Like other items in your home, you may also want to keep your silicone molds well-maintained and clean as well. Today, we will go through some tips to offload you, at least from this burden forever.
Prevent overstretching
As a rule of thumb, you restrain from overstretching the silicone molds while demolding your epoxy resin casts. In doing so, it turns the surface of the cavity dull. Not only this, but it also leads to form tears that can reduce the shelf life of the mold. It includes casually inverted mold to leap outcasts.
No Torching
It is a good idea to prevent yourself from engaging in torching the epoxy resin in the silicone molds. Sometimes, people engage in doing so when air bubbles form. They do it to pop any air bubbles.
Running for doing it can eventually instigate it to fuse to the epoxy resin. On top of that, it will tear the mold. Silicone can only sustain 500F, while torches put out 2800F.
Even a marginal pass from 6″-8″ is sufficient to disrupt the silicone molds with continuous abuse. You can torch the resin in a different container when you have air bubbles. Later on, pour it into the silicone mold. While curing, you can use a pressure pot. It helps significantly with the air bubble matter safely.
Soap and Water
It is essential to have your molds clean. Use some warm water and a small amount of dish soap to wash your molds before every cast.
Silicone has high resilience for excessive temperatures. Therefore, there is no issue with warping the mold when cleaning. Bearing in mind, you forbid using scrubbing sponges, steel wool, or anything harsh, like a toothbrush.
The reason is, it instigates scratching and tearing on the silicone’s surface. Sticky spots can come into emergence due to damaged spots on the silicone molds. These blemishes stay with it and damage the mold when you decide to demolding your cast.
Release Agent
It is right that silicone is non-stick. As a result, a new mold works superbly in the beginning. Later on, it begins to indicate issues.
The reason is, there is a release agent that many manufactures use when creating the mold.
It helps the initial few casts release from the mold as well as mold release from the master in production. Thankfully, you can buy release agents specifically designed for casting. Using a little bit of it in a thin layer can extend the shelf life of the molds.
Molds are Perishable
Similar to paintbrushes, silicone molds are perishable. They help to create beautiful creations. After using it over time, it needs to get replaced. It stays longer with you as better you take care of your silicone mold.
Nonetheless, they will get dull eventually, meaning it will lose shape edges. Though proper care can slow the process of perishing, it has to happen. So, don’t get wowed when it does because it is entirely normal.
Conclusion
Silicone molds will stay with you longer, contingent on the level of care you practice with them. By all means, following the tips mentioned above would increase the shelf life of silicone molds. Click here to see through outclass silicone molds.