way that has traditionally been used to make them. There are many types of liquid silicone depending on their color, hardness, and temperature resistance. 

On the other hand, we have platinum one that uses platinum, a noble metal, as a catalyst. This paste is also bicomponent and must be mixed in equal parts for one minute, which will give you silicone that will harden in 5-10 minutes. These types of materials are used for the creation of single-sided molds. The resulting is usually of higher quality and is suitable in most cases for the manufacture of food contact products.

What is the best material to make silicone molds?

The most suitable material to make a mold will depend on the parts and the materials we are going to use to fill it. 

- For metal parts: When we want to make metal or alloy parts, we will need materials with high-temperature resistance.

- For resin parts: For the manufacture of resin parts, you to be able to withstand vulcanization temperatures of 90° and 120° minimum.

On the other hand, the morphology of the part must be taken into account. For example: 

• For flat parts, you can opt for harder ones. 
• For parts with edges that are difficult to desmold, a lower hardness will be required to facilitate removal. 
• The size and thickness of the parts will also determine the diameter and thickness of the silicone mold.

Silicone Molds for Resin Crafting

Elevate your miniatures and wargaming scenery with the power of silicone molds for resin. These versatile tools allow you to easily replicate intricate details, ensuring your figures and terrain elements possess the realism and character your hobby demands.

With a wide range of thematic molds available, you can customize your armies and battlefields with everything from weathered bricks and cobblestones to ornate weaponry and fantastical creatures.

Molding is an essential technique for creating unique and customized pieces in the world of model making. Thanks to their flexibility and resistance, silicone molds for epoxy resin allow you to faithfully reproduce the originals, whether they are figures, decorations or architectural elements.

By pouring epoxy resin into these molds, exact and durable copies are obtained. This technique offers infinite creative possibilities since it makes it possible to manufacture a series of identical pieces or to customize each element to achieve a unique look. In addition, silicone molding is an excellent way to preserve original models by creating molds that can be used over and over again. When working with resins and molds, it's also advisable to use a silicone painting mat to protect your work surface from spills and resin residue.