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From choosing the right mould to understanding what arrives at your door — this guide covers everything a new Castaway customer needs to know before their first cast.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
Every Castaway mould arrives ready to use. Just add your preferred material — Jesmonite, concrete, resin, or plaster — and you're ready to pour.
01
Premium Silicone Mould
Hand-finished platinum-cure silicone, responsibly sourced from EU and UK manufacturers. Fully traceable from raw material to your door. Captures detail with exceptional precision and releases cleanly after every cast — for 100+ casts.
02
3D Printed Support Frame
A rigid structural frame, precision-printed in the UK on a Bambu Lab FDM printer. The frame wraps the silicone exactly, preventing deformation during pouring and maintaining the mould's geometry pour after pour. Without it, even platinum silicone can sag.
03
Speed Clips
Bespoke 3D-printed clips, colour-coded by mould size. They lock the frame halves together in seconds and release just as fast — no tools, no faff. Colour tells you the size at a glance: red for small, blue for medium, green for large.
04
Full Usage Guide
A concise guide covering preparation, pouring, vibration plate technique, demoulding, cleaning, and storage. Everything you need to get flawless results from your first cast.
THE CLIP SYSTEM
READ THE COLOUR. KNOW THE SIZE.
Every Castaway mould comes with colour-coded speed clips. The clip colour tells you the size category instantly — no guessing, no checking the label.
Small moulds
Red
Compact, detail-focused moulds. Perfect for trinket dishes, incense holders, tealights, and egg cups. Ideal for makers who want fast turnaround and minimal material use.
Includes:
TEALIGHT HOLDEREGG CUPINCENSE HOLDER
Medium moulds
Blue
Mid-sized forms that work beautifully as planters, desk accessories, or statement decorative objects. The most versatile size category in the range.
Includes:
GEO POTCOLUMN POT SMALLRIBBED BOWL MEDIUM
Large moulds
Green
Statement-scale forms. Large planters, centrepiece bowls, and architectural vessels. These moulds make pieces that command a room.
Includes:
RIBBED BOWL LARGECOLUMN POT LARGERING BOWLSWIRL POTCHOOSING THE RIGHT MOULD
WHICH MOULD IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Different moulds suit different makers and different projects. Here's how to think about your first purchase.
Start with a small mould if…
You're new to casting, working with limited material, or want to test the Castaway system before committing to a larger piece.
You're casting for the first time
You want to test colour combinations and finishes
You're making gifts or small-batch items
You don't yet have a vibration plate
Choose a large mould if…
You have casting experience, you're producing for sale, or you want a statement piece that makes an immediate impact.
You're selling at markets or online
You have a vibration plate (strongly recommended)
You want pieces that anchor a room or a product range
You're comfortable with Jesmonite quantities of 500ml+
If you want something unique…
The Swirl Pot and Ribbed Bowl are the most distinctive forms in the range.
The Swirl Pot — spiral form that catches light differently from every angle
The Ribbed Bowl — born from a happy accident, 28 twisted ribs
Both show marbled finishes exceptionally well
If you're building a product range…
Multiple moulds at different sizes create a cohesive collection customers can mix and match.
Geo Pot Small + Large gives you an instant two-piece range
Ribbed Bowl Medium + Large work as a set
Tealight Holder pairs well with any larger vessel mould
Column Pot Small + Large = a clean, architectural duo
YOUR FIRST CAST
FROM BOX TO FINISHED PIECE IN SIX STEPS
Follow this sequence for best results from your very first cast.
01
Assemble the frame
Place the silicone mould on a table and slide the frame halves onto each side. Snap the speed clips into position on both sides. The clips lock with a firm click. The assembled frame should feel solid with no flex. Press the seems into the mould to make sure they are locked into place and the mould has formed the correct shape. Finally, insert the internal spacer (if supplied with your model) to make sure the mould doesn't sag when the casting material is added.
02
Prepare your material
Mix your Jesmonite AC100, concrete, or resin to the correct ratio. For Jesmonite AC100, use the Castaway Jesmonite calculator to get exact quantities for your mould. Mix thoroughly until smooth. Sieving the material and mixing with a dedicated blade can help with this process.
03
Pour slowly
Pour from one corner of the mould, tilting slightly to encourage the material to flow evenly. A slow, controlled pour introduces fewer air bubbles. Don't overfill — leave approximately 2–3mm from the rim. Some of our moulds use a small 2-3mm ridge around the top of the mould. This allows you to cast a product with a flat base if required. If not, simply fill to the bottom of this section for a clean base.
04
Vibrate (strongly recommended)
Place the assembled mould on a vibration plate for 60–90 seconds. The rigid frame keeps everything stable on the plat but you should hold the frame/mould in place to prevent slippage. This step draws air bubbles to the surface and dramatically improves surface quality.
05
Cure fully before demoulding
Leave to cure at room temperature for the manufacturer's recommended time. For Jesmonite AC100 this is typically 24 hours at 18–20°C. Don't rush — demoulding too early causes surface tears and cracking.
06
Demould and clean the mould
Remove the internal spacer, then the speed clips and open the frame. The platinum silicone will release cleanly — no force required. Wipe the silicone with a damp cloth. Store the mould with the frame fitted to maintain its shape.
READY TO START CASTING?
Browse the full range and find the mould that's right for your next project.