how to make a silicone caulk mold diy tutorial easy and cheap (ironman helmet)

[@billgreen4592]

Okay, I realize that this video is four years old, but I thought I would add my experience to the discussion, in case it may save others some frustration. I make many brush on silicone molds, and I have found that the commercial silicones are very expensive, relative to the silicone suggested in this video. Since I'm always trying to find a way to cut costs, I figured I would give this a try. The good news is that it works. . .well to a point. This process did a very good job of reproducing my original part, in fact I was very impressed with the detail. Fortunately I cast the needed part before I learned that this silicone is very prone to shrinkage. In just over a week the inner mold has shrunk by about an inch and a half in each direction. It no longer fits in the mother mold and is useless should I want to cast more parts. Since I often need to cast multiple parts, this method is not helpful for me. If you need to cast one copy of something, and you are going to cast it soon after the mold has dried, then this is a very cost effective way to go about it. But if you need for you molds to have library value, this will not be helpful. I applaud the poster of this video for finding an innovative way to make a mold, but for many of us we will be better off in the long run sticking with the commercial products.

[@Kcb_creations]

Thats why I added you need to let it dry on the master itself for days then it cant really shrink much and will only shrink just a teeny tiny bit

[@billgreen4592]

@@Kcb_creations Thanks for getting back to me! I read in one of your posts that you suggested leaving the master in the mold and I did in fact leave it in for a bit over 24 hours. Most of the shrinkage occurred well after that. I'm wondering if I'm missing something. As I make many brush on molds, primarily of masks and similar things, if I could make this method work it could potentially save me hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. A typical commercial platinum silicone mold cost me about $80-$100 whereas this cost me about $25. Natrually, I am very motivated to make this work. Could I have the mix ration wrong or something else? Thanks again for your reply!

[@Kcb_creations]

@billgreen4592 yeah leave it for days it takes days to fully cure 24 hours is not enough (try smelling it if it still stinks alot its not cured yet smell the inside to haha lift of just a tiny bit of possible) also the more naptha you add the more it will shrink because naptha is wat makes it shrink the most that desolves after and during curing 😁 for me it was also trail and error haha

[@billgreen4592]

@@Kcb_creations Huge thanks! I think that this has potential after all! I clearly removed it too soon, as I recall one of my employees saying "Wow that stinks! It also seem like I am using way too much Naptha. Since you have been doing this a while, can you share your updated mix ratio?

[@Kcb_creations]

@billgreen4592 im not really using ratios haha im just using as little naptha as possible and add the cornstarch to get the right thickness or to speed up drying, for big batches add less cornstarch or it will dry in your mixing bowl

[@souvikbisi6887]

Good work sister thank you so much.

[@Kcb_creations]

No problem if you have any questions just ask away

[@bobboland8505]

I have been using hot glue to cast my molds and it works pretty well also it is very cheap.

[@Kcb_creations]

Okey not sure how that works for big molds and hot glue isnt super cheap here (you mean you cast crystals with hot glue i know that)?

[@bobboland8505]

I am making a big helmet mold and I want to get it exact do you have a new ratio for it or should I stick with the one in the video to prevent tearing sorry I have been asking so many questions

[@Kcb_creations]

Pleas contact me on Instagram its easier to talk there (kcb_creations)

[@Philsellitto]

does the plaster shell come off the silicone easily, so you can get the original out of the mold ?

[@Kcb_creations]

Yes but my original was made of foam and so i destroyed it when i took it out it was to soft to get out whole

[@AwesomefurRules]

Do you know if Naptha has any other names it comes under? I’m having trouble finding it here in Australia is all. Thanks a million for this tutorial, your work is incredible! :D

[@Kcb_creations]

Here its called (wasbenzine) washfuel or washgasoline maby that helps

[@secreteobsession3584]

Amazing just wish u had sound

[@Kcb_creations]

Thanks yeah i dont do that because of copyright issues I uploaded vids before with music but they were removed or something else

[@bobboland8505]

What brand of acrylic resin did you use.

[@Kcb_creations]

Acrylic one but i now use a mix of epoxy resin and epoxy Filler about 40% resin and 60% filler but it depends it needs the right slush cast consistency and then i slush cast one layer for detail and then add epoxy matts to strengthen the helmet when the detail layer is dry i do about 3 to 4 layers of matts

[@Kcb_creations]

For the shell i still use acrylic one because its cheaper and dries faster but for the helmet itself i use the other resin its stronger and most of all less heavy and makes a thinner cast

[@chirosechi4537]

I actually have a few questions :D do you use the same technique/products to make your fursuit masks? I saw some other creators fill the mold with some expanding foam and then they need to carve out the middle but the stuff that you use seems like it just needs to be nicely distributed around the walls instead of filling it to the brim with something. What about movable parts? Like the jaw for fursuits. Do you need to do them separately or do you somehow cut it out later? Thank you in advance ^^

[@Kcb_creations]

