This extensive FAQ library will help you learn a lot about products, applications and other information. It can also give you a foundation and common point of reference for speaking with us as well as help you better understand a technician when you call.
General / Troubleshooting
- What is the shelf life of my material?
- How can I safely dispose of these materials?
- How can I open a stuck container lid?
- What is polyurethane rubber?
- What is silicone rubber?
- What does 'Shore Hardness' mean?
- What is the difference between molding and casting?
- What effect does temperature have on the mold making and casting processes?
- Is there an easy way to test if a product is working properly?
- You recommend using disposable rubber gloves when using Smooth-On materials. What type of rubber glove should I wear? Is one type of glove better than another?
- What do the terms "heat curing" and "post-curing" mean?
- What are the best solvents for cleaning uncured materials from different surfaces?
- Definitions of Technical Terms
- How can I add color to liquid rubber or liquid plastics?
- I attempted to bond urethane rubber to stainless steel for an industrial application and it did not stick. What can I do?
- Are these materials safe to use?
- Winter Weather Advisory: What are the effects of cold weather on urethanes, silicones, epoxies, and latex-based materials?
- I bought a gallon unit of your mold rubber and almost broke my fingers trying to get the lids off. Is there a better way to get these containers open?
- How do I break down and dispose of empty material totes?
- I received my material, but one of my containers was only ½ full. Is this a mistake? Was I shorted material?
- How do I heat cure or post cure materials if I can't use a kitchen oven and don't have access to an industrial oven?
- How can I dispense material from a 5 gallon pail more easily?
- Why did we create an FAQ list?
- Is there a recommended surface preparation method for applying Smooth-On epoxy adhesives?
- How are these materials packaged?
- The color of my urethane rubber is different compared to the last batch. Is there something wrong with the material? Will it perform the same as the last batch I received?
- Do you have materials for use in making custom phantoms for UltraSound?
- Are Smooth-On materials ‘vegan’? Do they contain ingredients taken from animals?
Moldmaking Questions
- I made a mold using silicone rubber and experienced sticking. I know that silicone rubber is not supposed to stick to anything. What happened?
- Do I have to vacuum de-gas the silicone rubber? Is vacuuming the rubber that important?
- Why are there bubbles on the surface of my rubber mold?
- How much mold rubber do I need?
- Why didn't my mold rubber cure?
- What are the major differences between tin-cure (condensation cure) and platinum-cure (addition cure) silicone mold making rubbers?
- Do you have a rubber that is food safe for casting chocolate and other food items?
- What type of clay should I use?
- How many castings can I expect to get out of my rubber mold before it becomes unusable?
- How long can I store my rubber mold in a "mold library"?
- Can a rubber mold that has torn in production be repaired?
- How do I release silicone from silicone?
- What is the best method for mixing mold rubber?
- I am making a mold for the first time. Do I need a sealer or release agent?
- Will wood surfaces cause silicone cure inhibition?
- My silicone rubber mold did not cure against my SLA 3D printed model - what went wrong?
- What variables will help determine which mold rubber is right for my candle making project?
- What is "cure inhibition"?
- How can I make my Mold Max® tin silicone rubber cure faster?
- How should I store my rubber mold?
- Is there a way around investing in a vacuum pump and vacuum chamber?
- How do I decide which method (pour-on vs brush-on) is best for my project?
- I recently obtained a vacuum chamber and pump to get the air out of my silicone rubber. When I vacuum the material (after mixing Parts A + B), my silicone takes forever to de-air and I still end up with some bubbles in my silicone rubber. Is this normal?
- How do I build a mold box and what materials should I use to build it?
- I attempted to add new rubber to an already cured urethane rubber mold and the new layer delaminated. What happened and how can I get the rubber to stick?
- How do I release urethane from urethane?
- How many square feet (meters) will a unit of brush-on mold rubber cover?
- Why does my brush-on rubber run off of my model when I apply it?
- I have a vacuum pump and chamber, but mostly use urethane rubber that I do not vacuum. Is there any advantage to vacuuming my urethane rubber before pouring?
- Can I grind up old silicone and add it to new silicone?
