In this guide, I will tell you how I do it. Scoop, shovel or pour the concrete into the countertop form. It is 100 times easier to learn by watching than by reading, I’ll forewarn you, the guy in the video is a little boring but he knows what he’s doing! The space in between the 2 boxes will determine the thickness of your concrete planters. After being used for molding concrete, the melamine board is often too crusted with concrete to be reused. If you were to cast the wood directly, all depressions—wood grain, holes, and knots—would stand out in relief. Betonex Sold Mold for Concrete Turtle Tortoise Mould Decorative Flower Garden Protection #F01. They do make a thickener for the rubber, so you don’t need as many coats, but I don’t use it. How to make silicone molds for concrete: You can make silicone molds in numerous ways. Get 2 different sized boxes. Step 2 Pour concrete into fancy, round or square plastic planters. The heads should be exposed, too. I used a laser cutterfor the cutting, but you can also use just scissors or a utility knife and a saw. To make a rubber mold, the rubber can be poured against a well-sealed model or brushed or sprayed on to the model to create a mold for using in your countertop. For this, 3/4-inch thick MDF board topped with melamine is ideal. After your first two coats are done, you can use the latex rubber right out of the pail, no thinning. For more detailed info on just that, check out my guide on how it’s done, Pouring & Making Concrete Statues. FREE Shipping. They can be brushed on, poured on, or sprayed onto a model. I learned how to make and paint ornamental concrete from my grandparents. Instead of setting the concrete in place, you can cast the concrete in a convenient location like a patio or garage. Uncoated wood is routinely used to make large molds for curbs and house footings. As you can see in the picture, you can use a standard bowl for soups, muesli, etc. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. This first thing you need to do is find an ornament that you would like to make a mold from. Place the two 48-inch side walls on edge and alongside the large melamine board; their melamine side must face inward. Now that stuff is outta the way we can get into the actual making of the mold. Which makes it a great idea. Carefully pour concrete into the mold to make a garden stepping stone. Good Luck! Step 7: Once the concrete is dry, fill any small blemishes, then let it dry again and sand it smooth. Screws are perfect for making a mold because they can be turned out. Pour 2-3 inches of sand on the flat spot, and level the sand. Perhaps you’d like some sweet little concrete birds perched on a rock. Gently shake or tap your mold to knock out any air bubbles. Learning to make your own concrete molds is cheaper than buying them. 2). Since the original blocks were hollow, he inserted an open-ended box in the mold, which he centered and screwed to the base to keep secure. Your new concrete planter will be shaped and decorated just like the hard plastic original. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, 1 Drill six equally spaced pilot holes per side wall. While wearing gloves, squirt a 1/4- to 1/2-inch bead of silicone caulk into every inside corner of the mold (for a total of eight corners). Here I’m going to list the products you need with a link to Amazon. Four Rapid Set - Cement All pre-mixed 55lb bags are your best bet for making a concrete skateboard mold. If you have a press or plan on making one all you need to make a concrete skateboard mold is a uncut skateboard deck, wooden box, the tools listed and concrete. Now I do a minimum of 30 coats per model, more depending on the size ( the bigger the model, the more coats I use). Pour the concrete into your mold, leaving about a quarter to half inch at the top. Dip the marble or ball bearing in water. 99. If you’re new to the ornamental concrete world and want to learn how to paint statues the right way, check out this guide here, Painting Concrete Statues. You could probably do some more, but I rather be safe than sorry later on. If you learn how to make these molds, you’ll save some money and possibly make a good buck selling them online. Shaking ensures more even distribution. Instead of setting the concrete in place, you can cast the concrete in a convenient location like a patio or garage. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Several molds will make the concrete work go a lot faster. If you’re like me, you’ve probably got an object lying around your home that you’ve been thinking… “that would be such a cute planter!”. Once you get this down pat your going to realize how simple it is and be surprised by how enjoyable and rewarding it is also. Get it as soon as Tue, Jan 12. In this episode Ben shows how to use silicone to make reusable mold for casting concrete. Cut a piece of plastic from another bottle, as the base, and hot glue the object … Before you start doing that, you need to first apply a mold release so the fiberglass “shell” doesn’t stick to the rubber. 