Animal Instincts | Table of Contents
There are many different ways to make molds to cast a wide variety of materials into. This is applicable for silicon moulds to get a hard resin casting. Silicon is a very flexible mould making material allowing you to cast really complex shapes with undercuts, which would normally snag in a plaster mold. The resin casting 
is a solid piece and will stand up to a bit of knocking around. It can be pigmented with enamel colors in the mixing process so the resin has a color imbedded in it. Resin can be sanded and further carved and machined after it has set, and can be sanded to a smooth finish.
Types of Silicone
There are many different types of silicone, which can be purchased from mould supplies shops, or film supply shops; you are likely to find a supplier over the internet.
There are two main types of silicon, which use different resins to a different effect.
Tin Based Silicone: this is the easy stuff; the resin is mixed in two equal parts to be poured into this silicone and sets within minutes. The resin used here is commonly known as "quick cast or easy cast" it is a urethane-based resin, which remains white when it is set.
Platinum Based Silicone: this silicone can take a bit longer to set and can come in clear it is suitable for casting clear components. This combination takes up to 12 hours for the resin to set, and the mold must be kept in a pressurized environment to make sure the resin doesn't retain bubbles.
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