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We come across silicone or polydiethylsiloxane all the time. We recommend ordering silicone products from a specialized store, but it can also be made at home from inexpensive raw materials. And many things can be made from silicone mass. Even a beginner will be able to cast and stamp interesting shapes.
So, if you are a creative person and you are attracted by the opportunity to sculpt and cast from unusual materials (by the way, this can be a good source of income), we will be happy to reveal the secrets of making silicone mass and options for its use.
What you need to know about silicone?
To work with silicone, you just need to know:
It is worth noting that uncured silicone mass has toxic properties, so it is worth purchasing a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands when working and doing creativity in a well-ventilated area or outdoors.
In order to obtain silicone raw materials, you do not need to spend a lot of money. It is enough to purchase a few components, the rest will be found in the house.
What do you need to have on hand to get silicone mass?
You will only have to stock up on a small arsenal:
Often you only have to buy liquid glass and ethyl alcohol; any plastic container is suitable as a container; starch can be found in almost every kitchen, and sand can be found in the yard.
When all of the above is prepared, combine the components in equal proportions. We paint the resulting mixture with gouache or other dyes according to our mood.
Let's pay a little attention to the mixing process.
You can start kneading the mass with any suitable object from any material that you do not plan to use for other purposes after that.
What options for forming silicone mass have been tested to date?
You can: form silicone with your own hands (using gloves), pour the product into a cooking bag/syringe that you don’t mind parting with, fill cookie molds with the mixture, or cast the mold you like.
How does the silicone “casting” process take place?
If you prefer to repeat the shape of the object, then apply silicone to a greased with soapy water or sunflower oil surface: on top of a vase, cup, figurine.
In some cases, it is necessary for the resulting creation to subsequently harden. To cast this shape, a compound is used. This material differs from our silicone rubber in the presence of a hardener/catalyst. Knowing the right proportions in this case decides everything: this wonderful mixture will help cast products of any shape.
Casting molds from the compound:
In a similar way, you can make molds on platinum: cover the gypsum or foam plastic platinum with a soap solution or oil, and apply silicone with a brush, working out the details. Leave to dry and remove from the mold.
For “silicone creativity” you can use silicone sealant.
How to use silicone sealant?
In this version, everything is also simpler than ever. Remember when we had to stock up on starch? We take it out and start creating: we use a plate as a container, onto which we squeeze out the sealant and mix in the starch. The result should be “rubber dough”. The “silicone + starch” mixture is great for making molds. Don't forget to lubricate the model with oil or soapy water. In order for the products to harden well, they need to be left alone longer (overnight). After hardening, in order to remove the object, cut the mold lengthwise with a stationery knife, as before. Molds can be made using frame containers or in a simplified way by rolling a ball and pressing an object into it.
To summarize, silicone or polydiethylsiloxane allows you to create and expand your own abilities exponentially. Good luck!
DIY silicone from Gelatin and Glycerin
Somewhere a couple of months ago, I came across this video on YouTube, where a man made a mold from gelatin and glycerin. I really liked the video, especially because all the components of this recipe are easily accessible and not very expensive, at least for small volumes of forms. The video itself, although in bourgeois language, is nothing special to delve into; it was enough to hear fifty-fifty, after which it became clear how much glycerin and gelatin should be mixed. Therefore, I decided to try to repeat this recipe for homemade silicone or rubber, whichever is closer.
At the nearest pharmacy and grocery store, several vials of glycerin and the same number of packets of gelatin were purchased. Here everything will depend on the size of the mold; if you want to make a mold for something large, then accordingly you will have to purchase a little more of all these components.
Mix everything approximately 50/50, that is, by eye. Experimentally, I found out that if you pour more glycerin, the mixture turns out to be more liquid and fluid. But if there is not enough glycerin, then this gelatin paste will stretch like drying Moment glue and at the same time it is difficult to stir even in a water bath, let alone pour it into a mold with a part that has complex detailing. In general, 50/50 seems to be the best option. I have not tried adding glycerin more than twice (to find out the limit at which the mixture would remain strong and not sticky after hardening).
