Tutorial: Prepping your PLA molds for casting: the easy cheap way!
Added 2023-10-15 18:35:55 +0000 UTCHey everyone! I see a lot of experienced makers recommending methods for mold casting that are... to put it simply... intense. I personally use a much easier and cheaper method that I feel is a bit more accessible. It took us a while to come to this method so I wanted to share it here. I hope it helps!!
All you need is wax (we use this here but whatever kind is fine!) , a microwave safe bowl, any sandpaper, and your mold! You'll also need a mold releasing agent of some kind. We use cleaner car wax!
1. Heat candle wax in microwave on high for 2m 30s, stir, then another 2m 30s then stir again (repeat until fully melted).
2. Pour a little melted wax onto areas where PLA filament is pourous. Pourous areas in the PLA mold will trap expanding foam & make it difficult to release from the mold if not filled with wax.
3. Sand uneven excess areas of wax until smooth or enough that it doesn't deviate too much from original mould design
4. Use a type of mould release, in this case, liquid car wax (preferably meguiars brand), evenly spread out inside the mould and also on the outsides of the mold where potential spillover may occur.
Make sure to spread a thin layer. Then make sure you have the correct temperature and humidity and pour your foam! We prefer this car wax because it seems to make it easier for glue to stick.
I hope this helps <3
