The Benefits of Resin Molds

Many artists use resin molds to make small reproductions of art work. This type of casting is used in the production of many common items that are seen every day, such as small statuettes, toys, key chains, jewelry, game pieces, home décor and a number of other items. It is an attractive choice for a lot of retailers because it is very affordable to work with and produces quality products. Many artists prefer this type of mold as it produces aesthetically pleasing pieces that are often hard to differentiate from those made with more expensive materials.

In order to make resin molds, a type of curing catalyst is used to polymerize with the plastics. There are different types such as polystyrene, polyurethane, epoxy, polyester, acrylic and silicone. Acrylic is the one form of the material that is used most often for art because of its glass-like qualities. It is extremely hard and can be manufactured to be transparent. In many cases, it is easy to mistake it for glass. Of course, it is an attractive alternative to glass because it is less expensive and it does not have the fragility issues that come with using a glass material.

Even when an art foundry is using resin molds, the process is the same as it would be for a bronze sculpture in the beginning steps. The artist or creator of the piece will make the initial model from water or oil based clay. There are other materials that are sometimes used, but clay in one form or another is usually the artist’s choice of material.

When using products such as resin molds, it keeps the cost low enough that a retailer or an individual can afford to produce a small number of pieces. This makes it a great project for someone who takes up a hobby that involves using an art foundry to produce their work. It makes creating new designs and ideas something that is achievable for someone on a tight budget, as well as a business that might want to do a trial run on a new product line.

Perhaps one of the best attributes that resin molds lend to the art world is that the end product is truly durable. Durability is often a vitally important part of the detailed design of a piece, depending on what the piece’s function will be. Items that may have to withstand a lot of wear and tear or a great deal of handling benefit greatly from this material.

Technology has given the world many materials that mimic one another, but overall one is typically better than the original. When a substance can pass as glass but hold up like wood or steel, this is something worth looking into as a possibility for a project. When that same substance can also be purchased at a fraction of the cost of others, this just sweetens the deal and makes that material that much more attractive. It is sometimes difficult to reproduce a quality material, but plastics have paved the way to doing just that. They offer durability and affordability for any project.