Casting Questions
- Are any Smooth-On urethane or epoxy resins “UV Stable”?
- What is rotational casting? Are some resins better for rotational casting than others?
- How can I avoid bubbles in my casting?
- What paint should I use and how can I make paint stick to my resin castings?
- How do I enlarge or shrink a casting?
- What is the best release agent for releasing concrete from a rubber mold?
- Which Smooth-On materials are aquarium safe?
- Frequently Asked Questions about Foam
- What is pressure casting? Will it completely eliminate bubbles from my plastic casting?
- How do I remove release agent from my cured urethane casting if I want to prime or paint the casting?
- How can I make my casting look like metal?
- What kind of fillers can I mix into Smooth-Cast™ resins?
- How can I make my casting look like marble?
- How do I polish Crystal Clear™ or other urethane plastics?
- What is the best way to sand/polish Epoxacast™ 690 Clear Epoxy to a high gloss finish when making a tabletop?
- How long will a casting, mask or sculpture made out of silicone rubber last?
- Is there a way to improve surface finish when casting a rigid or flexible foam?
- My Smooth-On plastic castings are partially cured and are exuding an oil. What is the cause?
- My urethane foam did not rise as expected (collapsed). What happened?
- Does it matter whether I mix Foam-iT! or FlexFoam-iT! liquid castable foams by hand or use drill mixing?
- How do I paint fully cured Foam-iT! rigid foam and FlexFoam-iT! flexible foam?
- I am looking for "iso foam"; is this something that Smooth-On makes?
- How flexible are FlexFoam-iT! foams?
- Are Foam-iT! rigid foams "closed cell" or "open cell"?
- Are Foam-iT! and FlexFoam-iT! "water-blown" foams or "solvent-blown" foams?
- What makes Foam-iT! and FlexFoam-iT! foams different from other foams?
- What does the number associated with each foam represent?
- What types of foam does Smooth-On offer?
- What material should I use for making prop weapons like a fake knife?
- Can my epoxy part be used outdoors for exterior applications?
- How long should I keep a material under pressure when pressure casting?
- We use Crystal Clear resin to encapsulate lighting components and circuit boards. Occasionally, we encounter bubbling issues with the resin and we don’t know where the bubbles are coming from.
Skin FX Questions
- What materials do I need to create a Silicone Gel-Filled Appliance?
- Are tin-cured silicones skin safe?
- Which Smooth-On Materials are Skin-Safe?
- How can I keep from sweating Skin Tite® off?
- How do I make Skin Tite® appliances less tacky?
- Do I need to put release cream on body hair when using Skin Tite®?
- How do I make paint stick to platinum silicone?
- How do I make a silicone baby doll?
Forton® GFRC Questions
- How Can I Eliminate Surface Voids in Concrete?
- How much does GFRC weigh?
- What is plasticizer?
- What is GFRC?
- Is the type of sand used in GFRC important?
- I currently manufacture fiberglass (FRP). Can I use the same glass fiber for GFRC?
- What is the difference between Spray-Up and Premix?
- How thick is GFRC?
- What is the curing procedure of GFRC?
- Is Forton® VF-774 a plasticizer?
- What type of cement is used in GFRC?
- Can I use any polymer in my GFRC?
- Are air entraining agents required in GFRC for freeze-thaw resistance?
- When comparing the cost of polymers, can I just look at cost/lb of material?
- Why do I need polymer in my GFRC?
- I read a lot about defoamer used in GFRC. Do I need defoamer with VF-774?
- If I want to produce GFRC, do I need to invest in expensive equipment?
- What are common applications for GFRC?
- What are the benefits of GFRC?
Forton® FMG Questions
- What is FMG?
- Can I use any gypsum plaster for FMG?
- What are the set, demolding and curing times for FMG?
- What type of glass fiber is used in FMG?
- Is the Hardener added for additional strength?
- What colors and finishes are possible with FMG?
- Can I use Forton VF-774 in FMG?
- What are the benefits of FMG?
- Can FMG be patched?
- What are common applications for FMG?
- How is FMG Produced?
- How thick is FMG?
- What polymer is used in FMG?
- How much does FMG weigh?