DICE MAKING QUICK START GUIDE
DON'T ROLL A NAT-1 ON HEALTH: WEAR YOUR PPE.
PREP YOUR WORKSPACE
Set yourself up for a smooth pour and cleaner results.
- Clear dust, lint & pet hair
- Lay out pigments, inclusions, cups, paper towels and your PPE
- Warm your resin slightly if your brand allows it (especially if you're not working with a pressure pot)
- Inspect molds for lint or debris so cavities stay clean
MIX YOUR RESIN
Proper mixing prevents bubbles and ensures your dice cure correctly.
- Follow your resin's specific ratio EXACTLY
- Stir slowly to avoid introducing bubbles
- Scrape the sides and bottom of your mixing cup
- Add mica, pigment, or shimmer gradually until you get your desired opacity or sparkle, you can always add more but you can't take it back out.
POUR YOUR DICE
Slow, controlled pouring makes the cleanest, sharpest results.
- Pour from the highest point possible for the least amount of bubbles
- Use a toothpick to guide resin into numbers and tight corners if not using a pressure pot
- Tap the mold gently to help the bubbles rise & use a heat gun to pop them (lighters can & WILL burn your molds)
- If using a pressure pot, try to place your mold inside within 5-10 minutes of your resin's pot life time.
DEMOLD + FINISH
Your dice will come out shiny but you still have a bit of finish work ahead of you cleaning up the 1 face and surroundings.
- Allow resin to fully cure based on your brand's timing (this is typically 24-72 hours but temperature and humidity will alter this)
- Flex the mold gently to release your dice one by one.
- Dice will demold shiny — but you can expect to sand/polish the flashing on and around the one faces.
- Clean edges up as needed before sanding & polishing. (I have some guides below on this)
the most important step...have fun!
Dice making is creative, experimental, and sometimes a bit chaotic — and that's the magic of it. Don't stress over perfection, don't compare your pours to anyone else's, and don't be afraid to play around! Try wild color combinations, new effects, weird inclusions, and techniques you've never used before. The BEST dice are the ones that make YOU excited when they pop out of the mold.
Dice Mold Facts
Resin Safety
- WEAR PPE: Nitrile Gloves, Eye Protection & an Organic Vapor Rated Respirator
- WORKSPACE SAFETY: Keep pets and kids away — resin is sticky, fuming, and extremely interesting to tiny hands or paws.
- FOLLOW SDS: Each resin brand cures differently, so check the recommended temperatures, timing and safety notes.
- AVOID SKIN CONTACT: Sometimes it's inevitable though, wipe as much as you can off, then wash immediately with soap and water — using alcohol can actually make the resin absorb deeper into your skin causing irritation.
- DISPOSAL: Fully cure leftover resin before throwing it away.
- SETUP: Silicone mats or disposabel coverings such as parchment or wax paper help protect your workspace and make cleanup quick.
General Facts
Understanding how the silicone behaves will help you get the cleanest results.
- SILICONE: Made with Smooth-On MoldStar 15 Slow — flexible enough for easy demolding, but firm enough to keep the geometry sharp.
- FINISH: Cavities are naturally glossy, so your dice demold shiny — though you'll still need to sand and polish the 1 face and surroundings for that final clean finish.
- DETAIL QUALITY: Designed to capture crisp numbers, clear bevels and clean geometry.
- PRESSURE SAFE: Performs reliably inside pressure pots up to 45 p.s.i.
- COMPATIBILITY: Made for use with two part epoxy resin.
- HANDMADE: Each mold is mixed, poured, and trimmed by hand; tiny cosmetic quirks are normal and won't impact your cast.
- CHECK ON ARRIVAL: Give the mold a quick look when it arrives — if anything seems off, message me before casting and I'll get you sorted.
MOLD HANDLING
These habits protect the silicone and keep your edges crisp.
- CLEANING: Rinse with cool water and a small amount of dish soap if needed.
- DRYING: Let the mold air-dry completely — any moisture can haze resin (if it even cures).
- FLASHING REMOVAL: Press tape onto leftover flashing and lift gently. Avoid picking or scraping.
- STORAGE: Keep molds in a cool, dry place away from heat or sunlight.
- DEMOLDING: Flex from the edges rather than pulling the dice out from the top.
- LIFESPAN: With gentle use, most molds last around 10+ casts.
- WEAR SIGNS: Whitening, softening, or micro-tears mean the mold is nearing the end of its life.
PRO TIPS
- WARM RESIN: Warm sealed bottles slightly to help bubbles escape before mixing.
- SLOW POUR: Pour from the highest point possible and let the resin flow naturally.
- USE TOOLS: Gently use a toothpick to help guide resin into numbers, corners and tight details.
- BUBBLE RELEASE: Gently tap or tilt the mold before pressurizing.
- PRESSURE TIMING: Get the mold in your pressure pot within 5-10 min of the end of your pot life.
- DEMOLD GENTLY: Flex the mold slowly — avoid pulling the dice out by the points.
COLLAB
Allie can help you with your custom designs and then send them straight to me for sanding, polishing, and mold-making, making the whole process seamless from start to finish.
Start your custom design with Cleric's Components:
- CONTACT: clericscomponents@gmail.com
- USE CODE: 'Kaleigh Georgiev' for 10% off your dice masters.
Dice Mold FAQ
DICE MOLD SIZING
What if my mold(s) arrive damaged, defective, or incorrect?
Please contact me within 7 days of receipt - prior to casting in the mold.
You can email me at support@nanolabmaker.com
Please include a photo and your order number so I can get a solution worked out for you as quickly as possible.
Can I sell the dice I make with NanoLab Molds?
Yes - you can sell any dice you make with my molds. The font licensing information is provided below:
What kind of silicone does NanoLab make molds with?
I always use Smooth-On Platinum Cure Silicone. The specific variation I use is MoldStar 15 Slow.
This high quality silicone is known for it's durability and excellent detail transfer.
If you have a specific need related to the silicone type, please reach out to production@nanolabmaker.com so we can discuss accommodations.
What is the maximum pressure I should use in my pressure pot?
45psi is the highest I recommend you go casting in NanoLab molds.
I cast them higher than this but this allows for deviations in pressure gauges. Anything above 30-35psi is really just precautionary anyways - I promise.
Have another question?
Check out my full FAQ for detailed policies, shipping info, and mold care.
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