Previous in Forum: I Almost Cried at the Hardware Store   Next in Forum: First Known Gene Transfer from Plant to Insect Identified
Close

Comments Format:






Change Mode
Close

Subscribe to Discussion:

CR4 allows you to "subscribe" to a discussion
so that you can be notified of new comments to
the discussion via email.

Close

Rating Vote:







Add Vote
9 comments
Rating: Comments: Nested
BruceFlorida
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1656
Good Answers: 142

Easy to Remove Mold Release Agent

03/25/2021 9:50 AM

I will cast with Smooth-on Ecoflex 00-35 Fast Platinum silicon rubber compound using a home made mold and I need to have the item release from the mold and be easy to clean. Due to this task coming up quickly and limited materials being on hand I will use machined PVC as my initial mold. A follow-on step will require adhesion to the silicon rubber so I need it to be clean. It does not need to be "NASA clean" or "food safe clean" but it does need to be pretty clean.

There are several mold release agents available on Amazon and Google will return many more. In my search last night I didn't come across "water clean up" or "easy to clean" for any of them. Does anyone have any suggestions for either a slippery coating that is permanent or a mold release agent that is easy to clean off (water or alcohol)?

As a follow-up, PVC is probably not the ideal material. Polypropylene and UHMW are difficult to machine. Right now my mold material wish list has Teflon at the top followed by HDPE, delrin and ABS. Any suggestions for the mold material for version 2 of the mold?

Thank you,

Bruce

__________________
 Few things limit our potential as much as knowing answers and setting aside questions.
Register to Reply
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

Comments rated to be Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive ratings to make them "good answers".

Comments rated to be "almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, rate them!
2
SolarEagle
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: by the beach in Florida
Posts: 33031
Good Answers: 1798
#1

Re: easy to remove mold release agent

03/25/2021 10:40 AM

__________________
 All living things seek to control their own destiny....this is the purpose of life
Register to Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Go to Next Good Answer
BruceFlorida
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1656
Good Answers: 142
#2
In reply to #1

Re: easy to remove mold release agent

03/25/2021 12:27 PM

Great video. It looks like I might not need a mold release this weekend. I'll probably get the other compound from the video and repeat their procedure tailored for my task.

Thank you SE

__________________
 Few things limit our potential as much as knowing answers and setting aside questions.
Register to Reply
SolarEagle
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: by the beach in Florida
Posts: 33031
Good Answers: 1798
#3
In reply to #2

Re: easy to remove mold release agent

03/25/2021 1:36 PM

10-4...

__________________
 All living things seek to control their own destiny....this is the purpose of life
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Go to Next "Almost" Good Answer
BruceFlorida
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1656
Good Answers: 142
#4
In reply to #3

Re: easy to remove mold release agent

03/25/2021 8:53 PM

Good idea too. Thanks.

__________________
 Few things limit our potential as much as knowing answers and setting aside questions.
Register to Reply
Nigh
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Old New Member

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: South east U.K.
Posts: 3641
Good Answers: 93
#5

Re: easy to remove mold release agent

03/26/2021 5:04 AM

There's always that water based lubricant they sell alongside the condoms for some reason.

__________________
 I didn't have a really important life, but at least it's been funny (Lemmy Kilminster 1945-2015)
Register to Reply
BruceFlorida
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1656
Good Answers: 142
#6
In reply to #5

Re: easy to remove mold release agent

03/26/2021 12:53 PM

Functionally that seems like a good idea but when HR walks into the lab it might cause problems.

  • Have drafting add it to the drawing ...
  • Put it on the official Bill of Materials ...
  • Ask procurement to keep a supply in the stock room ...
__________________
 Few things limit our potential as much as knowing answers and setting aside questions.
Register to Reply
2
Just an Engineer
Guru
Australia - Member - New Member

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 2158
Good Answers: 253
#7

Re: Easy to Remove Mold Release Agent

03/29/2021 8:35 AM

I worked with injection moulding for some years. While the propriety release agents were good, examining the MSDS for one identified it to be simply "vegetable oil". Essentially it was kitchen cooking spray canola oil, available from most supermarkets, food grade and simply removed with soapy water.

Often only needed to spray every tenth shot or so in silicone moulds.

Depending on the mould cavity shape, you might use "cling wrap" to line the mould and then peel it away once removed from the mould, or locally lined where you need the later adhesion.

__________________
 Just an Engineer from the land down under.
Register to Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
No more Good Answers. Go to first "Almost" Good Answer
Jpfalt
Guru

Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1746
Good Answers: 87
#8

Re: Easy to Remove Mold Release Agent

03/29/2021 11:53 AM

I've use Murphy's Oil Soap as a release for silicon rubber.
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
No more "Almost" Good Answers.
BruceFlorida
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1656
Good Answers: 142
#9
In reply to #8

Re: Easy to Remove Mold Release Agent

03/30/2021 9:11 PM

I think I heard that years ago and forgot about it. Thank you.

__________________
 Few things limit our potential as much as knowing answers and setting aside questions.
Register to Reply
Register to Reply 9 comments
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

Comments rated to be Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive ratings to make them "good answers".

Comments rated to be "almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, rate them!
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

BruceFlorida (4); Jpfalt (1); Just an Engineer (1); Nigh (1); SolarEagle (2)

Previous in Forum: I Almost Cried at the Hardware Store   Next in Forum: First Known Gene Transfer from Plant to Insect Identified

Advertisement

Got Something to Say?
Ask a Question
Start a Discussion

Search this Forum
General Discussion:
Go

CR4 Sections
Aerospace
BioMech & BioMed
Chemical & Material Science
Civil Engineering
Communications & Electronics
Education and Engineering Careers
Electrical Engineering
General Discussion
Instrumentation
Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
New Technologies & Research
Software & Programming
Sustainable Engineering
Transportation

Site Directories
Forum Directory
Blog Directory
User Group Directory
RSS Feeds

CR4 Rules of Conduct
CR4 FAQ
Site Glossary

Who's Online (60 right now)
Show Members
Advertisement