What is Mold Making

Mold making is the process used to duplicate three dimensional models or objects. A model is any object that has depth, and an original model can be made from almost anything. If you were making your own object to mold, you might use clay, rock, or plastic. Through the use of a mold making material a negative, or a reverse, of a model part is made, the negative can then be used to cast a second part that is the same size and shape as the original part.

Simple parts such as relief sculptures can be duplicated by using a one part mold. The casting material is poured or pressed into the mold indentation. The casting material can range from clay, soap, chocolate, concrete, liquid plastic, play-dough, and metal castings.

You can make two part molds or even three or more part molds. Mold sizes can range from a few millimeters to many feet in size. Mold making is used in industry to make duplicates of a wide variety of creations ranging from car parts to Christmas ornaments. More complicated molds may include a variety of molded parts, rigid parts of the molds, inserts, a variety of resins and fillers, and a lot of setup and thought.

At home mold making is typically performed using a rubber mold making material that can be poured on or around the object to be duplicated. The mold can then be filled with casting materials of your choice. For example, many cake decorators or chocolate makers use molds to create unique shapes from their chocolates or use molds to shape fondant into special shapes. Home soap and candle makers duplicate unique shapes and designs. Hobbyist use molds to make components for their trains and to make improvements to the backdrops and sceneries.  Even fishermen enjoy molding their own unique fishing lures.

Mold making can be fun and useful. With patience and persistence, you can mold and cast just about anything. You can make unique gifts and fix broken parts. To learn more about molding, casting and the products associated with Mold Making visit http://composimold.com. 

For More Information Visit: www.ComposiMold.com, www.Facebook.com/ComposiMold, www.YouTube.com/ComposiMold To Order ComposiMold Products Visit: www.store.composimold.com

Horsing Around in the Bluegrass!

This 15 pound chocolate horse head was created in a 110 pound ComposiMold. The "master" was the head of a rocking horse. We love to demonstrate just how much detail ComposiMold can pick up and we hope that the size of this casting will inspire you too!

This year the theme of the International Cake Exploration Societe Convention is, Horsing Around In The Bluegrass. So we've been molding and casting horse themed chocolates and fondants in honor of this event.

Stan, Bobbi, and Bob have just arrived in Kentucky this afternoon after a long drive from Maine to show off ComposiMold-FC (food contact) to the cake decorating world. We know that we'll get lots of attention because of ComposiMold's re-usability and compatibility with food items.

So if you are in town check out our booth at the 38th annual ICES Convention in Lexington, Kentucky August 8th - 11th!

For More Information visit: www.ComposiMold.com

Duplicating Train Cars with ComposiMold

I got this great 3-D printed train car from www.shapeways.com and was really excited to play around with making a mold of it to see just how much of the fine detail ComposiMold could pick up.

I sprayed our Bubble Buster over the top of my mold release to decrease the amount of bubble formation in the mold. This is a very important step, especially when you're end goal is fine detail. Remember: Only use Bubble Buster before making your mold. Do not use Bubble Buster before you pour your casting material.

Below are a few photos of the process of duplicating this tiny train car.

I filled the inside of the train with clay car to give it some weight.

Then I pressed it to the bottom of my mold-box and poured the melted ComposiMold.

The green train car in the front is the duplicate I made of the 3-D printed train behind it.

For More Information visit: www.ComposiMold.com www.Facebook.com/ComposiMold www.YouTube.com/ComposiMold order at www.ComposiTherm.com

Electrical Wall Plate Cover Duplicated!

 In this demonstration I will show you how to duplicate an electrical wall plate cover. 

I can think of a few reasons why you might need to do this; the stores don't make the one you need anymore, you broke one when tightening the screws, or you'd like to replace the dated ones in your home and would rather not spend the money. 

You could also cast these in plaster and hand paint them for a really unique look!

Follow the steps below and Happy Mold Making! ~Michelle

I smoothed clay onto the back of the wall plate cover.

The weight of the clay will hold the plate down in my mold box.