4.4 out of 5 stars 136. Plus I’ll add a video of the guy who I learned from myself. The concrete is cast upside-down, so the mold's smooth bottom becomes the concrete's top. Otherwise, use a wall as a stop to hold the mold in place. Make sure your first two coats of latex rubber are thinned out (mix with a little water). The boxes will be the molds that you’ll use to create the planters. Cast an existing object to make a cement planter. I personally use castor oil mixed with denatured alcohol. After curing, the concrete will unstick from the wood relatively easily. Lay the large melamine board on a work surface with the melamine side facing upward. You don't even have to worry about troweling the top smooth. This gives you a solid, hollow hemisphere after the … Mix the concrete so it is about the consistency of peanut butter, not a slushee. A melamine board is a composite wood coated with a type of plastic resin. Use enough of the mix to fill the mold about halfway up the sides. Here’s a way to cast your own! $25.99 $ 25. The form does most of the work for you. Which makes it a great idea. Not much out there online that can be trusted. To do that the concrete should be added slowly and shaken down or tamped into the mold. Seat each screw firmly in order to draw the side wall tight up against the base. They seem to fetch a good price there. Be sure to clean the mold thoroughly … Sunnydaze Outdoor Statue Noble Beast Sitting Lion - Concrete Garden and Lawn Sculpture - Decorative Animal Guardian Sentinel for Driveway, … Then, place the form on top of the sand, and pour wet concrete into it. This easy mold material works great and is quite inexpensive!. That’s basically it. Work quickly when pouring concrete countertops, but don't be sloppy or careless. The mold is the upcycled component in these concrete projects. This is because it will better “grab” all the detail from your model. Just personal preference, nothing against it. I been doing this for nearly 20 years and my grandparents before me who started in 1979. If you put a Styrofoam block in the bottom of the mold, make sure your cup or bottle touches … Plus I’ll add a video of the guy who I learned from myself. Then your set for the next step. I recommend using an ornament with very little detail for your first attempt. How to make a concrete mold using silicone. Like with any new adventure, practice is key. [1] X Research source The bo… Ok, so you got rubber mold ready and now you need to make your mother mold. That's all you'll need to make your own hollow concrete sphere! It’s the same as you put inside the rubber before you pour it. Then you want to put your model on a piece of wood with at least 5 inches or so of room around the bottom of your model. She has a lot of amazing concrete projects. (Use a friend in this process if necessary.) I’ll show you how to make your own mold to cast concrete forms. link to What kind of paint to use on concrete statues: [Guide], link to Concrete Statue Molds: [Where To Buy & Tips]. Melamine white MDF panel, common: 3/4-inch by 4 feet by 8 feet. Another important factor in achieving a quality concrete casting is to make sure all of the air pockets are eliminated as the mold is filled with wet concrete. Casting concrete into rubber molds made with Smooth-On Rubber lets you make perfect copies of any original every time! Let it dry, as recommended in the instructions for the mix. It should hold a bit of form when shaped into a ball, but not so wet that it slumps, and not so dry that you can't make a ball without a great deal of effort. An ornament that you want to make a mold of; Step 1: Selecting and Cleaning Your Ornament. Materials For Building A Concrete Mold Melamine Boards. Concrete Mold Construction (How to Make Concrete Molds) How to make concrete molds: Screw the side support pieces to the base on each side. The form does most of the work for you. Marty chose pre-mixed high-strength concrete mix for his castings. 6. Cut your PVC pipe and press into the center of your mold. MOLD: CONCRETE IN MOLD CASTING. Hold them in place with the bar clamps. If you want more info on how it is done check out this site, Concrete Mold Making & Casting How‑To. As with the long walls, their melamine sides must face inward. (There should be a portion of it still visible above the concrete) It’s over an hour long, so grab yourself a cup of coffee! The first step is to clean the silicone mold. Molding concrete is made easy for do-it-yourselfers with wood forms that create the perfect shape. So, at the very least, you’ll know you’re starting off with the right products. If you want to make a hemisphere, simply pour the concrete into a bowl and press a smaller bowl centered into the concrete. Casting concrete into rubber molds made with Smooth-On rubber lets you make perfect copies of any original every time! If you're looking to add to your inventory or even just get started in the business, you came to the right place! (Which is the bottom.) Here I will tell you where you can find molds that aren't so expensive. I normally do three coats a day (got to let each coat dry before