Types of Mold for Resin

One of the most popular questions that I always get is what type of mold that can be used for resin making. Thus today I am going to list out all of the molds that I have in my collections.

1.  Platinum Silicone

The glossy surface at one side.

And the matte surface on the other side.

By far, this is the best mould that I have ever used in my entire experience when working with resins. This platinum silicone is by Gedeo and it is slightly expensive. However, the best thing about it is that you do not need to use any release agent at all and it pops out the easiest among all silicone molds i have ever used. I cant really remember the price but it was worth the money. These moulds from Gedeo also comes in variety of shapes for other usese as well but i do wish that they have more for the jewelries. It is also very light and flexible. Due to the glossy surface of the mould, the finished resins turned out to be super smooth and glossy as compared to other type of moulds.

2. Deep Flex Super Clear Casting Resin

The Deep Flex Super Clear casting resin, as the name says, is also one of my favorite. They also need not to use release agent. The best part of these castings is the depth of the mold of which allowing you to put more stuffs inside them without spilling over. Another great thing about it is the wide variety of choices. To release the resin out from the mold, you just have to gently flexing the mold to release the vacuum.

3. EasyCast Resin Jewelry Molds

This resin cast by EasyCast comes in wide variety of shapes which makes it perfect for pendants or any focal beads. The only drawback is probably because it is plastic thus a release agent is required before you pour on your resin. Don't ever put the resin without the release agent or you will have the most difficult time of your life to get it out. Due to that, the resins turned out as matte finish instead of glossy. However, this can be resolved by just applying varnish or gloss sealant. Overall, I still like them very much because of the larger shapes that they offer. 

4. Sculpey Flexible Push Mold

These Sculpey Push Molds are actually intended for clay. But you can still use them for resin. You don't need a release agent but it will be slightly hard to remove once it hardens but still manageable. I have mine in several different shapes and so far it works well for me. However, I noticed that once you add colors into the resin, sometimes it turns bubbly with holes on the surface and become un-smooth. Therefore you need to make sure that the color mixing is done properly and well blend to avoid them from being clot.

5. Edible Silicone

These are the type of silicone molds that you can find easily in any bakery making shop. They are mainly to be used for chocolates, cakes, etc and it is harmless and edible. Edible, by all means, it is safe to be used with any food elements. (Don't get me wrong but you can't eat the mould ya.) it is super flexible and the harden resin is very easy to remove. However once you have used these for art purpose, don't ever re-use them to make your chocolate for safety reasons.

6. Silicone Mold

Another type of mould that I always used is the rubber silicone mold. It is almost similar to the edible mould but it's not meant for cooking used and slightly harder than the edible silicone mold. The properties and the outcome of these are likely as edible silicone. Both does not require a release agent.

7. DIY Handmade Silicone Mold

Sometimes its a little bit frustrating when you have certain shapes in mind but you cant find it anywhere. Best option is to make your own mold. As for me I used 2 parts Siligum which I bought in an art shop nearby my house. It is not a cheap alternative as the mold agents comes in little and the price is very expensive. The bigger cab offers more and pay more. Nevertheless i find it interesting to make my own mould once in a while as I can get whatever shapes that I want without any problem. It only took less than 10 mins for the mold to be ready for use. Due to that, you have to work bit by bit to avoid wastage.

8. DIY Rubber Mold

Another cheaper option of making your own mould is by using rubber. It comes in 2 parts of liquid form and needs to be combined upon using them in a certain ratio. It still works pretty well with resin. The only and my major drawback is it is very messy and difficult to control as in when to put the stensils into the rubber. If its too liquidy, the result won't be as fine as it should be. If it's too thick, you wont be able to even press your stensil. However, this is still a good option fornthose who wants to explore on mold making but in cheaper alternative.

In overall, there are a lot of trials and errors that I had to put through before I finally know what works best for me. What's best for me may not be the best for you. Feel free to share your experience with resin making using moulds in comments below. I would love to hear from you. ;)

XOXO