In my quest to find unusual molds, I stumbled upon Pacific Mold Design’s 8” skull planter mold. Made of ABS plastic, this was the first time I was able test cement in something other than a silicon mold.
But first, a full disclaimer: I purchased this mold with my own money. I was NOT asked to write this review and I will receive no monetary offerings for what I am about to write. The link in this review goes directly to Pacific Mold Design. I will receive nothing if you decide to order one of their molds.
The molds I ordered arrived in perfect condition and, I must admit, I was busy well into the night mixing cement and pouring it into my prepared molds. I simply could not wait to see the results.
Because it was still cold out when I received my molds, I had to let the cement sit for three days.
Demolding
Demolding was a treat. I like to take care of my molds so that I can get numerous uses out of them. So when the cement skull did not plop right out, I began to carefully shake and wiggle the skull until it came out.
I was more than happy with the results. The skull appeared strong (no possible break points), and I was all too anxious to paint it.
After 8 days I was able to paint the skull. I chose a watered down black base paint. After that dried, I brush-painted it metallic silver.
Over a Dozen Skulls Later
After testing the mold with different types of cement, I have found that a Portland cement and sand mix works best in this mold.
I had some premixed cement in the shed – the kind with heavy rocks in it – and the resulting skulls were less than desirable.
Uses
While advertised as a planter, I like burning candles in the skulls. I also have one of my skulls filled with crystals I collected while on one of my hikes.
As outdoor Halloween decorations painted with glow-in-the-dark paint, they are going to be an awesome hit this year.
Recommended
I have made over a dozen of these skulls using just one mold. Were I to sell them at $20 to $30 a piece, I would only need to sell two to make my money back in the cost of the mold and supplies.
Besides that, these make wonderful gifts. I am honestly pleased with the results.
