Waxing the mold
Regardless of the type of wax used, mold waxing should be carried out as follows:
- Before waxing, ensure that the mold is fully cured. If necessary, post-cure the mold at an elevated temperature.
- Remove all contaminants such as dust and splashes from the mold surface. If the mold surface has been treated with polishing compound, it should be cleaned with a suitable washing solvent. Allow the surface to dry thoroughly before applying wax, as any moisture trapped under the wax may cause hazing of the wax film after the first demolding.
- Apply the wax in an even layer to an area of approx. 0.25 m² at a time using a sponge or a soft cloth. Make sure the ambient temperature is at least 20°C.
- Immediately remove any excess wax before it begins to dry. If the wax layer dries prematurely for any reason, apply a second layer over the dried wax and polish both layers together. For the best possible shine, use only a dry, soft, and clean cloth for polishing. Do not polish mechanically, as this may cause the wax to overheat and bond to the surface, resulting in dull spots instead of a hard, glossy finish.
- As soon as the wax begins to dry, switch to a fresh cloth and polish the mold surface to a high gloss but don't polish the wax too much. You don't want to polish wax away from the mold.
- Allow each wax layer to cure for 15 minutes (minimum 20°C) after polishing before applying the next layer. After the final wax coat, allow it to dry for approximately 30 minutes before starting the lamination. In humid conditions, curing will take longer.
New or refurbished mold
Apply at least four layers of wax following the instructions above when treating a new, repaired, or refurbished mold. Additional layers will further improve the mold surface quality. After the final wax coat, allow the entire wax film to cure for at least 12 hours (minimum 20°C), preferably 24 hours, before proceeding. Before using the mold, it is recommended to apply a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film over the waxed surface. After each of the first 2–3 demolding cycles, apply a new polished wax layer and a new PVA coating. Allow the wax layer to cure for at least 1.5 hours before applying PVA. Be sure to remove any PVA residue between demoldings. This process will create a highly durable wax layer on the mold surface, ensuring multiple successful and trouble-free demoldings.
