How can I make a mold at home?

How to Make a Mold at Home

• Answer:

  You can make a mold at home to copy small or odd-shaped objects. It’s best to make a two-part mold, because certain objects can’t be extricated from a one-part mold. In general, a one-part mold is best for flat objects. Use this mold over and over again to replicate the original object. You may use any standard casting material you wish within the mold. Difficulty: Moderate Things You'll Need 5 rectangular-shaped acrylic pieces Hot glue gun Non-hardening clay Pencil Dry rice Liquid measuring container Mold-release spray Knife Thin plywood or plastic Rubber bands Instructions Create a mold container using scrap acrylic pieces. Start by arranging four sides and a bottom around the object you wish to copy. Make certain the scrap pieces are just a little bit larger than your object. When you arrange the acrylic pieces, leave at least a quarter-inch space around the entire object. Affix the acrylic pieces together using glue from a glue gun. Allow the glue to dry. Spread out non-hardening clay in the bottom of the container, taking care to make the clay only deep enough to cover your object about halfway up when it is resting on its side. Press the clay firmly to make sure there are no bubbles in the clay. Stick the object into the clay on its side, taking care not to push it all the way to the bottom of the container. Push several half-inch deep holes into the clay around the object with a pencil eraser. Pour dry rice into the container until it covers at least an inch over the top of the object. Pour the rice into a measuring cup. However many ounces of rice you have is how much urethane you should mix. Mix urethane in a 1-to-1 ratio in the correct amount of ounces. Follow the manufacturer’s directions. Spray everything inside the container with mold-release spray. Pour the urethane into the corner of the mold container very slowly. Allow to set for 24 hours. Remove the base of the container using a knife. Turn the mold over and remove the clay with the knife. Spray everything inside the container with mold-release spray once again. Mix the same number of ounces of urethane again and pour it into the corner of the container. Allow to set for 24 hours. Remove the acrylic sides with a knife, and take the two pieces of the urethane mold apart. Tips & Warnings Tip: Cut two pieces of thin plywood or plastic the same size as your mold. Sandwich together the outside of the mold between the two pieces. Hold it altogether with two or three rubber bands. Now you are ready to pour your casting material into the mold. Warning: Don’t pour urethane directly onto the object, because you may cause tiny bubbles to form, which would ruin the mold.