Holy hell! That textured liner in a round mold box method solves my problem! I'm making a candle holder that is similar to a jar with slotted lines running vertically and I was going to go for a more complicated mold but that is a great alternative! Thank you!
I hope this channel will live forever :D I really appreciate insights you give, and your photos were hilarious 😅 I don't want to dictate what should your line of content be, but personally I appreciate when you comment and prise the work of masters, hence I'd love to see your opinion on work of someone like Adam Savage in area of your expertise.
Live forever... too funny. I have long term plans, so stay tuned! Those old photos... just a scratch on the surface. I have so many from days gone by... will work them into future reaction videos. There is a long video coming up about bronze casting in 1922. Many of my pictures woven into that story if you can afford the time to watch the entire roll. I watched some of Adam's videos today. He is a highly skilled maker. I don't know that I would have anything relevant to say about his projects. He is a prop maker and I never got into things with the film industry other than remaking the Oscar. If you have a specific video of his in mind, shoot me the link. I did see some videos of him answering questions about people inquiring business advice etc. This is where he and I will likely have some good cross over as that is what my mold making videos are leading up to. I want to see makers profiting from their efficient use of time rather than stumbling on technical issues. Please stay connected! Cheers, Michael
"Amazon?" 😂 That was the exact reaction I had expected! 😆 I seldom hear Amazon silicones being discussed. Believe it or not, I've had fairly good luck with the platinum cure silicones sold on Amazon. The selection is very minimal - usually 20A or 30A, with some 6A options. Most are 5 hour cure times. Really basic stuff. Some are absolutely unresponsive to typical thixotropics, which makes for a frustrating discovery, haha! However, for low resolution block molds, it is actually my go-to. At $65 a gallon, it's a fraction of the price of name brand. On a budget as tight as mine, that can be the difference between being able to make a mold or not. Despite everything, it is silicone, it does cure, and you can make some molds with it. I'm otherwise a Polytek loyalist. Certain silicones of theirs have specifically desirable properties that simply cannot be substituted. A catalog that diverse would never be sustainable in a large volume retailer such as Amazon. I'm hopeful the low-quality, low-cost silicone will inspire more moldmakers, which will actually expand the potential customers for specialty products... maybe that's just wishful thinking. I have to agree that the first time you make a mold, it really does seem magical. It's a moment cheap silicones can provide those who otherwise wouldn't even have considered trying it in the first place. Ideally, they'll graduate to more serious companies such as Polytek and Smooth-On when it comes time for reliable, higher quality products. Love seeing and hearing your comments while reminiscing about past messes and setbacks. It gives me a little bit of hope that in my own small, messy studio, I might still be headed in the right direction. Great stuff, as always.
Good feedback. I never purchased mold making materials from amazon...largely because it was not a resource when I was getting started. I would have to say that buying materials was difficult as a beginner, but more difficult to feel confident in which materials to SELECT to buy. The way materials are packaged and described to the novice buyer is completely overwhelming. How does a beginner know what is the best material for them? Even the videos about material selection become too complex as they try to explain too much in one setting. I think it would be best to have a material called ' Pourable Soft Silicone For Beginner Mold Making' or Silicone For Soap Makers' etc etc. I agree the cost of entry into mold making is steep... especially since it is often surrounded by failure. My hope is to eventually have a collection of videos that will help people minimize failure so they do not give up due to cost or frustration. I have never worked with the low cost 'Chinese?' materials as our output has to be backed with some testable science (food contact safe). I would have loved to learn mold making with low cost materials, but my molds were always made for others... so I was on the hook for durability and quality. However, molds for my personal art could have been less costly. I always reduced cost by adding thinners and regrind (recycled silicone). Yes, Polytek has my keen attention too. They have backed me up many times. Smooth on markets better to artists, but their service has left me swinging in the wind many times over the years. Thanks for tuning in! Michael
Awesome video, thanks for your lessons. Could you also make videos explaining the correct way of doing things? For example, the "textured liner of silicone" you described in the video because there is a lot of new things I hear you comment, but don't actually know how to do. Greeting from a mold making enthusiast from Guatemala
Hola Guatemala! Yes, we have some videos coming out that are instructional. However, we have to increase our subscriber base in order to make it sustainable. In the meantime, I do have a video reacting to another mold maker making a 'liner' mold. It will give some insights on what I was referencing in this cement table video. I will do my best to get it posted in the coming weeks. Thank you for watching! Michael
Aside from not needing the release, petroleum based releases hold air bubbles against the form. Almost none of these DIY videos talk about the dangers of microcrystalline silica exposure to your eyes. I know a fella that's been doing precast for decades and now has to have his eyes "scraped" due to the scar tissue that develops.
