Materials Needed:

* Mold-making silicone for Acorn Squash
App. 800 grams of silicone. Various fruit and vegetables depending upon their size, could require more or less silcone in two normal coats

* 8 grams (10%) silicone catalyst)

* 1/2 Gallon or 1 Gallon Kit SWD 889
Polyurethane Foam.

* Fruit, vegetable or gourd to be molded

(Note: Acorn Squash used as example)

Support Materials Included in kit

* 4 Small paper cups

* 4 Tongue depressors or small paint mixing
sticks

* 4 one inch paint brushes with brushes
cut to one inch in length

* 1 Pair latex gloves

* 1 Safety glasses

* 2 popcorn or slurpy style cups for mixing

Product Information Included:

SWD 889 MSDS Sheets
SWD 889 Product Sheets

Preparation Instructions

1) Prepare clean work area with flat surface

2) Select fruit, vegetable or gourd in good condition, firm, not too ripe and well formed.

3) Clean 'firm' Fruit or vegetable to be molded with warm soapy water and let dry

Preparation Instructions

4) Paint a one inch wide strip of PVA mold release down 1/3rd the distance from the top to the bottom of the object to be molded and allow the PVA mold release to dry.

5) Cut a 1/4" X 1/4" X 6" strip of modeling or plastiline clay and using fingers, gently press and flatten the clay strip to a 1/8" thickness which will slightly lenthen the clay stip.

6) Firmly press the edge of the flattened clay strip along the area where the PVA mold release was applied which forms a clay "fence" over the mold release strip.

7) Paint the clay fence with a coat of PVA mold release and allow to dry. Do not apply silicone compond to remainer of fruit, vegetable or gourd at this time.

8) Mix a new "hot" batch of silicone compound with 2-3 times the catalyst. and cover one side of the clay fence only, at a thickness of app. 1/4 inch.

9) Keep the liquid silicone compond on the same side of the clay fence brushing it back with a 1/4" or 1/2" brush until it sets.

10) Allow some of the silicone compound to slide down around the bottom of the object forming a circle of silicone compound about the size of a half dollar, spread evenly around the object.

11) As the silicone continues to slough down the fence and begins to thicken, brush it back onto the clay fence making the silicone layer there as thick as possible.

12) Continue to gently re-apply all of the mixed silicone against the fence and onto the resulting circle at the bottom of the object until the silicone begins to harden.

13) Pull and squeeze the remaing silicone from the brush before it hardens.

14) Repeat steps 11-13 until the fence and circular area at the bottom of the object are about 1/4" inch thick. Allow 1 hour to allow silicone to sufficiently harden..

15) Remove the clay fence and paint a coat of PVA mold release against the silicone surface from which the clay fence was pulled. Be very carrful not to overpaint the mold release onto the remaining surface.

AFTER THE FENCE IS COMPLETED...

16) Mix enough silicone compond to cover the entire fruit, vegetable or gourd at the regular 10% regular catalyst ratio.

17) Apply a silicone coating over the entire object, brushing it especially well into indentations and enven sufaces. Apply extra silicone against both sides of the fence and circle at the bottom of the object being molded. Allow 4-6 hours to completely solidify.

18) Repeat step 17, brushing sloughed off silicone back onto the mold until mold thickness hardens, reaching about 1/4 inch. in thickness. Allow 8 hours to be completely cured.

19) Begin to sepaate the two fence sides, divided by the PVA mold release, by making a angle cut down along the top to the bottom of the ridge of the fence until the PVA release agent is reached, then carefully open the mold by separating the two fence halves.

20) When the fence separation reaches the thick circular silicone formed at the bottom, cut a C-shaped opening about the size of a half dollar. Begin the cut where the fence separation ends and opposite the open side of the C. Cut a C-shaped opening about the size of a half dollar at the bottom allowing the mold to begin to open without tearing.

21) Prior to removal of the object, dust the mold with talcum powder for ease of removal as silicone will stick to silicone. Remove the fruit, vegetable or gourd.

22) Repair any tears, make reinforcements as needed by making a small hot batch of silicone to handle the problem. Do not allow silcone or any other products to touch the the inner mold while making modifications. Under no circumstances should silicone products be allowed to enter the interior of the mold

23) After the removal of the fruit, vegetable or gourd, cover or close the mold with tape until you are ready to cast duplicate fruits, vegetables and gourds.

NOW YOU'RE READY TO MOLD USING YOUR NEW SILICONE MOLD...

Materials included

* 4 small paper cups
* 4 tongue depressors, paint sticks
or popcycle sticks
* Latex gloves
* Safety Glasses
* 3 Popcorn syle conainers for mixing
* small clock - easy to read in seconds

NOTE: A small clock with easy-to-read second-hands is important for this application. It needs to be close to you in your work area.

24) If you have not been wearing your latex gloves during the mold making process, you should wear the latex gloves now and the safety glasses for mixing the foam product. Alway keep products away from your eyes.

25) Spread a protective plastic sheet over a level working area on which the mold will rest.

26) Re-close the mold exactly as it was using transparant tape wrapped securely around the mold. Transparent tape allows visual assurance the the mold opening edges realign perfectly. Note: tape will not adhere to silicone so it must carefully wrapped around the mold and taped to itself.

27) Note: you will be using a rapidly expanding polyurethane foam so the mold must be entirely covered, with all areas wrapped to contain the expansion of the poured foam. Stuff peices of cloth, paper towels or rags in to gaps in the transparent tape, if any. Do not howeverr, distort the shape of the mold in any way.

28) Leave a small 1/2 inch round pour opening at the top of the mold.

29) Secure the mold lighly in a posistion so the pour opening, will be located at the top of the mold. paper towels or anything soft to hold it in a comfortable secure upright position is perfect.

30) Leave the small pour opening facing up.

31) Please read instructions and safety tips carefully as this is a two part liquid polyurethane foam that expands rapidly.

32) Measure and pour app 20 grms of SWD 899 A side into a paper cup. Measure and pour app 40 grams of SWD 889 B Side into a 2nd paper cup. (Acorn squash example)

33) With the clock second hand in easy view, combine 20 grams of SWD 889 Part A polyurethane with 40 grams of SWD 889 polyurethane Part B into 1 larger popcorn or slurpy cup and mix together steadily for 15-20 seconds

34) Pour the mixture carefully without delay into the mold base opening until the poured product fills the mold.

35) Expanding foam will quite quickly exit the pour hole onto surrounding support and protection surfaces as provided.

36) Relax - It's okay and fun to watch.

37) Let it cure for two- three hours before removing your newly cast item from the silicone mold. Note: Since our example here is an acorn squash, Note the skin will look and feel exactly like an acorn squash.

38) Remove the casting from the mold by unwrapping the transparent tape then sprinkle a little Talcum powder on the silicone mold and carefully peel the silicone from around the cast parts - or acorn squash in this example

39) Carefull trim or sand any excess product caught between mold edges.

40) Tears or damage to the mold if any, can be easily repaired by mixing a small amount of silicone with double catalyst as needed and applied to the outside of the mold only. Remember no silicone inside the mold - Mask off the inside of the mold in the repair area with tape if necessary

41) Paint or decorate your creation as desired. Make another one for friends and and the rest - sell as decorations.