When it comes to crafting with silicone moulds, choosing the right modelling material is crucial to the success of your project. Resin and air dry clay are two popular choices, each with their own benefits and disadvantages. But how to choose which one to use?
What's good about Resin?
The first thing to remember is that you must use the correct resin with your silicone moulds. You need casting resin - this is not the same as pouring resin.
Casting resin - we use Amazing Casting Resin - is so quick and easy to use - the time from mixing and pouring to curing is about 15 minutes! There is no need to dust the moulds with cornflour first before pouring as the castings pop out without any fuss. If they are removed immediately after they have cured, the castings will still be warm and flexible and can be manipulated to fit curved surfaces. The castings produced are highly detailed and extremely durable. Cured resin castings can be painted with acrylics or chalk paints. Some casting resins are clear and can be coloured with pigments and dyes or embedded with decorations such as glitter or coloured stones. Alternatively your mould can be dusted with pigments or mica powders before pouring to add colour to your castings.
Castings produced using resin are highly detailed
What's not so good about Resin?
When you're using casting resin you need to make sure that you're accurate with your quantities - read the instructions carefully before you start. Always wear protective gloves to ensure that the resin doesn't get onto your skin, work in a well ventilated area and wear a mask to prevent you breathing in fumes. Resin can be very messy so protect the area where you're working too so that spills can be easily cleaned up. You will need to mix and pour your resin carefully to avoid air bubbles that could spoil the quality and detailing of your castings.
What's good about Air Dry Clay?
Air dry clay is super easy to use and is, generally, inexpensive to buy. It's extremely malleable and is simply pressed into the silicone mould. Because it is non toxic, air dry clay doesn't require you to take any safety precautions - like masks or gloves - so is especially good for beginners and children. Air dry clay is the perfect choice for anyone wanting to achieve a more vintage look on their projects - the detailing on the castings is often not quite as sharp as with resin and any cracks that may appear in the clay help to add age. Using clay castings on curved surfaces is very easy to do as the clay can be manipulated to fit. The castings can be painted with chalk and acrylic paints.
Using clay castings on curved surfaces is very easy
What's not so good about Air Dry Clay?
Whilst clay can capture the details of your mould, it doesn't replicate intricate designs as sharply as resin. This isn't a problem for a vintage look but might not be suitable for a project with a modern feel. Castings made from clay can sometimes be fragile and can break if dropped so extra care should be taken when the clay casting has dried. Clay can be difficult to remove from silicone moulds so the moulds need to be dusted with cornflour before the clay is pressed into them. Air dry clay needs to be kept in an air tight sealed container or bag to ensure that it doesn't dry out. We always keep our clay in its original packaging and then pop it into a plastic bag along with a piece of damp kitchen roll to keep the clay tip top ready for its next use.
So which medium should you use - casting resin or air dry clay? This really depends on the project that you're creating and its requirements. Is it a vintage look project? Is it more modern? How much time do you have? Can you wait for your castings to dry or do you need them asap? How durable do your castings need to be and how detailed? Ask yourself these questions and you'll be able to determine which one is right for you!
You'll be pleased to hear that both resin and air dry clay work beautifully with our gorgeous Iron Orchid Designs moulds!!