Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds


There is an endless number of things you can duplicate with Mold Making Material and 2 methods that work best depending on the object you're copying.

In this blog, we will examine the One-Part Method vs. the Two-Part Method.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- examine the One-Part Method vs. the Two-Part Method


ONE-PART MOLD METHOD

The one-part mold is the simplest method, but only works for certain shapes or objects.  This is also the quickest method because the mixture is poured all at once around an object in one sitting.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- poured all at once around an object in one sitting

The objects that are ideal for this method are ones with a flat side or base. This flat portion of your object allows you to place or glue the object to the floor of your surrounding box and pour the Mold Making Material all at once.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- glue the object to the floor of your surrounding box

Our King Tut figurine featured here was an object ideal for a one-part mold because it was a simple shape with a flat bottom.  When the silicone cures, the mold can be taken out of the box, and the object can be pulled out of the mold.

Here's how it works:

First, you will need to find a box slightly larger than your object. We like to keep it easy and use pre-made boxes such as milk cartons, plastic containers and yogurt cups. 

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- find a box slightly larger than your object

You can also make your own frame to surround your object from cardboard, wood or foam core. Remember, the more space around the object, the thicker—and therefore stronger—your mold will be.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- make your own frame to surround your object from cardboard

If you are making your own frame out of cardboard or foam core, it is important to seal the inside with tape so the box becomes waterproof. We use packing tape to seal our boxes and to cover the surface of the box so the mold will easily pull away from it later.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- seal the inside with tape so the box becomes waterproof

In the example shown, we are using a milk carton to house the King Tut figurine.  We cut the milk carton about an inch taller than King Tut and used the bottom half. Depending on the weight of your object, you could choose to glue it to the bottom of the box.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- cut the milk carton about an inch taller than the object

Now it’s time for the Mold Making Material. You’ll want to mix equal measurements of Part A and Part B until the color is consistent.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- mix equal measurements of Part A and Part B

The 2 parts of the Mold Making Material kit are actually 2 different colors (white and dark blue) so you'll know when the mixture is thoroughly mixed when the color becomes one consistent medium blue hue.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- thoroughly mixed when the color becomes one consistent medium blue hue

Next, pour the mixture into your container and over your object.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- pour the mixture into your container and over your object

Then, sit back and let the mold cure; 3-4 hours at room temperature will do the trick.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds-  3-4 hours at room temperature will do the trick

Once time has passed, you can poke the top of the silicone to make sure that it is not sticky anymore before removing it from the box.

 Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- poke the top of the silicone to make sure that it is not sticky anymore

Cut the box open and pull the whole mold out before removing the object.

 Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- Cut the box open and pull the whole mold out before removing the object

Remove your object from the mold by carefully wiggling it out.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- Remove your object from the mold by carefully wiggling it out

Congratulations, your mold is complete and you are now ready to make exact replicas of your object.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- mold is complete and you are now ready to make exact replicas


You can use many different substances to fill the mold, such as cement, plaster, polyurethane, soap, clay, polymer clay, play dough and wax, but 
we recommend ArtResin epoxy resin in combination with our line of ResinTints. 

💡 TIP: You can also use Mold Making Material for food safe molds to create personalized shapes out of chocolate, candy, ice, butter and more!  Just remember, molds made for use with food should ONLY be used for food.  For more information, see our blog Make Your Own Food Safe Silicone Molds.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- different substances to fill the mold such as polyurethane and wax but we recommend ArtResin

ArtResin is another simple to use product that works comfortably well with Mold Making Material.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- pour resin in a molding

Follow this link the learn more about ArtResin and its world of creativity!!

 

 

TWO-PART MOLD METHOD

For a more complicated object, or an object that cannot be easily glued down in your box, a Two-Part Mold may be beneficial. 

A Two-Part Mold is made through two separate pours, using plasticine in the bottom half of your mold to hold the object in place.  An example of an object that would be better suited for a Two-Part Mold is a baseball. A baseball has no flat sides and won't stay sitting in one spot without help.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- Two-Part Mold is a baseball

Here's how it works:

In the following example, we will create a Two-Part Mold for a starfish, another object without a flat side.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- we will create a Two-Part Mold for a starfish

First we measure and cut a cardboard box big enough to fit the starfish.

We then place and spread plasticine into the bottom of the box so that the whole floor is covered.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- place and spread plasticine into the bottom of the box

Next, grab your object (starfish) and press it into the plasticine so it is halfway covered.  Be careful if your object is delicate.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- grab your object and press it into the plasticine

Now it’s time for the Mold Making Material. You’ll want to mix equal measurements of Part A and Part B until the color is consistent.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- equal measurements of Part A and Part B

The first pour of Mold Making Material should cover the half of your object protruding from the plasticine. 

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- cover the half of your object protruding from the plasticine

Once the silicone has cured (approximately 3-4 hours after mixing), cut and remove the plasticine and mold from the box. Try not to damage the box as you will be using it again to pour the second part.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- cut and remove the plasticine and mold from the box

Remove all of the plasticine, cleaning off any little bits that may be clinging to the object or mold. 

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- cleaning off any little bits that may be clinging to the object or mold

Now place the mold back into the box with the cured Mold Making Material on the bottom. Now is the time to add a straw or something similar to your object in order to create a pouring spout. In this case, we simply reused a little bit of the plasticine in order to create the spout.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- place the mold back into the box with the cured Mold Making Material on the bottom

In a separate project, we super-glued a straw upright on the top of a baseball to act as our pouring spout. 

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- super-glued a straw upright on the top of a baseball to act as our pouring spout

*Side note - a pouring spout is a void in the cured Mold Making Material. This void, or hole, allows you to pour in the substance you intend to use to make your duplicate objects. In our examples, we use tinted ArtResin.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- pouring spout is a void in the cured molding

The second pour of Mold Making Material can now be measured, mixed and poured over the rest of the object. 

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- second pour of Mold Making Material can now be measured

Simply wait 3 hours and the mold will have cured. It can now be removed from the box and your object can be removed from the mold.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds-  removed from the box and your object can be removed from the mold

Cutting a mold to remove an object should be done in as few cuts as possible.  We typically cut from the pouring spout and down the middle of our mold, but it does depend on the shape of the object.  Cut the mold in small increments until you are able to pry the mold open to remove the object.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- Cut the mold in small increments

You can also remove the small piece of plasticine or straw as it is no longer necessary. You should now have a small hole to use to fill your silicone mold.

Your Two-Part Mold is complete and you can now make exact replicas of your object.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- Your Two-Part Mold is

You can use many different substances to fill the mold such as polyurethane and wax but we recommend ArtResin in combination with our line of ResinTints.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- different substances to fill the mold such as polyurethane and wax but we recommend ArtResin

One thing to remember when using a Two-Part Mold is to carefully, and as precisely as possible, tape the mold closed before filling it. This will ensure a proper duplicate with little to no lines from the separation in the mold.

Mold Making Material: One-Part vs. Two-Part Molds- tape the mold closed before filling it

If you do get lines or extra bits on you copied object, simply use an X-acto knife or Dremel to trim them off.

From there, have fun and create as many replicas as your heart desires.

...Do you copy? ;)

Learn more about the mold making material and read our guides about mold making:

About the author: Dave Zak

Hi, I'm Dave, a Canadian-based entrepreneur. I was born an artist and I love to tinker and create things. After studying art and working in marketing, I founded ArtResin in 2008 in response to the toxic and yellowing resin products that were giving me headaches and ruining my artwork.