It’s ideal to heat the whole thing in a water bath, because you don’t have to control the temperature, but you don’t always have access to a gas stove, so for now I made do with an ordinary candle. The main thing is not to let the gelatin boil, otherwise it will start to burn and smell terrible, as if you were frying some kind of animal carcass :) I heated and stirred this substance for about 10 minutes so that the mixture was homogeneous and without any lumps. There in the video he heats the whole thing in the microwave, but in order not to look for dishes for it and not to conjure with the required heating time, for now he decided to make do with ordinary heating over an open fire.
I tore this glass crystal off the chandelier for the duration of the experiment. I also bent a mold from a strip of plastic to a size slightly larger than this stone.
I poured a little of this silicone into the bottom of the mold and left it to cool to make something like a base for a stone. I decided to do this so that the thickness of this rubber would be more or less uniform on all sides of the crystal. Otherwise, if the mold is thin, it will not hold the desired shape well, moreover, it may tear when the prototype is removed from it.
After that, partially dip the crystal into a bowl of gelatin to get rid of air bubbles from the bottom of the stone. Then we quickly transfer this pebble and place it on the bottom of the mold, along with the gelatin stuck to it, as if gluing it.
Now the simplest thing is to fill the form with gelatin to the edges of the formwork.
What's good about this homemade rubber is that it hardens literally before your eyes, as soon as it cools down you can cut it. There is no need to wait a week for this form to set completely, as is usually the case with acidic construction silicone. After the mass has cooled, unwind the plastic from this cube.
We make a cut at the top and carefully remove the glass crystal from our mold.
Then mix and pour epoxy resin into the mold.
The epoxy resin casting no longer came out of the mold as easily as the glass prototype. Therefore, I had to carefully cut the mold in a circle and tear it apart so as not to scratch the epoxy crystal with a knife. I don’t know yet what this is connected with, but the casting turned out cloudy and not transparent. Either the presence of water somewhere in the gelatin mass is affecting it, or something else. On the other hand, if you cast something colored in the mass, then it will no longer have much significance.
Also, purely for the sake of experiment, I tried to cast a fragment of this stone, but from plaster (alabaster). The results were disastrous. Gelatin begins to absorb water from the gypsum and as a result, at the end we get a sticky plaster stone and a form spoiled by water. Maybe something rough and without much detail can be cast from plaster in a gelatin mold, but then you will have to somehow clean the surface of the plaster cast from fragments of sticky gelatin.
In general, I liked the fact that this homemade silicone mold allows you to make castings from epoxy resin. While there is a lot of fuss with acid (assembly), and aspic is still expensive. Another positive feature of such gelatin forms is that they can be adjusted with a hot spatula, that is, if there is an unnecessary hole somewhere on the form, you can simply cover it up by melting a fragment of this gelatin mass in a spoon. You can also easily melt and refill old molds into new ones. I remember how much I tinkered with this radiator, although with the help of this gelatin mold, it could have been copied even faster and with better quality. Of course, there are also disadvantages: this mold is afraid of water and temperature (it melts), so if excessive heating occurs in a massive epoxy casting, the mold may simply float along with the resin.
After some time, I tried to polish this epoxy crystal to find out exactly whether it was cloudy in bulk or only superficially. I also created a separate page about hand polishing epoxy, in case anyone is interested. The results of polishing, of course, were not particularly impressive, because I had never really polished the resin myself. But some shine still appeared on this pebble, this is especially noticeable in the video that I added at the end of that topic. In general, epoxy castings in gelatin molds turn out cloudy only on the outside, at least for me, so keep this in mind if you want to cast something in such a mold.
Making silicone at home: how to make it
Almost everyone is familiar with such a material as silicone. Men use sealants made from this material. Women often use molds made from it for baking. Many different items are made from it. I wonder if it is possible to make silicone on your own at home, as well as forms from it? Yes, you can! Read below for information on how to do this.
What is needed to make silicone
Before you start making a rubber-like material, you need to ensure safe conditions. The work must be carried out with rubber gloves, because this material itself is very toxic.