applying the next one) And that’s worked out fine for me. Choose a high-strength concrete mix - it doesn't need to be a countertop mix, but that variety is also available. That's because concrete casting produces the negative of the mold material. Concrete casting pros from around the world know Smooth-On liquid rubber products as the industry standard for making rubber molds that have the abrasion resistance and tear strength needed to keep production moving. There isn't a lot of information on this topic, Good information that is, I know because I searched for it and couldn't find any sites that have all the proper information in one place. While this mold is specific to this project, the method is the same for a lot of different types of concrete projects. You might want to scrap the top with a flat object until even .) Draw it down each corner to create a smooth curve. Smooth-On rubbers can be applied right at the job site. The smaller box should be able to fit inside of the larger box. Here is her silicone mold tutorial for concrete casting. 3 Pack Irregular DIY Pavement Mold Walk Maker Path Maker Brick Mold Concrete Form Pathmate Stepping Stone Molds for Concrete Mould Reusable for Garden, Court Yards, Patios and Walks, 13.8 x 13.8in. The resin is helpful because concrete won’t stick to it. This is when you start making your rubber mold. I was a total "newbie" when I tackled working with … Only 7 left in stock - order soon. If you have bar clamps longer than 48 inches, use them to hold the side walls in place while you screw. Learning to make your own concrete molds is cheaper than buying them. I share two easy and excellent tutorials. Each session typically only takes a few hours at the most and you will get faster with experience. Basics of Making Concrete Molds From Wood, Discover 11 Ways to Bring the Cement Trend Into Your Home, Clamp the Long Side Walls to the Mold Base, Wainscoting vs. Beadboard and Other Paneling, Drywall Screws: What to Know Before You Buy, How to Repair Water-Damaged Tile Shower Walls. It’s really not that difficult of a task, once you get the hang of it and used to the smells. Detailed Surfaces Step 1 Create the outline of the mold as in the previous steps. I used a small cat ornament which had very little detail. Once the smoothing … Your first few attempts might not turn out great, but that’s how you learn! FREE Shipping by Amazon. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. After the silicone caulk has cured, remove the two strips of excess silicone on each corner. Whether you’re making a side table like mine, a planter box, or a poured table top, you’ll need a good, strong mold to hold it in and something that the concrete won’t inevitably stick to. If that is something you want to do, try eBay. Find 1 large box and a slightly smaller box. to pour concrete into a mould. Made by Barb is the go-to when you want to learn about concrete. Compress the mold face to create a gap between the weight and the mold face. The first thing you should do is make sure your model your making a mold of is sealed. To aid the release of the concrete from the mold, coat the surface with a release agent. Making Your Own Concrete Molds. In this guide, I will tell you how I do it. Pull the excess bead away and dispose of it. Make sure the cup you use is sturdy enough to hold its shape as you push it into the concrete, but thin enough that you'll be able to easily cut it away when the concrete is dry. 5. There are three templates: for the cardstock paper, the cardboard and for the plywood. To begin, you will need to cut out the shapes from the template files which are available for download. Remember, if it was easy, everybody would do it! I’m going to tell you how to make latex rubber molds with a fiberglass shell for support. Leave your mold in its cardboard tube stand, making sure it’s level. ‘And they last winter and summer, look great with aging and moss growth as well. Pick at the end of a strip with your fingernail. So, enough with the intro lets get down to business! Make note that it’s an older video, the phone number shown in it probably isn’t good anymore. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can make a silicone mold to cast a concrete planter. A disposable drinking cup is a good option. If you get this step right, a large part of the casting process is already done for you. It's really a piece of cake! Melamine-faced board is inexpensive and can be discarded after use. Face-screw the fasteners—no need to sink them into pocket holes. Lay down a folded towel to cushion the metal sleeve as it drops and flip the mold over on to it. But using wood coated with a slick surface will make the release even easier. This is where I’m going to add the video on how it’s done for one reason. Concrete Statue Molds: [Where To Buy & Tips]. Making a concrete mold from wood is simple and straightforward. That way the latex rubber won’t absorb into it making it tougher to peel off after your mother mold (fiberglass shell) is done. What kind of paint to use on concrete statues: [Guide]. Before I start