My name is Chuck Hunner.
I've been a jewelry maker since 1972. Rubber molds for jewelry has been one of my passions since 1976. Molds are an essential tool for every investment casting artist that wants to make more than one casting of their art. The many styles of molding that I've learned allow me to support you in your craft.
I'd like to be there with you at your mold cutting bench, guiding you to success. I hope we can find a way to make that happen. Until then, visit my video demo page and see how I do it. When you have a master ready to be molded, visit the Material Comparison page and download the mold compound comparison chart to help you choose the best mold compound for your type of master.
Flexible Mold Making is used in the lost wax casting industry to reproduce waxes. The waxes are cast into jewelry and other small parts. This web site demonstrates ways to make these molds out of heat cured rubber, silicone, and room temperature cured compounds.
I decided to make this website when I began to research my presentation for the 2012 Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology. I could not find any comprehensive sources on the Internet about Jewelry Mold Making. I found lots of great articles, but no central clearing house with lots of information about materials and techniques. What you are seeing is the beginning of a comprehensive source.
This craft, when done well, results in molds which produce waxes with no parting marks. When done poorly, this craft can result in dangerous cuts and lacerations to the mold maker. After all these years, I still nick myself occasionally. If you are careful and measured in your mold cutting process, you can protect yourself and only cut the mold.
No responsibility is accepted by Chuck Hunner, the company 'Golden Spirit', nor anyone associated with this site, for injuries which occur as a result of trying any of the techniques demonstrated or mentioned on this website.
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