I wanted to add that using more Earth-Plugs seems to be increasing the effectiveness of my gifting.
In the past, I used EP’s sparingly due to the added time and difficultly it took to make them in quantity.
After combining a tip from a friend for a better mold and figuring out how to cast them without having to tape the bottom, I have been able to make them more frequently.
For example, a good EP mold you can find at most Hardware stores is a 1-1/2" x 6" Sink Tailpiece . This is made of POLYPROPYLENE and PVC. I have found that using a mold made of polypropylene will release the hardened resin unlike PVC.
Usually somewhere on the item is stamped PP with a triangle around it[/u:3j1rqy43] to indicate the material is polypropylene. This is an example from the bottom of a food container.
I was then able to find a silicone mini-muffin mold in which the cups are only 1-1/2" wide to plug the bottom of each EP mold.
This effectively eliminates the need for taping the bottom of the mold and is reusable many times. This really speeds the process up in my experience…Yeah!
Double-check the width of the silicone mini-muffin cups before you purchase as most are wider than 1-1/2".
Here is one on Amazon that is perfect for plugging the Polypropylene EP mold.
I cut the silicone mold into sections of 8.
I use one set of 8 as a plug for the bottom of my mold and cut the cups out of the other set to use as a way to stabilize the molds during the pouring process.
I use a wide-mouth funnel to pour in the metal shavings.
After hardening, I can then push the EP out of the mold easily or soak them in hot water for a few minutes if they are a little stuck.
I just use a normal pair of metal snippers to trim any sharp resin on the edges if necessary.
There you have it. I have a few sets of these molds, so I can make lots more EP’s…!!! They seem to make a big difference. Happy gifting.
Toby