It is also necessary to choose the right place to carry out the work. The room should be good ventilate. Ideal conditions for work on creating silicone - on outdoors. But if this is not possible, then you can do the work on the balcony.
It is also worth knowing the peculiarity of the material - fast hardening. Therefore, it is recommended to produce the material in small quantities or carry out all actions quickly.
Other materials can be used to make silicone:
IN a plastic cup sealant must be applied. Add glycerin and paint to it. To do this, it is convenient to use a pipette or straw. Add white spirit. Now you need to mix the mixture thoroughly so that the mass is homogeneous. Silicone is ready! It will remain liquid for about 4-5 hours and then harden.
How to make silicone at home
First of all, to make the material you need to mix ethyl alcohol with liquid glass in equal proportions. This can be done in any plastic container. During mixing, you need to add dye to the mass according to your own preferences.
Both a wooden stick and a regular spoon are suitable for kneading. After kneading, you will get a mass resembling plasticine or rubber. It can be used in several ways in the future. For example, knead with your hands. You can also put the mixture into a regular cooking bag or syringe with the necessary attachments and squeeze out the amount that is needed. You can also use regular cookie cutters. Or another option is to cast the required shape.
Important! Repeating the shape of an object will only be possible if you apply silicone mass to outside subject. To put it another way, apply the mass not into the mold, but from the outside.
Another important point : before applying the rubber mass, the surface should be lubricated with vegetable oil or soapy water.
How to make a silicone mold
Thanks to these components, any shape can be cast. True, this is not exactly silicone (it is more reminiscent of rubber in its properties), nevertheless.
To make an analogue in the form of a silicone mold, you need to do a number of steps:
The required silicone mold is ready!
How to make a mold on a plate
The stages of work are as follows:
- A plaster or foam plate must be treated with soapy water.
- Take a brush and apply silicone to the surface.
- Now we need to work out the details. Special attention must be given to the top layer.
- Wait until the silicone dries.
Now all that remains is to remove the silicone and the required shape on the plate is ready!
How to make a mold from silicone sealant
There are no difficulties here either. You will need any silicone sealant.
You can also do this. Roll the silicone dough into a ball and press the dough into it. Align the edges. After a few hours, check whether the silicone has hardened or not. If yes, then the workpiece can be removed. The resulting form is ready!
Work very interesting with the material, especially creative people. You can do whatever you want with this material. However, if you want to use such a silicone mold for baking, then you should refuse such a desire. It is better to purchase an industrial silicone mold.
You can find many videos on the Internet that detail how to make silicone and molds with your own hands.
For the production and replication of products made of plastic, gypsum, concrete, foam concrete, wax, types of metal and other materials, special molds made of silicone are required. Silicone matrices allow you to quickly and easily obtain products of any complexity and configuration. Due to the fact that silicone is a fairly soft material in its composition, casting products is not particularly difficult. You just need to have a sample according to which the silicone mold is made. This article presents two-component types of silicone.
Mold Max Series- a series of two-component silicones with a tin-based catalyst, a wide range of hardnesses from 10 to 60 Shore A, with exceptional tensile and tear strength, low shrinkage, low sensitivity to inhibitors (sulfur in plasticine, etc.), as well as excellent circulation resistance and durability. 
Silicones of the Mold Max series are used for molding various materials such as: wax, gypsum, concrete, metals or metal alloys with low melting points, as well as for molding polyurethane, epoxy or polyester resins without the use of release agents.
Mold Max YuT, 15T, 27T- translucent, colorless silicones that are used to produce molds or create special effects such as “skin” using Silc Pig color pigments.
Mold Max STROKE- thixotropic silicone for brush application that adheres to vertical surfaces without dripping.
Mold Max 60 has increased heat resistance (up to 294 °C) and is suitable for metal molding. 
Rebound Series- Platinum-based thixotropic silicones with a hardness of 25 and 40 Shore A, specially designed for application by brush or trowel. Rebound molds can be removed from the model like a glove. A convenient ratio of components 1A:1B by volume, insignificant shrinkage, high strength and durability, exceptional resistance to the entire range of casting materials, including polyester resin, are the advantages of these silicones.
