How to Make Molds from Plastic

Vacuum forming or thermoforming is the process of making molds from plastic. The plastic comes in the form of thin sheets, and when heated, it easily forms the shape of any object you would like to mold. There are many varieties of vacuum forming machines, from smaller ones for approximately $100 to larger industrial machines at $900. You can purchase your machine and plastic from a hardware store.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum forming machine
• Plastic sheets
• Object to mold

Instructions

Steps

1. Select an object that you would like to mold. This can be a toy, a small statue or any other form you would like to recreate.

2. Heat the plastic sheet using your vacuum forming machine. It should be soft and flexible enough to fit perfectly over your object.

3. Place the heated sheet of plastic over your object. Make sure the object is positioned upright in your vacuum forming machine.

4. Take your home vacuum and connect it to the vacuum forming machine and suck the air out between the object and the plastic until the plastic sheet has perfectly formed the shape of your object. Some vacuum forming machines come with an inbuilt vacuum function.

5. Allow the plastic to cool over the object until it has set and become hard.

6. Remove the plastic from the object. You now have a plastic mold.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to read the instruction manual before using your vacuum forming machine. Don't forget to read the safety instructions. It is important to be sure you are using and caring for your specific machine correctly.