When getting into the world of handmade dice it can be an expensive hobby to pick up, especially when looking at all the bits of equipment you need if you are going to create everything yourself. Knowing what you need or can make do without helps, know what to do also goes a long way with finding your feet and being able to enjoy this hobby rather than feeling frustrated at the failures.
This article is going to focus on moulds as that is what I currently am making with my new masters. Now, I have made a lot of dice moulds, from sprue to cap, slab (or cake) to individual but my current mould of choice is individual cap. They might have a slightly more silicone intensive creation, but the ability to only cast one die if I need to and only replace what is worn out cuts down costs in the long run. Not to mention a bigger work space for adding inclusions and a bigger surface area for those pesky bubbles to vent.
Dice moulds are not just dump the dice in a box, pour over the silicone and voila! There is work to be done to make sure that the moulds are going to come out crisp and not waste a ton of silicone.
Checking out dice mould making on YouTube is definitely a start, but it pays to remember that these techniques are what work for these creators and may need tweaking to make them work for you, especially if you are unable to get the supplies that they are using. Another thing to remember is that if this is your first attempt, it is not the first attempt of the creator. They know the nuances of what they are making the mould with and have it down to an art so to speak so if youre struggling to get tape to lay flat for example, don’t get disheartened!
Continue reading How To: Make Handmade Dice Moulds (Part 2)