texacan84 Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Haven't used silicone as a mold. I've carved lures out of balsa wood with texture for open pour baits. In the past I've used plaster of paris and havent had a problem making the master, tried it with the new ones and it was a disaster, messed up a couple of lures trying to get them out and blew out the side of the plaster. I'm considering silicone to make the master molds but really dont where to turn to now, went to Advance Auto to check out the rtv they had because of the high temp it holds but was surprised at the price for a 3oz tube. I'm wondering if their is a silicone that is close to the rtv and also if i use silicone, can you press it into it or do you lay the lure face up and build it from their. Thanks for any advice you can give me....George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 I've used 100% GE Silicone caulk in the past. It holds up just fine to the heat of soft plastics. Taking my time to get the entire master well covered with a thin film first, so it gets into all the details, was a key for me. Then I set it into my wooded mold box form, and filled the box up by pumping the caulk in with a caulking gun. I found going slowly was a real key to getting a good mold. I rehearsed every step in several dry runs, so I could see where the problems might arise before I began with the silcone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djs Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Don't know how many molds you want to make but this company has some good prices on ebay. http://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=seller%3Amoblofc6&isNewKw=1&_pgn=1&epp=24&itemId=&isRefine=true&mfs=KWCLK&acimp=0&sqp=&trksid=p2056088.m2428.l1312.TR5.TRC0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texacan84 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Thanks for the info djs, just looking to get my masters made for now but may consider it later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texacan84 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Thanks mark, im definitely going to give it a try. This may sound strange but with all my wood masters i coat them very well with clear hard as nails fingernail polish. Should i still put a thin film of silicone on the masters as well, do you smooth out the silicone as your putting it in the box? Thanks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djs Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Are you tring to make mother molds? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texacan84 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Are you tring to make mother molds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texacan84 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Yes. If i can get the masters made with silicone, i can make the lure and use the plaster of paris for the main mold but im open to try other things as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djs Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Take a look at alumilite amazing remelt. Melts easy and can be used over and over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texacan84 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Ok djs i will look into it. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) I would recommend not going that route. Sometimes the money spent to get a product designed to do what you want with great results is well worth the time spent trying to get something to work to the same level. Plaster, Durhams, etc.. are all fine and very capable of producing quality molds for cheap but at times RTV is just the way to go. Choose the mold making material on the bait you are doing and it saves a lot of time. Trial size Smooth On mid 20 bucks add 10 or so for shipping or the Hobby Lobby alumilite high strength 3 with coupon 15 bucks. Either will allow several molds to be made depending on size of the baits. Edited February 2, 2015 by Travis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texacan84 Posted February 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Thank you Travis. I've noticed that it looks like you have a lot of plaster molds, and it also has a yellow tinge on top with a shiny cavity. What is it that you use to get it that way? I've also noticed that their is no build up on the side of the cavities if those are plaster, how do you get them that smooth? Thanks for your help.... George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Don't mean to butt in on the question to Travis, but those look exactly like my old P.O.P. molds, and I used Min-Wax brand polyurethane (which gave it that definitive yellow look - lol). A couple coats of that stuff and the baits were mega shiny. Only problem is you have to wait a good week for them to dry before pouring hot plastic in them. Also, they're good for about a thousand pours (if you're lucky) before you have to re-coat them. I apologize if Travis isn't using poly, but man do those ever look familiar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 I have used poly and some of those are sealed with them (the craw mold on top right) but most of the solid yellow ones are Durham's rock puddy molds and are sealed with multiple thinned coats of Devcon. I cast most of the molds in smooth walled containers or mold boxes lined with shipping tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Awww.......makes sense. I never tried the Durham's or Devcon, although I was tempted to try something new at times because poly can get a little costly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texacan84 Posted February 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 Your fine alsworms. I always welcome your comments and advice. Thanks to both of you for your help. I've tried spray poly on my pop but it soaks it up faster than i can spray it and doesn't work at all. Gonna have to give the minwax a try... Thanks again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 Cool, George. Hope it works out for ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
