Propmaking & Special Effects How‑To's

Learn how to save material and money by making your silicone mold conform to the shape of your model.

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Using the slush method of casting to create a hollow, impact resistant piece.

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Cast Magic® Casting System is an easy way to add an endless variety of bright metallic, glitter and color effects to your castings.

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The metal cold-casting process is faster and much less expensive compared with foundry casting of molten metal.

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Milo shows how to make a breakaway bottle using SMASH Plastic™

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Free Form™ Habitat™ Fire Safe epoxy putty is used to create a realistic African grassland base for a Rhino Display

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Smooth-On fan Jon N. uses FlexFoam-iT! X to make a durable, lightweight "Hellboy" inspired fist for cosplay.

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How to make costume armor using craft foam and Smooth-On's UreCoat

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Learn how to use Mold Max 29NV for creating a high-detail silicone mold

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In this project, EPS foam board is used to carve a theater mask design. The display is then hard-coated using Habitat Cast N Coat.

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Jon N. shows us how he creates a mold for his Thundercats shield.

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Frank Ippolito shows you how to create a hollow resin cast of a helmet

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This video tutorial shows how to make a fake foam prop rock using carved soft foam and UreCoat® urethane coating.

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This lifecasting video tutorial shows how Ecoflex® 00-35 silicone can be used to lifecast a hand

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This video tutorial shows how to make a prop shield for theater or cosplay using pourable foam and UreCoat® urethane coating.

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Learn how production companies make prop weapons for use on stage or screen.

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This tutorial takes you step-by-step through the process of making a large window pane suitable for using as a breakaway glass prop for stage or movie special effects.

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We demonstrate how to create a metal cold casting using the duoMatrix™ NEO polymerized gypsum system.

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In this body casting demonstration, Body Double® silicone is used to make a full head mold

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A cavity pour style urethane rubber mold for casting prop guns.

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Andreas Moravec demonstrates a technique for creating theatrical armor using Rebound™ 25 silicone and Smooth Cast® resins

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This tutorial outlines making a mold of a replica Klingon Disruptor pistol from the Star Trek television series.

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Making a mold used to cast SMASH!® Plastic

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This video demonstrates using Smooth-On's Encapso® K to create a realistic floral display.

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Tripel X Theming and Props is well known for providing hyper-realistic weapons props for several popular detective shows filmed in New York and Los Angeles.

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John Fennel used Smooth-On's Alja-Safe Breeze® for creating the initial clay pour for his prop.

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Justin Jotso of Jester Productions and FX's replica Captain America helmet.

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After preparing and discarding over 30 bowls of cereal in over two days, an ad agency contacted Smooth-On...

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This step-by-step tutorial shows the process of making a two-piece block mold from a police baton using Mold Max® 30 silicone rubber. It also shows how to cast a reproduction using TASK 13 semi-rigid resin.

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In this how-to, Smooth-Cast® 320 resin is cast in a Dragon Skin® silicone mold to reproduce woodgrain

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The Spoon Group (Rahway, NJ) is a world-renowed prop and set fabrication shop...

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Filming the horror flick Laid To Rest on the grounds of a former asylum for the criminally insane presented a host of challenges...

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Cast Magic® Casting System is an easy way to add an endless variety of bright metallic, glitter and color effects to your castings...

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The scene in Spider Man 3 called for the heroine, Mary Jane, to again be in peril...

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Shell Shock® and Plasti-Paste® can be used to make a strong, inexpensive mold which can be used for casting silicones.

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On a recent job, Blair Benjamin needed to reproduce a rattlesnake for an independent film project.

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We demonstrate using Mold Star 30 silicone, a platinum silicone for mold making...

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Some of our customers have found that our Brush-On urethane rubber can be used as a paint.

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This tutorial shows how Flex Foam-iT! X can be cast to create a realistic cinder block prop.

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TASK® 7 is a low viscosity, fast set flame resistant plastic.

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This step-by-step video outlines the use of Psycho Paint® silicone paint base to color the surface of a platinum silicone casting.

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Martha makes prop specimen jars for Halloween using Smooth-On Encapso® K silicone rubber.

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This tutorial shows how to make a two piece silicone mold of a historic firearm

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Zombies are more popular than ever in TV shows, movies, Zombie-walks, Zombie Parties and more.

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Ryan Sparks of Terror Anatomical, LLC specializes in casting accurate, realistic body parts for clients.

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The surface finish of the cured Flex Foam-iT! 17 foam approaches that of a urethane elastomer.

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A plaster replica of an ancient Roman shield is used to make light weight and strong reproductions for display.

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In this video, Smooth-On fan Jara shows how to make fake potion bottles using Encapso-K silicone rubber.

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Create a hollow resin casting using the semi rigid urethane plastic - Smooth-Cast® 57D

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Flexer® is an additve for Smooth-On epoxies which makes the resultant castings flexible.

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How Pig Iron® Cast Magic powder can be applied to a silicone mold to make a metallic finish.

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Jon N. shows us how he casts a Thundercats prop shield

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Via Tested - How to make simple silicone molds to cast and paint foam replicas of props like shop tools

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How to use Pearly Green Cast Magic® powder on a black ONYX® resin casting to get a beautiful metallic finish.

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Jon N. shows us how he made a glove mold for his cosplay helmet

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Jon N. shows us how he brushes Smooth-Cast 57D to make a helmet for cosplay.

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Jon shows us how he created an Amazon armband for a Wonder Woman cosplay.

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How to start with one bear claw and end with 24 perfect copies

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Use Smooth-Cast™ 325 resin and Bronze powder to make a nautical looking aquarium stand.

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Learn how to apply real gold leaf to a resin casting

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How you can use Rebound 25 silicone rubber to make a mold of an Iron Man helmet.

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How to make an epoxy fiberglass support shell using the EpoxAmite laminating epoxy system

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Watch how a haunted attraction completely repaired a damaged latex animatronic prop

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Milo creates silicone zombie fingers with breakable bones for Halloween

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How a 3D printed master is used to pour a silicone mold for a prop sword

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Learn to make foam props using a unique method for splitting a two part mold

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Learn to create flexible, impact resistant props.

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The challenge: Make a seamless mold of a sculpted hand with same-day turnaround for castings.

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Milo takes on vacuum forming an RC car body which presents an interesting challenge.

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How to to make beautiful decorative wall panels using a TASK 18 vacuum forming tool.

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Learn how clamshell packaging is made using an epoxy vacuum forming tool

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Learn a variety of resin casting color and finishing effect techniques with our Glow Worm™ Glow-In-The-Dark Powders.

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