Mold Star Series- simple and easy-to-use two-component platinum-based silicones with hardnesses of 15, 16 and 30 Shore A and a component ratio of 1A:1B by volume. Mold Star silicones have low viscosity, do not require vacuum degassing and are used for the production of both simple and complex molds with big amount undercut.
Smooth-Sil Series- a series of platinum silicones with hardnesses of 35, 40 and 50 Shore A, having negligible shrinkage and excellent chemical and abrasive resistance. This series is used for pouring plaster, concrete, metals or metal alloys with low melting points, polyurethanes, polyester or epoxy resins without the use of release agents. Silicone Smooth-Sil 940 is suitable for use in the food industry, that is, for the manufacture of food molds. 
Dragon Skin Series- a series of high-quality translucent platinum silicones with a hardness of 2, 10, 20 and 30 Shore A, having insignificant shrinkage, a convenient mixing ratio of components 1A:1B by weight or volume and high physical and mechanical characteristics. Widely used for simulation skin and creating various special effects using Silc Pig coloring pigments.
Sorta Clear Series- premium transparent platinum silicones with a hardness of 18 and 40 Shore A. Most often used in the prototyping industry and in the jewelry industry when high transparency of the form is required. Sorta Clear 18 and 40 are also suitable for the production of food forms.
Ecoflex Series- a series of very soft, high-strength translucent platinum silicones with hardnesses of 00-10, 00-30, 00-50.5 Shore A, with a convenient 1A: 1B ratio by weight or volume and low viscosity. They are widely used in orthopedics for the production of insoles, etc., as well as for creating special effects and anatomical applications. 
Encapso K- transparent silicone, specially designed for creating decorative compositions in which it is necessary to imitate water (vases with flowers, imitation aquariums, etc.), or shards of ice, glass or diamonds. The material has low viscosity, does not form bubbles, is non-toxic, conveniently mixes in a ratio of 1A: 1B by volume and can be colored using Silc Pig dyes. 
Alja-Safe is a new, easy-to-use and quickly hardening molding silicone with excellent transfer of all the smallest details of the surface of the model, specially designed for taking impressions of living objects. It does not pose a risk to human health and can be applied to the hands, face and other parts of the body to create a disposable form. Alja-Safe silicone is used for molding plaster, incl. acrylic, and any quick-curing polyurethane plastics.
Alja-Safe Acrobat is a fiber-filled, thixotropic and denser version of alginate that adheres well to vertical surfaces. 
Body Double “Standard Set” And Body Double "Fast Set" are very durable platinum-based silicones that can be applied to human skin to create shapes on the face, hands or other parts of the body. Molds made from these materials are designed for repeated pouring of plaster, wax, fusible metals, polyurethane plastics, epoxy or polyester resins, etc. 
Ethyl alcohol for wiping various mechanisms can be found in the home of any self-respecting man. To make silicone, in addition to such alcohol, you will also need liquid glass. IN plastic bottle These substances must be poured in equal parts and mixed with a wooden stick. This is done carefully, because the substances are quite caustic. Hands should be protected with thick rubber gloves. The resulting mass should stand for a while to thicken. When this happens, the material is kneaded with your hands, like plasticine. Typical for him White color and dense consistency. The mass hardens and begins to resemble rubber. Now it molds without any special effort required form. If you give it time, it will completely harden and become elastic. When you need to reproduce a certain figure, it is better to buy silicone in a store. It takes longer to harden, so you have time to create a silicone masterpiece. Knowing how to make silicone at home, or buying this liquid substance in a store, you can cast incredible figures. You just need to put the item you want to copy into the solution.
