Writing on liquid silicon molds

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi, I need help from any one who has faced a similar problem and
managed to solve this. I do a lot of liquid silicon molds, and the
problem, +there is no writing instrument whose ink stays permenanetly
on the silicon surface. Any suggestions, solutions ?

Regards,
KK

2

hat I’ve ended up doing is printing a small label and cutting a slit
with an exacto knife in the mold near the surface, large enough to
slide in the label which can be seen through the silicone.

3 
I need help from any one who has faced a similar problem and
managed to solve this. I do a lot of liquid silicon molds, and the
problem, +there is no writing instrument whose ink stays
permenanetly on the silicon surface. Any suggestions, solutions ?

Several. If you’re using the clear/transparent rubbers, you can
imbed a small printed paper label within the mold when you pour it.
Or, cut a slit into the rubber and insert such a label after making
the mold. Either way, you can read it through the rubber. If you’re
using opaque rubbers, then it gets a bit more complex. What I did,
and ended up doing with ordinary vulcanized molds too, is take some
small pieces of aluminum sheet, and using “reverse” metal
letter/number stamps, I made a series of little plates comprising a
small font of the needed letters and numbers. These can be stuck to
the inside of the mold frame, and they then leave an impression in
the rubber. The plate is recessed into the rubber and the letter or
number is raised from that recessed surface. The little plates are
pried out and saved for reuse. This works for generic labeling giving
the mold a stock number, date, etc. Not as useful if you wish to put
detailed info onto the mold, but you get the idea. A bit of work to
make the initial set of stamped pieces, but after that, it’s quick
and easy to use.

Peter Rowe

4

Make the label and put it under the surface layer of the mold while
the rubber is still liquid (only works it the mold material is
clear). Or when I am using a mother on the silicon, I usually make
the mother out of fiberglass and I laminate the label under the last
layer of resin on the glass, but I realize most jewelry molds do not
have mothers, these are for foundry use and much bigger).

John Dach

5

My solution is to make a Dymo Label which has impressed letters and
put it in the mould frame facing OUT. it will make a permanent
impression in the outside of the mould. Anything else I have tried
rubs off.

If you want to do this with vulcanised silicon moulds you need to
use metal tape and a heavier duty machine. These turn up on E-Bay now
and then. The plastic tape goes back to flat under heat and pressure!

regards,
Tim Blades

6

They sell a little piece of something, a little tag that you add
into the mold before you vulcanize it, and that you can write on.

Elaine

7

I have been using an exacto knife to write the letters into silicone
and then following it with a ultra fine sharpie. The ink is trapped
in the cut lines and stays there.

In a perfect world I would have a tatoo machine to accomplish the
task.

Vic

8

To All:

Here is a little tip for writing on silicone molds. I see the vast
number of know it all comments did not mention these.

I primarily use Dow Corning Silastic Silicones for my mold making.

Dow corning is the best silicone available. All silicones I have
ever tried are compared to the working properties of this material
IMO. There are three that work the best and are a bit hard to get.

I’m not sure if this will work for all brands of silicone, but it
works for me. Give it a try, the pens don’t cost that much.

Go to:
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ht

Best Regards,
Todd Hawkinson
Southeast Technical College

9

Just an FYI in response to Todd’s post… if you’re looking for
durable markers for silicone, metal, wood, tile, glass or almost any
surface, check out

Durablesupply
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/i3

The most amazing supply of durable markers I’ve ever seen.

Michele