Oh shite... if you could see all the 55 gallon drums of chunkies we used to have before we started dispensing silicone via machinery. So much unintended waste! All good now. I wish there had been a chunkie market for sharing the old material! Cheers, Michael
I took a quick look at their channel. Fun stuff... not sure a 1.5M sub channel wants to mingle with a 1.5K channel?? I will do a reaction video of one of theirs. We will see how it goes! Thank you for the suggestion. Cheers, Michael
These react videos are great!! Here are some channels I follow that have helped along my newbie journey. You might find them interesting to react to. Robert Tolone, VanTiki Studio, TheCraftsMan Steady Craftin, Simulation Tek and Brick In The Yard.
Thank you for sharing these channels. I am aware of all except Simulation Tek and will take a look this evening. I have Tolone and Brick in the yard already scheduled... just a couple vids. The crafsman is great... his style makes me smile and he has lots of good tricks for molding small stuff. VanTiki has lots of good stuff too but the filming style is hard for me to watch with the frantic close up energy. I will try to power through it because it is just my own sensitivities and he really does have some vids that are worth a deeper dive for sure. Can you help me by pointing to a specific tiki film you would like to dive into? Thanks for tuning in! Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV This is so cool, as someone who has stared into negative space for hours trying to wrap my head around mold making, all those channels have helped me along my journey. What you are doing here with the reactions is awesome. This VanTiki video of making molds of molds was very helpful for me: th-cam.com/video/12UahLu-NYw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=AehuV3UFIeNQyXC1
Reaction video that is actual transformative content with good edits, funny commentary that is interesting and educational in the matter of host's expertise? I guess it would be anti-me practise not to subscribe 💪
Holy hell! That textured liner in a round mold box method solves my problem! I'm making a candle holder that is similar to a jar with slotted lines running vertically and I was going to go for a more complicated mold but that is a great alternative! Thank you!
watch this 3.09 marker. ignore baking part. th-cam.com/video/FXZXtvIwa6Y/w-d-xo.html
put a couple wraps of wax paper (scotch taped) behind your silicone liner or else it will be trouble removing
I hope this channel will live forever :D
I really appreciate insights you give, and your photos were hilarious 😅
I don't want to dictate what should your line of content be, but personally I appreciate when you comment and prise the work of masters, hence I'd love to see your opinion on work of someone like Adam Savage in area of your expertise.
Live forever... too funny. I have long term plans, so stay tuned! Those old photos... just a scratch on the surface. I have so many from days gone by... will work them into future reaction videos. There is a long video coming up about bronze casting in 1922. Many of my pictures woven into that story if you can afford the time to watch the entire roll.
I watched some of Adam's videos today. He is a highly skilled maker. I don't know that I would have anything relevant to say about his projects. He is a prop maker and I never got into things with the film industry other than remaking the Oscar. If you have a specific video of his in mind, shoot me the link.
I did see some videos of him answering questions about people inquiring business advice etc. This is where he and I will likely have some good cross over as that is what my mold making videos are leading up to. I want to see makers profiting from their efficient use of time rather than stumbling on technical issues.
Please stay connected! Cheers, Michael
@ Thank you for your reply! For sure I will stay awhile and listen :)
"Amazon?" 😂
That was the exact reaction I had expected! 😆
I seldom hear Amazon silicones being discussed. Believe it or not, I've had fairly good luck with the platinum cure silicones sold on Amazon. The selection is very minimal - usually 20A or 30A, with some 6A options. Most are 5 hour cure times. Really basic stuff. Some are absolutely unresponsive to typical thixotropics, which makes for a frustrating discovery, haha! However, for low resolution block molds, it is actually my go-to. At $65 a gallon, it's a fraction of the price of name brand. On a budget as tight as mine, that can be the difference between being able to make a mold or not. Despite everything, it is silicone, it does cure, and you can make some molds with it.
I'm otherwise a Polytek loyalist. Certain silicones of theirs have specifically desirable properties that simply cannot be substituted. A catalog that diverse would never be sustainable in a large volume retailer such as Amazon. I'm hopeful the low-quality, low-cost silicone will inspire more moldmakers, which will actually expand the potential customers for specialty products... maybe that's just wishful thinking. I have to agree that the first time you make a mold, it really does seem magical. It's a moment cheap silicones can provide those who otherwise wouldn't even have considered trying it in the first place. Ideally, they'll graduate to more serious companies such as Polytek and Smooth-On when it comes time for reliable, higher quality products.
