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How to Harden Silicone for Manufacturing Toys

Silicone plastic is a commonly used material in the construction of plastic toys such as action figures, dolls and souvenirs. Hardening the plastic after you have poured it into the required mold is a required step to finalize the production of the toy. The hardened silicone is what gives the toy a solid construction and paintable surface, allowing the manufacturer to further customize the look of the toy.

Things You'll Need

Humidifier
Bucket of water
Pitcher of water

Instructions

- 1
  Place the molded silicone and a humidifier into a room where you can shut off any windows and doors that provide access to it. Allow the humidifier to run until the silicone molds have hardened. The silicone dries by absorbing ambient moisture, so placing a humidifier in the same room as the molds can speed the hardening process.
- 2
  Place a bucket of water in the same room, and close to, the silicone molds that you've chosen to make. The bucket of water serves as a low-cost humidifier, which may prolong the hardening process compared to using an electrically driven humidifier.
- 3
  Add a small amount of water to the silicone mixture before you pour it into a mold. By adding water directly to the mixture, you can also speed up the time it takes to harden. Be careful not to use too much water, as more than a splash of it can dilute the silicone mixture and make it unusable.

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