Hi, yes I use this to for my fursuit bases and for movable jaw resin Casts you need to cut the jaw lose with a dremel, for exansion foam without cutting the inside out then you need to make a specific kind of mold not possible with this silicon thats a mold for experts I dont know how exactly either but its difficult and expensive so its better to cut it out or use something to push inside of it so you dont have to fill it to the top

[@Kcb_creations]

I dont use expansion foam I use resin or thermoplastic, both have good and bad things resin is expensive and difficult and toxic and you need to sand and cut alot but thermoplast is easy save and you can just cut it with a knife but because its formed with heat its not ideal for warm countries and events dont leave your fursuit in the sun for long or it will deform)

[@Kcb_creations]

I also make bases with eva foam and selfmade patterns thats light, not to expensive not toxic and you have a pattern so you can recreate many) see my instagram kcb_creations or kcb_fursuits for all my creations or just my fursuits

[@chirosechi4537]

@@Kcb_creations thank you so much for the quick response :D I really want to try, just for fun, so I'll probably have some questions along the way at some point. Thank you a lot for sharing ❤

[@chirosechi4537]

@@Kcb_creations yea I wanted to try with thermoplastics most lively. I already follow you there, just didn't have time to go through all the posts yet ^^ I love what you're making so I instantly had to follow since yesterday xD

[@zushifries4882]

Is naphtha same as a paint thinner. R because I can't find naphtha in our place

[@Kcb_creations]

No its not naphtha is for some washing machines here in holland its called wasbenzine

[@bobboland8505]

does acitone work as well or is it only naphtha

[@Kcb_creations]

Only naphtha or if your from holland then its wasbenzine

[@itsaibi]

Where do you get the materials for this, and what brands do you use?

[@Kcb_creations]

do you live in holland? otherwise you have to look it up yourself but mpst hardware stores have it (its not for kids adults only)

[@fzraarts4017]

what was the actual model made of? the ironman helmet model that you used before making the mold

[@Kcb_creations]

It was a foam helmet 😄

[@poto_max]

hey ! nice mold and cast ! did the mold shrink later ? did the cornstarch help to prevent shrinking ? thanks :)

[@Kcb_creations]

hello yes it did about 2-3 cm (not much) schrink but thats why i left my next mold on the master for a night and halve a day to reduce shrinkage then it just shrunk about 1cm (the cornstarch helps it dry faster the more you add the faster the silicone drys

[@aflah4863]

@@Kcb_creations yooo wjere can i get the mold??

[@keviblade2902]

How much Gram of silicon liquid did you use?

[@Kcb_creations]

Look at the video i didnt use liquid silicon its made with silicone caulk

[@bobboland8505]

what did you use to cast the new helmet with

[@Kcb_creations]

I used the same material as i used for the shell (its acrylic resin but it needs thinker layers to be though so now i use slush casting with a mix of bondo and resin as a first layer and then 3 layers of fibreglass matts) acrylic resin is better for display models because its cheap non toxic and just ideal because you dont wear those

[@bobboland8505]

@@Kcb_creations thanks

[@Kcb_creations]

@@bobboland8505 No problem 😉

[@bobboland8505]

how can I keep my mold from tearing

[@Kcb_creations]

Maby you added to much corn starch if you add to much and stretch it to far it will rip add less cornstarch and stretch less hard

[@bobboland8505]

@@Kcb_creationsI think that's it thanks

[@Kcb_creations]

@@bobboland8505 No problem 😆

[@Kcb_creations]

@@bobboland8505 I now use just 2 or 3 big spoons of cornstarch for one tube caulk

[@bobboland8505]

@@Kcb_creations I am making a big helmet mold and I want to get it exact do you have a new ratio for it or should I stick with the one in the video to prevent tearing

[@chazcantoo1580]

I’m sorry your beginning instructions don’t make sense, 100% silicone is the type of silicone that’s in the caulk tube. But then you say 50% naptha, and 200% cornstarch. I’m assuming those however our measurements, What is it a 1/4 silicon caulk, 1/4 naptha, then 1/2 cornstarch??? Because that’s the only way I can see 200%... regardless can you explain your mix better please. I understand you use one tube of 100% silicone caulk, then how much of cornstarch, (because 200% is not a real measurement and is mathematically impossible) , then how much naptha please.

[@Kcb_creations]

It doesnt really need an exact amount but what i ment was if the silicon caulk tube (full tube) is 100 then you need halve the amount of naptha so 50 (depending on how think you want it) and 200 cornstarch so twice as much as the caulk but i changed that so caulk is the same amount as cornstarch now and if you dont want shrinkage then leave the mold on your piece for around 24 hours after you finished

[@chazcantoo1580]

​@@Kcb_creations OH!! I get it, so 1 part Silicone caulking, 1Part Naptha, 2 Parts Corn Starch. OR 25% Silicone caulking, 25% Naptha, 50% cornstarch. Thanks so much!!