| I have been asked several times this summer if I | | | | 99% of the time this ruins the casting. I get lots of |
| make rubber molds. I don't, but decided that I would | | | | practice this way! |
| post a couple of do-it-yourself articles for those of | | | | * I want to sell molds that you can take out in the |
| you who feel inclined to give it a try. | | | | back yard with the kids and mix up a batch of |
| First let me explain why I don't make them. | | | | concrete in a bucket, pour into your mold, and in a |
| * The number one reason is time. It is a slow | | | | couple of days you will be taking a very nice casting |
| process and therefore time consuming. I like to get | | | | out of it's mold. The pleasure of seeing a great |
| things done. From start to finish a rubber mold will | | | | casting that did not take long to do is what I go for. |
| take about 4 0r 5 days. Figure about 4 hrs each day | | | | If you want to do artwork - start stirring up your |
| depending on size. I am talking about molds that are | | | | silicone. |
| 12 to 18 inches tall. | | | | * When you use semi - rigid plastic molds you can do |
| * When you are done and ready to use your mold it | | | | this. This is fun, rubber molds are a lot of work. Once |
| you need to be an experienced concrete caster to | | | | you master all the steps and pull the rubber off your |
| get good results. You should have a real cement | | | | first real good casting the satisfaction is terrific, but it |
| mixer and a vibrating table. You can do without these | | | | is not going to happen in a couple of days. You |
| but they make the job easier and go a long way | | | | should plan on at least a month or more to become a |
| toward getting you the results you are looking for. | | | | good novice. |
| * You need patience. I am inclined to break out the | | | | I will write about making rubber molds using silicone |
| mold to soon; I have to see the results. After years | | | | caulking compound soon. That is what I use when I |
| of doing this I still open the molds too soon, | | | | need to make a flexible mold. |
| especially if it is one that is new to me. Of course | | | | |