How can I get a custom plastic mold for candy-making?

Question

I would like to make chocolates with a design on them, which would require a mold to make them in, but I can't seem to find any place that makes custom molds for candy-making, because the top zillion results on a web search are the same old places selling heart and bunny and santa shapes molds. Does anyone know of a website or a brick-and-mortar store that will make a plastic mold for chocolate candies? I'm not looking for commercial uses, so preferably something not outrageously priced.... Thanks!

Answer 1

You're best bet would probably be silicone molds, I think, rather than the clear plastic ones. You can make those yourself, or there are probably places that would make them for you.

I think that all 2-part silicone molding materials are rated "food safe," but you'd want to be sure before buying. (Many of the pre-made silicone molds are used for baking nowadays btw.)

These gel-like silicone molding materials come in two parts --one is usually white, and the other a color, so that it will be obvious when they've been totally mixed.
After kneading equal parts of the two colors together, you'll simply press the putty onto something firm that you want to mold (which could be something you've made yourself from polymer clay and baked, possibly). Leave the putty in place while it cures (5-10 min usually).
(You might want to create a flat area on the back side of the mold while the putty is curing --or sit it on something flat during that time-- so that each mold could sit alone and be level while the chocolate is setting later.)

When you remove the silicone mold from your form, you'll have a flexible mold into which you can pour chocolate or press in some fondant, etc.. (if baking is necessary, the cured silicone mold can be easily baked with something in it, and requires no release since nothing much can stick to silicone). Also since the molds are silicone, they're flexible which allows for some undercuts in the mold as well.

These silicone putties aren't cheap but they're not really expensive for what you want to do unless you want to make many-many-many different molds, or create them as mold trays, etc.

For loads of info on some of the brand names for silicone molding materials, any differences there might be between them, as well as some places to buy them and some prices, etc., look on this page at my website:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/molds.htm
.. you can probably just start by clicking on BRANDS from the list at the top of the page:
(.......Making Molds Yourself > Silicone > Brands )

That page also has info on how to make molds from other materials (especially polymer clay since my site is mostly about polymer clay), and also how to make polymer casts from all kinds of mold materials including silicone putties.


HTH!

Diane B.

Answer 2

Customized Chocolate Molds

Answer 3

A Google search on "custom candy mold" brought up sites, but it will be an investment on your part, because they have to build a die and all that.