Silicone is used in the manufacture of various gaskets, bushings, cuffs and plugs. It retains its flexible properties at temperatures from minus sixty degrees to plus two hundred. It is not damaged by prolonged exposure to sea and fresh water, alcohol, weak acid, and hydrogen peroxide. Even resistant to radiation. Having such characteristics, it is used in many industries. When working with this material, you need to pay attention to the fact that the container should be without gaps and with smooth sides, then make silicone and cast the figure correct form it will be easy enough. Removable sides will help you remove the figure without damaging it. You need to pour it in parts: first one side - when it hardens - take apart the side, then the other side. And so on until the entire figure is complete. Silicone molds are widely used by women in the kitchen when baking various muffins, cakes, and cookies. Silicone cookware can be placed in microwaves and ovens. Food prepared in such forms retains its taste well, since silicone does not interact with it.
Three tablespoons of potato or corn starch and the same amount of silicone sealant are added to a yogurt glass. You should stir for at least seven minutes. When this “plasticine” easily comes off your hands, it kneads well and the production of a silicone mold begins. During cooking, this form is lightly greased with vegetable oil. Takes up very little space in the kitchen. In addition to baking in silicone molds, you can bake fish and stew meat. They are suitable for jellies, puddings, jellied meats. The finished dish is easily removed and retains a beautiful, even shape given by silicone. Making a silicone mold at home is quite easy. Since silicone is white, it is better to add food coloring of any other color to it, and then the mold will become colored. It can be made in large and small sizes. Dishes prepared in this form will delight any guest.
We come across silicone or polydiethylsiloxane all the time. We recommend buying it in a specialized store, but it can also be made at home from inexpensive raw materials. And many things can be made from silicone mass. Even a beginner will be able to cast and stamp interesting shapes.
So, if you are a creative person and you are attracted by the opportunity to sculpt and cast from unusual materials (by the way, this can be a good source of income), we will be happy to reveal the secrets of making silicone mass and options for its use.
What you need to know about silicone?
To work with silicone, you just need to know:
- Silicone is quite heat-resistant and has low electrical conductivity;
- When it comes into contact with air, the silicone mass hardens quite quickly, so it must be kneaded vigorously, quickly and in small volumes;
- Objects that will come into contact with silicone so that the workpieces come off easily must be coated with a soap solution or vegetable oil.
It is worth noting that uncured silicone mass has toxic properties, so it is worth purchasing a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands when working and doing creativity in a well-ventilated area or outdoors.
In order to obtain silicone raw materials, you do not need to spend a lot of money. It is enough to purchase a few components, the rest will be found in the house.
What do you need to have on hand to get silicone mass?
You will only have to stock up on a small arsenal:
- Liquid glass;
- Regular ethyl alcohol;
- A set of gouache or other dyes;
- Potato starch;
- Container and molds (preferably industrial);
- Sand.
Often you only have to buy liquid glass and ethyl alcohol; any plastic container is suitable as a container; starch can be found in almost every kitchen, and sand can be found in the yard.
When all of the above is prepared, combine the components in equal proportions. We paint the resulting mixture with gouache or other dyes according to our mood.
“Silicon” magic
Let's pay a little attention to the mixing process.
You can start kneading the mass with any suitable object from any material that you do not plan to use for other purposes after that.
What options for forming silicone mass have been tested to date?
You can: form silicone with your own hands (using gloves), pour the product into a cooking bag/syringe that you don’t mind parting with, fill cookie molds with the mixture, or cast the mold you like.
How does the silicone “casting” process take place?
If you prefer to repeat the shape of the object, then apply silicone to a surface greased with soapy water or sunflower oil: on top of a vase, cup, figurine.
In some cases, it is necessary for the resulting creation to subsequently harden. To cast this shape, a compound is used. This material differs from our silicone rubber in the presence of a hardener/catalyst. Knowing the right proportions in this case decides everything: this wonderful mixture will help cast products of any shape.
Casting molds from the compound:
- Find a completely intact container;
- Place the greased model into it for replication;
- Fill in silicone rubber;
- Close the box hermetically for a while;
- We check: if the silicone does not stick to your fingers, the process is completed;
- Use a utility knife to cut the silicone shell lengthwise.
In a similar way, you can make molds on platinum: cover the gypsum or foam plastic platinum with a soap solution or oil, and apply silicone with a brush, working out the details. Leave to dry and remove from the mold.
For “silicone creativity” you can use silicone sealant.
