RELEASE AGENT GUIDE FOR CASTING COMMONLY USED MATERIALS INTO A VARIETY OF MOLD MATERIALS We offer the following chart as a guide when casting any of the common casting materials into a variety of mold materials. To use it, find the material your mold is made from in the first column. Then find the casting material you would like to pour into that mold. Finally in the third column you will find recommended mold release agents that will be compatible with your medium. MOLD MATERIAL CASTING MATERIAL RELEASE AGENT(S) PLASTER(GYPSUM) Plaster(Gypsum) Stearine/Kerosene Petrolatum Potter's Soap Paste Wax Portland Cement Stearine/Kerosene Paste Wax Polyester Resin Shellac/PVA/Wax Epoxy Resin Shellac/PVA/Wax Polyurethane Resin/Foam Shellac/PVA/Wax Wax Saturate mold with water Latex Rubber Nothing (dry mold) LATEX RUBBER Plaster(Gypsum) Castor Oil/Alcohol Portland Cement Castor Oil/Alcohol Polyester Resin(NR) PVA/Wax Epoxy Resin(NR) PVA/Wax Polyurethane Resin/Foam(NR) PVA/Wax Wax (NR) Silicone Spray POLYSULFIDE RUBBER Plaster(Gypsum) Castor Oil/Alcohol Portland Cement Castor Oil/Alcohol Polyester Resin Not Recommended Epoxy Resin PVA/Wax Polyurethane Resin/Foam Not Recommended Wax Silicone Spray POLYURETHANE RUBBER Plaster(Gypsum ) In and Out Release@ Potter's Soap Portland Cement In and Out Release@ Polyester Resin Universal Release@ PVA/Wax Teflon/Silicone Spray Epoxy Resin Universal Release@ PVA/Wax Teflon/Silicone Spray Polyurethane Resin Universal Release@ PVA/Wax Teflon/Silicone Spray Polyurethane Foam Ease Releaes 2300@ Ease Releae 1700*@ PVA/Wax Wax Silicone Spray SILICONE RUBBER Plaster(Gypsum) Nothing% Portland Cement Nothing% Polyester Resin Nothing Universal Release@ Teflon and/or Silicone Spray Paste Wax Epoxy Resin Universal Release@ Nothing*** Teflon and/or Silicone Spray Paste Wax Polyurethane Resin Universal Release@ Nothing*** Teflon and/or Silicone Spray Paste Wax Polyurethane Foam Paste Wax Ease Release 2300@ Ease Release 1700@ Ease Release 2831@ Nothing*** Wax Nothing Silicone Spray Potter's Soap POLYESTER/FIBERGLASS Plaster(Gypsum) Paste Wax Stearine/Kerosene Potter's Soap Portland Cement Paste Wax Stearine/Kerosene Polyester Resin PVA/Paste Wax Universal Release@ Epoxy Resin PVA/Paste Wax Universal Release@ Polyurethane Resin P VA/Paste Wax Universal Release@ Polyurethane Foam PVA/Paste Wax Ease Release 1700@ Ease Release 2831@ Wax Potter's Soap Silicone Spray METAL Plaster(Gypsum) Stearine/Kerosene Paste Wax Potter's Soap Castor Oil/Alcohol Portland Cement Stearine/Kerosene Paste Wax Castor Oil/Alcohol Polyester Resin Paste Wax Universal Release@ Teflon/Silicone Spray Epoxy Resin Paste Wax Universal Release@ Teflon/Silicone Spray Polyurethane Resin Paste Wax Universal Release@ Teflon/ Silicone Spray Polyurethane Foam Paste Wax Ease Release 1700@ Ease Release 2831@ Wax Potter's Soap Silicone Spray By no means is this list complete; it is only offered as a guide. Whenever using anh of these materials it is a good idea to use the manufacturer's data sheets as a guideline. There are other materials that will suffice as mold releases, but we know that the ones given WORK. Remember, creativity as well as necessity is the mother of invention, and when in doubt run a test on any questionable materials. Remember also that shortcuts rarely are. The following is a brief formulary for some of the release agents given above.: Castor Oil/Alcohol= 1 part castor oil:5 parts denatured alcohol Stearine/Kerosene= 1 part melted stearine:2 parts kerosene @Registered trademark Smooth-On, Inc. %When casting cements into silicone rubber it may be necessary to use a surfactant on the surface of the mold to eliminate bubbles. A very weak solution of dishwashing detergent will work. ***When casting these resins into this type of rubber check with the manufacturer to assure that the resin will be compatible with the type of rubber you have. Order Form | Table of Contents | Email Us Download a copy of our current catalog .