Duplicate an Antique Chocolate Mold in Silicone for Ease of Use

Antique Chocolate Molds!

Highly collectible, these beautiful pieces often collect dust on shelves rather than being used to actually create chocolate, which is a real shame.

One of the reasons this happens is because the rigidity of the metal molds make it somewhat more difficult to successfully demold the chocolates (as opposed to softer silicone or polycarbonate chocolate molds).

So, today I'll be showing you how to create a usable replica of these pieces. You can read along with this guide as you watch the included instructional video.

You'll need:

• A mold you wish to copy
• Some food-safe silicone, I'm using Smooth-Sil 940 by Smooth-On
• A stick or scraper of some kind for ease of use
• 2 plastic bags for mixing
• A container in which to put your plastic bags
• Some packing tape for the bottom of your molded item
• Scissors to trim your cast objects
• A brush for your mold release
• Silicone Mold Release (Mann ease release 200)

NOTE: Silicone Mold Release and Silicone Mold Release are two different products. If you buy the wrong one, your mold will fuse into a solid block of silicone. Always follow manufacturer's recommendations.

• A mold frame or shell to contain your eventual silicone mold - I used a bread loaf pan.
• A knife or plastic spudger to remove the mold from the frame
• A vibrating table device - The one I use is designed for making Dental Molds.

And to make your bars:

• A tempering machine
• A refrigerator
• A metal spatula (I use a burger flipper)
• And some chocolate

To begin, double up your plastic bags, place them into your receptacle, and place the two onto the scale, using the Tare function to cancel out its weight.

Next, measure out an appropriate amount of your Silicone Part A.

You can use a paint stirring stick to manage the flow.

Then, pour in 1/10th the amount of Silicone Part B (or whatever ratio is indicated for your product).

"Burp" any air out of your bag, then twist the top so your don't spill any.

Now, mix the silicone inside the bag. Be careful not to tear or poke a hole in your bag. I alternate between sticking my fingers up in there to make circular mixing motions and kneading the bag with the palms of my hands.

Cut open the corner of the bag, then from a height pour a thin stream of silicone into your molds.

Once it's filled, you can scrape off any excess silicone with a knife. Don't try to clean it up now--- wait until it's cured.

Then, buzz the mold on the vibrator for a time to loosen any bubbles that have become trapped in the silicone.

Once you've done that, let the molds sit undisturbed for 24 hours to cure.

Now that you've waited 24 hours for the silicone to cure, using your knife or spudger remove your newly cast mold positives from the metal molds.

Measure out some packing tape for whatever shape you have cast.

Then, spray layer 1 of your mold release onto the silicone positives.

Pat that in gently with a brush, then apply a second layer.

Apply the packing tape to the bottom of your mold positive, then place the whole contraption into the frame.

Follow all the steps outlined in Step One to measure, mix, pour over the mold positives, and cure your silicone.

Now that you've waited 24 hours for your silicone to cure, it's time to take it out of the frame with your knife or spudger.

If you've properly applied your mold release the positives will pop right out.

At this time use a generous amount of soap and hot water to clean your new mold.

Now it's time to use your new mold!

Temper some chocolate, either in the microwave or in a tempering machine (recommended).

Bring the chocolate up to 115 F then cool down to 89 F using unmelted seed chocolate, stirring frequently.

Once your chocolate is tempered, scoop out an appropriate amount using your spatula.

Cool your bars in the fridge for 20 minutes before demolding gently.

Congratulations, you are holding a piece of history! A new chocolate bar, created using a replica of a design that's older than I am.

Pretty cool.

If you've made it this far, please comment with any questions, and please Vote for this Instructable in the Repair and Reuse contest. Thanks! --Al