Love seeing and hearing your comments while reminiscing about past messes and setbacks. It gives me a little bit of hope that in my own small, messy studio, I might still be headed in the right direction. Great stuff, as always.
Good feedback. I never purchased mold making materials from amazon...largely because it was not a resource when I was getting started. I would have to say that buying materials was difficult as a beginner, but more difficult to feel confident in which materials to SELECT to buy. The way materials are packaged and described to the novice buyer is completely overwhelming.
How does a beginner know what is the best material for them? Even the videos about material selection become too complex as they try to explain too much in one setting. I think it would be best to have a material called ' Pourable Soft Silicone For Beginner Mold Making' or Silicone For Soap Makers' etc etc.
I agree the cost of entry into mold making is steep... especially since it is often surrounded by failure. My hope is to eventually have a collection of videos that will help people minimize failure so they do not give up due to cost or frustration.
I have never worked with the low cost 'Chinese?' materials as our output has to be backed with some testable science (food contact safe).
I would have loved to learn mold making with low cost materials, but my molds were always made for others... so I was on the hook for durability and quality. However, molds for my personal art could have been less costly. I always reduced cost by adding thinners and regrind (recycled silicone).
Yes, Polytek has my keen attention too. They have backed me up many times. Smooth on markets better to artists, but their service has left me swinging in the wind many times over the years.
Thanks for tuning in! Michael
Awesome video, thanks for your lessons. Could you also make videos explaining the correct way of doing things? For example, the "textured liner of silicone" you described in the video because there is a lot of new things I hear you comment, but don't actually know how to do. Greeting from a mold making enthusiast from Guatemala
Hola Guatemala!
Yes, we have some videos coming out that are instructional. However, we have to increase our subscriber base in order to make it sustainable. In the meantime, I do have a video reacting to another mold maker making a 'liner' mold. It will give some insights on what I was referencing in this cement table video.
I will do my best to get it posted in the coming weeks.
Thank you for watching! Michael
watch this 3.09 marker. ignore baking part. th-cam.com/video/FXZXtvIwa6Y/w-d-xo.html
Aside from not needing the release, petroleum based releases hold air bubbles against the form. Almost none of these DIY videos talk about the dangers of microcrystalline silica exposure to your eyes. I know a fella that's been doing precast for decades and now has to have his eyes "scraped" due to the scar tissue that develops.
Really fun to watch .. too bad he didn’t have access to Mike about how to design the mold to use the silicone efficiently!
Too bad young Mike didn't have access old Mike when learning molds!
Gotta get time travel thing figured out! Ha.
Thank you! I saw this and had some thoughts (amateur here)😮
As Robert Tolone would say, he has a lifetime supply of chunkies :P
Oh shite... if you could see all the 55 gallon drums of chunkies we used to have before we started dispensing silicone via machinery. So much unintended waste! All good now. I wish there had been a chunkie market for sharing the old material! Cheers, Michael
You should check out Evan and Katelyn. They have a bunch of things to react to and probably would love to collab
I took a quick look at their channel. Fun stuff... not sure a 1.5M sub channel wants to mingle with a 1.5K channel?? I will do a reaction video of one of theirs. We will see how it goes! Thank you for the suggestion. Cheers, Michael
These react videos are great!! Here are some channels I follow that have helped along my newbie journey. You might find them interesting to react to. Robert Tolone, VanTiki Studio, TheCraftsMan Steady Craftin, Simulation Tek and Brick In The Yard.
Thank you for sharing these channels. I am aware of all except Simulation Tek and will take a look this evening. I have Tolone and Brick in the yard already scheduled... just a couple vids. The crafsman is great... his style makes me smile and he has lots of good tricks for molding small stuff. VanTiki has lots of good stuff too but the filming style is hard for me to watch with the frantic close up energy. I will try to power through it because it is just my own sensitivities and he really does have some vids that are worth a deeper dive for sure. Can you help me by pointing to a specific tiki film you would like to dive into?
Thanks for tuning in! Michael
@@ShapeShifters-TV This is so cool, as someone who has stared into negative space for hours trying to wrap my head around mold making, all those channels have helped me along my journey. What you are doing here with the reactions is awesome. This VanTiki video of making molds of molds was very helpful for me: th-cam.com/video/12UahLu-NYw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=AehuV3UFIeNQyXC1
Reaction video that is actual transformative content with good edits, funny commentary that is interesting and educational in the matter of host's expertise?
I guess it would be anti-me practise not to subscribe 💪
Kind words... thank you.
We will do our best to stay relevant in the maker community. Please stay connected, Michael
That's his kid
@@pauldigs All good. Future maker in the house!