Accessories

Accessories: the difference between a good result and a great one

The mould or casting determines the end result, but your accessories determine how smoothly you get there. A good release agent stops your mould sticking to the model. Scales that are accurate to the gram prevent a platinum silicone from failing to cure. A pair of nitrile gloves saves you an afternoon of scrubbing resin off your hands. In this category you will find everything that makes working with silicone, epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic resin and plaster easier, cleaner and, above all, safer.

Release agents and adhesion promoters

A release agent ensures that your mould comes away from the original and that the casting comes away from the mould. Which agent you need depends on the combination of materials: silicone on silicone always requires a release agent, polyurethane in a silicone mould usually does not, and with plaster or concrete a release agent mainly helps your mould last longer. Adhesion promoters and primers do the opposite: they make silicone stick to substrates it would normally slide off.

Dyes and pigments

With colour pastes, pigments and metallic powders you can give casting resins and silicones any colour you like. Check compatibility: a dye for epoxy is not automatically suitable for platinum silicone. Each product page states which material the dye is intended for and what dosage to use.

Tools and machines

Accurate weighing, thorough mixing and bubble-free pouring: a casting stands or falls by these. Here you will find precision scales, mixing cups, stirring spatulas, brushes, vacuum pumps and pressure pots, as well as mould boxes, silicone mats and aids for building moulds. If you cast regularly, a vacuum degassing chamber quickly pays for itself: no more air bubbles in clear epoxy or in a highly detailed silicone mould.

Fibres, fabrics and core materials

Laminates and support moulds (mother moulds) need reinforcement. Glass fibre mat, glass fabric, carbon fabric and core materials make a thin layer of resin strong and rigid. A silicone mould with a support mould of glass-fibre-reinforced epoxy or plaster keeps its shape, even with large castings.

Safety and personal protective equipment (PPE)

This is the part that is skipped far too often. Uncured epoxy and polyurethane are sensitising: once you develop an allergy, you will never get rid of it. Isocyanates in PU foam and some aerosol release agents do not belong in your lungs. That is why nitrile gloves, safety glasses and a half mask with the right filters (A2 for organic vapours, P3 for dust from plaster and fillers) are not a luxury but basic equipment. Work in a ventilated area, read the safety data sheet (SDS) on the product page and protect your skin, eyes and breathing. Silicones are much friendlier to work with, but the same applies: wear gloves and do not eat or drink at your workplace.

Need advice?

Not sure which release agent suits your combination of materials, or which mask you need for a particular product? Our team works with these materials every day and is happy to help. Call, email or use the selection guide on the product pages.