How to use silicone sealant?
In this version, everything is also simpler than ever. Remember when we had to stock up on starch? We take it out and start creating: we use a plate as a container, onto which we squeeze out the sealant and mix in the starch. The result should be “rubber dough”. The “silicone + starch” mixture is great for making molds. Don't forget to lubricate the model with oil or soapy water. In order for the products to harden well, they need to be left alone longer (overnight). After hardening, in order to remove the object, cut the mold lengthwise with a stationery knife, as before. Molds can be made using frame containers or in a simplified way by rolling a ball and pressing an object into it.
To summarize, silicone or polydiethylsiloxane allows you to create and expand your own abilities exponentially. Good luck!
Silicone is a soft and pliable material that is used to make molds. There is nothing difficult about making something like silicone at home from improvised materials.
How to make silicone at home - method 1
- White Spirit;
- pipette, spoon, plastic glass;
- acrylic paint;
- liquid glycerin;
- silicone sealant.
All components are mixed in the following proportions: for 30 grams of sealant, take 150 grams of white spirit, 1 drop of paint and 3 drops of glycerin.
- Place the sealant in a plastic cup.
- Add the specified amount of paint and glycerin. If you don't have a pipette at hand, you can use a straw.
- Add white spirit.
- Stir the solution until it is will not become homogeneous (paints will not should be visible).
- Ready. You now have about 5 hours to use this silicone before it hardens.
How to make silicone at home - method 2
To make silicone you will need the following components:
- ethanol;
- liquid glass.
Sequence of actions when preparing silicone:
- You need to prepare a suitable container in advance and create working conditions. The container can be any. Pour ethyl alcohol and liquid glass into it in equal proportions. Mix the ingredients using any tool ( wooden stick or spoon). When the solution begins to thicken, it can be brought to the desired state simply by rubbing it with your hand. A white dense mass forms in the container, which after some time will become similar to plasticine.
- The required shape needs to be sculpted only when the mass begins to harden. There will be no problems with this, since the substance will be plastic and soft, similar to rubber. Once you have the desired shape, set it aside until it hardens completely. The silicone will harden and the mold will become less susceptible to deformation.
How to make silicone at home - method 3
Add 3 tablespoons of silicone sealant and the same amount of potato starch to a plastic cup. The resulting solution must be stirred for 7-10 minutes. When the silicone begins to easily come off your hands and knead well, you can begin making the mold, which is very simple.
How to make silicone at home - method 4
Buy several packets of gelatin and the same number of vials of glycerin. The quantity depends on the size of the mold. Everything is mixed “by eye”, approximately 50/50. Try not to violate the proportions: if there is little glycerin, the mixture will be liquid, and if there is too much, it will stick like glue. 55/50 is the best option.
All this needs to be heated in a water bath, but an ordinary candle will do. Your main task is to prevent the gelatin from boiling. Otherwise it will start to stink a lot. You need to heat and stir the substance for about 10 minutes until you get a homogeneous mixture.
How to make silicone at home - copying an object
Prepare a mold that is slightly larger than the item you are copying. Pour some silicone into the bottom and leave to harden. This will be the basis for the item. The thickness should be at least 1 centimeter so that the “rubber” reliably envelops the object from all sides. If the mold is thin, it will tear when the prototype is removed or will not hold its shape at all.
Partially dip the prototype into a bowl of gelatin to remove any air bubbles. Quickly transfer the item and place it on the bottom of the mold, gluing it down. Fill the mold completely with silicone. Homemade resin from the 4th method hardens very quickly - before our eyes. Immediately after cooling, disassemble the mold. Make a cut and carefully remove the prototype.
Mix and pour epoxy resin into the mold. The frozen casting is quite difficult to remove, so you will have to cut the silicone in a circle or completely tear it apart.
Getting rid of silicone
Wash the surface using any detergent, intended for fat. You may also need a piece of pumice and a knife to get rid of the silicone. The hardened silicone is cleaned off with a knife, and all its remnants are removed with pumice. This method is only relevant for non-scratch surfaces.
