Mold Release Wax Vs. Mold Release Spray
A critical component to creating a mold is your mold release agent, which ensures not only a quality slip but also the quality of your product, the life cycle of your mold and the speed of your production line. Today, a few types of mold release agents are available, including mold release wax and mold release spray. Both offer different benefits and drawbacks, which is why it’s valuable to look into each before creating your next mold.
The Pros of Mold Release Wax
As one of the earliest types of mold release agents, a mold release paste or wax provides several benefits, including:
- Low Price Point: An advantage that has long promoted the use of wax mold release sprays and agents is their price point. Many are inexpensive, which can make them an attractive choice for companies. A drawback does come with those cost savings, however.
- Quality Mold Surface: It’s not uncommon for your prototype or product to contain surface-level imperfections, such as a minor scratch. When you apply a wax or paste, the agent can fill in those imperfections, creating an improved, even surface.
The Cons of Wax Release Agents
While a standard choice, mold release wax also comes with a few well-established drawbacks, including:
- Long Application Times: Many producers of mold release pastes or waxes require a multi-step application process, which demands more of your employees’ time. The additional steps tend to consist of sanding, buffing and polishing, as well as allowing any sealers to dry.
- Difficult Applications: If you’re working with intricate mold surfaces, you’ll find that a mold release wax is less-than-ideal for the details and corners of your mold. Due to its complicated application for narrow areas, your surface may feature bare spots, which can lead to challenges and damages when creating a cast later.
The Advantages of Mold Release Spray
In comparison to mold release pastes, a mold release spray offers the following perks:
- Quick Application: A spray delivers a fast application process, even when working with complex products. When using a release agent, you can apply it in a single motion, versus dipping into your wax, brushing it on the surface and repeating the process.
- Multiple Uses: While waxes often require reapplication after one use, you can use a single application of a mold release spray numerous times, boosting your productivity.
- Zero Transfer: The fact that mold release sprays do not transfer from the mold to your parts is another benefit. As a result, there is zero concern over interference with coatings or secondary adhesive bonds.
- Versatile Slips: A mold release compound in a spray format is also available in select slip target levels, which is why they’re a versatile choice for manufacturers that work with a variety of products and materials for molds.
The Drawbacks of Mold Release Spray
A spray release agent does have one notable disadvantage — its price. In comparison to a mold release wax, mold release sprays do carry a higher cost. The consideration that buyers have to make, however, is if the increased cost correlates with the additional benefits of a spray over a wax.
In comparison to one another, a mold release spray tends to be a more competitive choice due to its application time, as well as transfer prevention, multiple uses and slip availability. Whether you choose a wax or a mold, however, is based on your application and product. As you weigh your choices, it’s also essential to consider whether a water-based or solvent-based mold release agent is best.