Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Silicone Plastique® and CopyFlex™ Liquid comply with the regulations set forth by the Food and Drug Administration in FDA 21 CFR 177.2600. In addition, these materials have been subjected to extraction testing performed by an independent laboratory that specifically certifies their suitability for use with water based foods and also foods that contain fat.

Yes, our silicone mold making rubbers are high quality, platinum cured silicone that works very well with plaster, wax, polymer and precious metal clay, sculpting and potters clay, plastic casting resin, cement, melt & pour and lye soaps, low melt metals, hot glue, paper mache and many more materials too numerous to mention here. If you make a mold for non-food purposes, DO NOT use the same mold with food. Molds made for food should only be used for that purpose and not used interchangeably with non-food materials.

Yes, we ship our products all over the world and typically use the postal service to deliver to our international customers.

When you order our silicone mold making materials, you will receive your order separated in two parts, a catalyst and a base. Silicone Plastique® and CopyFlex™ Liquid have a 1:1 mix ratio meaning that your one pound order will arrive as 8 oz. of catalyst and 8 oz. of base. This same ratio applies to any amount of product you order in which on half of the total amount will be in the form of a catalyst and the other half in the form of the base.

1 pound of Silicone Plastique® equals 9 fluid ounces = 11/8 cups = about ½ pint.
1 pound of Silicone Plastique® equals 270 ml. = .27 liters
1 pound of Silicone Plastique® will cover an area 8” x 8” x ¼” thick.

1 pound of CopyFlex™ equals 121/2 fluid ounces = 11/2 cups = about ¾ pint.
1 pound of CopyFlex™ equals 370 ml. = .37 liters
1 pound of CopyFlex™ will cover an area 91/2” x 91/2” x ¼” thick

All of our silicone mold making materials have a one year shelf life from date of purchase. You should use the silicone within this time frame. As silicone ages the catalyst loses its reactivity and eventually will not have the ability to perform the chemical reactions necessary to convert the combined parts into a usable rubber.

Yes, sulfur is the most prominent substance that will inhibit the cure of Food Grade Silicone. Sulfur can be found in natural rubber, water based and oil based clays that are not marked “sulfur free”, and latex gloves. Other materials to avoid are any that contain amines, rubber cement, many adhesives, and certain forms of vinyl and caulk. This applies during the mold making process when the silicone progresses through the curing stage. Once a silicone mold is fully cured, it is completely unaffected by these materials and can be used without concern in the casting process. When in doubt, we strongly recommend that you take a small amount of our food grade mold making silicone and apply it to a part or sample of the object to be molded. If there is an incompatibility, the silicone will remain uncured where it was in contact with the object.

Solvents for silicone mold making materials are toluene and xylene which are toxic. If you are using our mold making materials for a non-food application and are familiar with solvents that contain these chemicals then use them with all the precautions necessary. If you are using our products for food molds, do not use these harmful chemicals for clean up. Instead, wipe surfaces repeatedly with a soft cloth or paper towel until an extremely thin, almost imperceptible film remains and then finish with rubbing alcohol or a degreasing cleaning agent and then rinse with water. For brushes, simply press the material out of the bristles with a soft cloth or tissue and then finish with rubbing alcohol or degreasing cleaning agent and a rinse with water.

No, once the base and catalyst have been combined and have cured to a rubber state, its structure is permanent and cannot be dissolved or melted to make different molds. You should consider your molds made with silicone as permanent.

This is a very hard question to answer. There are many factors that must be considered that contribute to the wear and tear on a mold. How thick or thin is the mold? What is the mold being used for? How large is the mold? Has the mold been stored properly? How often is the mold used? In general, you should consider a mold made with our materials as commercial in grade with a toughness that insures long mold life and dependability.

First, you should clean the molds before storing them. Molds should be stored lying flat either wrapped or in food storage containers. Molds should not be stored underneath other objects or weighted down in a way that forces the mold into an artificial configuration that can warp the mold and change its natural shape.

Molds made with our silicone mold making compounds can be washed with hot, soapy water. They can also be put in the dishwasher or even boiled. Do not wash mold with abrasive pads or cleaning agents like Ajax cleanser.

Silicone Plastique® and CopyFlex™ Liquid can withstand temperatures as high as 450 degrees F. They are also unaffected and remain pliable when placed in the freezer.

Yes, to decrease the cure time, gently warm the catalyst and base materials in a warm oven before combining them. This speeds up the chemical reaction lessening the time required to cure the silicone. Do not exceed 100 degrees F. Or, apply heat from a warming lamp or hair dryer after silicone mold making material has been applied. Be careful not to apply too much heat which can make certain objects outgas into the silicone causing bubbles. To increase cure time, refrigerate the catalyst and base before combining them. This will slow down the chemical reaction giving more time to work with and place the mold making material over an object.

No, there is no temperature change when our silicone mold making compounds cure. The chemical reaction that takes place is not dangerous and does not emit any toxic gas like other mold making materials that require the use of protective breathing masks.

No, the extremes in temperature during shipping will not affect the quality of our mold making compounds. It is always a good idea to allow our products to cool or warm to room temperature before use since an increase or decrease in temperature affects the cure time. Our mold making products are not flammable and are extremely stable. They do not require special shipping considerations.