Antiques are much more than the inanimate objects of yesteryear, consisting of wood, metals, and glass. They are more often the touchstone of the memories of past generations. But with age, those treasured memories come with their own set of problems. For example, a piece of molding on an antique picture frame may be missing, or the traditional plaster work on a historic sculpture may be chipped. An old sofa might have a broken leg, or an old dresser might be missing a knob.

Unfortunately, exact replacements may no longer be available on the market. Replacing with mismatched substitutes will only undermine the value of precious antiques and make it look out of place. In fact, antique collectors are often resigned to scouring junkyards in the vain hope of finding an antique piece that meets their needs.

The easy solution!

There are good news. Antiques can be lovingly repaired and restored using simple mold making and casting techniques. In fact, it is possible to create a duplicate piece that is not only the same color, shape, and material, but also matches the precise texture, carving, and engraving.

The procedure begins with the making of a negative mold of the part to be replaced. In the event that a part of a picture frame is damaged or a plaster cornice has worn away, simply create a mold from another similar section of the original. Liquid latex rubber or clay can be applied over the frame or cornice to capture a mold. If you have missing knobs, handles, or legs, unscrew another knob or leg before making a mold out of clay, plaster, or silicone rubber.

In any case, the application of a good quality and effective release agent is crucial. This will ensure that the mold comes off easily and doesn’t end up damaging the old piece in any way. Once the mold has properly cured, it will capture the precise shape and size of the missing part right through to carving and engraving.

The next step is to cast the mold in polyurethane rubber, silicone rubber, or even resin. However, the casting artist first has to determine the type of material from which the missing or damaged part was made.

Whether it is metal, stone or wood, it is possible to duplicate the same look using cold casting powders. Various cold casting powders are commercially available, including iron, aluminum, tin, copper, bronze, and brass. Pewter powder can also be used to replicate the look of pewter, nickel silver, or stainless steel. Then there’s marble dust to reproduce the look of stone, limestone dust for porcelain, and even walnut shell dust to simulate wood.

The required powder must be mixed with polyurethane resin in the prescribed proportion before it is poured into the mold. For larger parts, it’s even possible to replicate the look by painting, spraying, dusting, or brushing the powder to create a thin layer in the mold. Polishing the finished model will reveal the authentic appearance of metal, stone, or wood, as desired.

Therefore, it is possible to repair and restore beloved antiques using clay, plaster, silicone rubber or latex rubber in molds and casts.