No matter what type of industrial molding you do, you know the satisfying feeling of seeing a product released perfectly from its mold, without blemishes, sticking, or cracks. But if you're dealing with these challenges during your production cycles, it can make even the most patient person a little irritated. Luckily, you can experience that satisfaction regularly by learning how to use mold release spray effectively.

We understand how frustrating it is to follow a procedure to the T and still struggle with sticking parts and imperfections on the finished product. At Stoner Molding, we are experts at creating the best solutions to prevent parts from sticking to a mold, regardless of what material is being used. Our innovative line of cleaners, mold release agents, sealers, and more allows products to effortlessly release from even the most detailed molds. Get started today and see why manufacturers of all industries have trusted us to help release products for over 80 years!

Talk To An Expert

1. Start with a Clean Mold

The first crucial step to ensure you get a perfect release from your molding operation is to start with a clean mold. It's very important to remove any traces of cured resins, mold release, debris, dirt, rust, or other contaminants. A high-quality mold cleaner, like our CUT Mold Cleaner, can help get into the nooks and crannies of a mold to ensure the entire area is clean. CUT Mold Cleaner quickly evaporates and dries fast, leaving no residue on the molding surface.

Routinely cleaning your mold is a smart idea because it not only improves the performance of the release spray, but it also extends the life of your mold. Buildup on your mold greatly affects part quality, so if you want to have a satisfying release every time you mold something, you need to clean it thoroughly.

2. Choose an Appropriate Mold Release Agent

The second step to getting a perfect release is to choose the right release agent for the job. Whether you’re in the thermoplastic, polyurethane, rubber, or composite molding industry, Stoner Molding Solutions has specific release agents designed to:

• Optimize cycle time
• Produce a consistent surface finish
• Reduce scrap parts
• Prevent resin from sticking to the mold

For industrial molders, things like mineral oil and petroleum jelly aren’t powerful enough for the complex and often abrasive compounds that can damage mold surfaces and drastically shorten tool life. That’s why you need to choose the right release agent. Whether you need a semi-permanent, water-based, or silicone mold release agent, you can count on Stoner Molding Solutions to have exactly what you need to get parts released easily.

Request A Sample Of Our Mold Release Sprays

3. Determine the Ideal Amount of Spray to Use

Now that you have a clean mold and have chosen the proper mold release spray for your porous or non-porous surfaces, you need to learn how to use mold release spray correctly. The first step is to determine the ideal amount of spray to use. This process is dependent on the parts you are making, the types of resins or other raw materials you’re using, the temperature of your mold, and the pressure required to get the job done. All of these factors will affect how much spray you need for your molding operation.

The best way to determine the correct amount of spray needed is by testing it.

Follow these three simple steps:

1. Apply the usual mold release spray and see how many parts are easily released. Take note of when pieces begin to stick and notice the areas where the sticking first occurs.
2. Repeat the test to verify the results of your first experiment.
3. Add more or less mold release spray to improve results.

Over spraying your molds can decrease the quality of their performance. Usually, a light coating works best. Finished parts should be slippery but not greasy. If they are greasy, it’s usually a sign you’re using too much spray.

4. Use the Right Spraying Techniques

Finally, our fourth tip on using mold release spray to achieve consistent finishes and releases from your molding operation is to use the proper spraying techniques. The exact procedure for your mold depends on a lot of variables. Be sure to follow the instructions on the mold release spray can to ensure you get the best results possible.

In general, follow these tips:

1. Prep the mold by heating it to 100°C to 170°C.
2. Spray in even rows across the mold, overlapping by 50% each time
3. Don’t over apply the mold release spray
4. Thin, even coats work best

Visit our video library to access more tips and mold release spray techniques for your unique molding operations.

Need More Tips on How to Use Mold Release Spray? Talk to an Expert!

Getting the perfect mold release doesn’t have to be complicated. Your molding team deserves the best mold release products on the market, and that’s why you need to choose Stoner Molding Solutions. We specially formulate our semi-permanent, sacrificial, water-based, and silicone mold releases to give you that satisfying part release from your tooling.

The techniques covered in this blog post are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning how to use mold release spray. We have a team of manufacturing experts ready to answer all your molding questions and provide personalized suggestions so you can get the ideal release from your molding operations. And if we don’t make the right release product already, we’ll custom-formulate one for you. Get in touch with our experts today to get started!

Talk To An Expert