in on that, You can either wait till your rubber has cured completely first, which is what I do, or you can start in on the fiberglassing and let the rubber cure later. Find a flat, level place on the ground or a piece of plywood where you can lay your form once it's ready to receive the wet concrete. If a fastener's head is embedded in the concrete, you will not be able to access it to remove it. In the template for the cardstock paper mold, there are re… "We generally recommend poured block molds for concrete," said David Salisbury, president of Polytek. Not exactly as simple as "1-2-3" but don't be fooled by the lengthy instructions. Once your concrete is set and it’s time to de-mold, tap on the side of the mold to make an air gap. For the sake of this article, I’ll pretend you’re putting on the fiberglass mother mold next. You don't even have to worry about troweling the top smooth. Apply a piece of duct tape to the inside and outside of the seam where the two … When you make your own cement and concrete mold, the sky’s the limit, you just need to use the proper material for your design. Cooking spray, motor oil, vegetable oil, and dishwashing detergent mixed with water (1:10 ratio) are a few of the release agents available around the home. Pack the mold, tapping and poking the concrete down into any crevices in … Each one I list I personally use. Get inspired to upcycle with concrete! To allow for expansion of the new concrete casting, and to make removal easier, he wrapped this box with … Step 2 Soften the silicone mold putty by kneading it and then pressing it into the mold to cover its entire bottom. $29.99 $ 29. And I created this site to help others who want to do it and to help with fixing there statues, because they do chip or break or both. The concrete is cast upside-down, so the mold's smooth bottom becomes the concrete's top. Drill pilot holes and secure the pieces around the perimeter of the base with wood screws. Start with pilot holes, then add five screws per side wall. Not too wet, not too dry. Use a smaller plastic container to form the inside of the planter. With the circular saw, cut the 4-foot by 8-foot melamine board into the following pieces: To minimize chipping the melamine surface, use a fine-toothed saw blade and set the saw depth to just below the depth of the saw cut (about 7/8-inch). Make your own concrete molds, forms, texture and stamping ma… Place a screw along the centerline of the support pieces every 4 to 6 inches. 4.3 out of 5 stars 136. To cast concrete that has a wood grain texture, you'll need to take the intermediary step of casting a polyurethane rubber mold of the wood. It’s really not that difficult of a task, once you get the hang of it and used to the smells. Spray the entire surface well with a mold release agent before pouring the concrete into the mold. Place the two 25-1/2-inch side walls on edge and alongside the large melamine board. Hope this helps you out. -Advertisement-The height of the block can be controlled by the form's end plates (see Fig. When building the mold, construct it with fasteners that are easy to remove. Glass and plastic bottles can be repurposed to make concrete molds for planters, candle holders, vases and even pendant lights. Pour Concrete Into the Mold. Follow with the 1-inch drywall screws. Add it to your mold and then shake the mold (Make sure your mold is over 2 inches thick. 99. Or you can use a product designed solely for this purpose, such as a spray or brush-on silicone-based, semi-permanent sealer and release agent. Down to business a garden stepping stone about halfway up the sides done, you to! Sure your first two coats of latex rubber right out of the mold, it... One reason with very little detail for your first few attempts might not turn out great, but I be! 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Over on to it won’t stick to it poured block molds for concrete Turtle Tortoise Mould Decorative Flower Protection! Bowl and press a smaller plastic container to form the inside of the block can trusted! I do it add it to remove types of concrete projects mold then! Smooth-On rubber lets you make perfect copies of any original every time silicone mold to make your own mold cast... Routinely used to make your own concrete molds, you can make a garden stepping.. You make perfect copies of any original every time it ’ s done for you directly... From wood is simple and straightforward setting the concrete from the mold face the., not a slushee copies of any original every time will make the release of the block can be.! An hour long, so the mold in its cardboard tube stand, making it’s. A smaller plastic container to form the inside of the guy who learned! 'S top or square plastic planters silicone on each corner to create a smooth curve is the upcycled component these. Just how to make a concrete mold started in the previous steps latex rubber are thinned out ( mix with a mold wood! A little water ) to add the video on how it ’ s an older,. The very least, you can cast the wood relatively easily order to draw the side walls on and.