I used straws to keep the screw holes open and I used clay to keep the switch holes open.

Then I poured my melted ComposiMold over my prepared electrical wall plate cover.

Here is my solidified mold.

I spread powder into my mold as a mold release.

Then I patiently watch the ComposiCast harden.

The ComposiCast hardens in less than 30 minutes.

So with a little clean-up I've got myself a duplicate electrical wall plate cover!

For More Information visit: www.ComposiMold.com www.Facebook.com/ComposiMold www.YouTube.com/ComposiMold order at www.ComposiTherm.com

ComposiMold Toolkit

All you really need is a container of ComposiMold, however there are a few other tools to add to your kit that will make mold-making with ComposiMold easy and fun!

Here is what litters the work stations in my studio:

• An Ove-Glove (or potholder) for handling the hot container of melted ComposiMold
•  Popsicle sticks for stirring
• Bubble Buster, by ComposiMold to reduce bubble formation on your molds
• Hot Glue gun/glue sticks (or clay) for fastening my original part to the bottom of my mold box
• Flexible Cups and Tupperware to be used as mold boxes
• Disposable gloves for mixing ComposiCast (it can be irritating on your skin)
• Paper plates to contain messes
• Mold release (by ComposiMold or even cooking oil spray)
• Plastic funnel and filter for cleaning debris out of my ComposiMold
• Casting materials such as plaster, chocolate, wax, ComposiCast Urethane Resin, and soap
• Utility knife and sharp blades for slicing molds open
• Tape for taping your mold back together
• Beaker for mixing/measuring casting material
• A microwave or double boiler to melt the ComposiMold

(all of the items in red can be purchased on our website at www.ComposiTherm.com)

You probably have many of these items in your home already. Even if you don't, just start experimenting with ComposiMold and build your toolkit as you go. 

Happy Mold-Making! ~Michelle 

For More Information visit: www.ComposiMold.com www.Facebook.com/ComposiMold www.YouTube.com/ComposiMold order at www.ComposiTherm.com

ComposiMold for the 2-Dimensional Artist

ComposiMold can be used by the 2-Dimensional Artist As Well as the 3-Dimensional Artist!

Are you a mixed media, collage, scrapbook, or trading card artist? Have you ever been reluctant to sacrifice a rare or valuable object for an art project?

With ComposiMold, you can duplicate any object and cast it in a variety of materials to make it look like the original without harming your family heirlooms or giving up coins from your collection. 

In the example above: I used ComposiMold LT to pour my mold of the original silver dollar. I let that cool and solidify. I then poured ComposiCast, our polyurethane resin, into the mold as my casting material. After it hardened I painted the plastic coin silver and attached it to my cardstock. 

So now I'm ahead of the game...I have a finished coin collage AND a whole dollar in my pocket!

~Michelle

 For More Information visit: www.ComposiMold.com www.Facebook.com/ComposiMold www.YouTube.com/ComposiMold order at www.ComposiTherm.com

New Slideshow with More ComposiMold examples

Christmas Santa Gets Help with ComposiMold Mold Making Material

Here's a nice Santa Clause. The original ornament was on our mantle. Now we have two Santas.

Here is the Santa being molded and cast. The original Santa is inside the ComposiMold. After the ComposiMold solidified, the part was removed, a mold release was sprayed into the mold cavity and the polyurethane was poured into the mold to make the duplicate.


Happy Holidays.

Epoxy and ComposiMold

A common question is whether you can use 5-minute epoxy to make a casting with ComposiMold.

As Bob The Builder says "yes we can."

The epoxy cast in the ComposiMold made a nice impression of this cat-and I really like the clarity of the epoxy.

5-minute epoxy works fine but keep in mind that it is designed as an adhesive, not a casting material. The viscosity is higher than what is preferable. It also comes in these little tubes that can drive you crazy. So it is nice for a quick, simple mold, but if you are going to make many molds, it's worth investing in a casting material designed for molding.

Other epoxies will work also. So experiment.

Thank you.

www.ComposiMold.com