Concrete Mountain Valet Tray

Mountain Range Catch-All Tray

This model was originally designed to create a mold and be cast in concrete, but you can certainly keep it as is as a 3D print

If you want to use it directly 3D Printed:

• It is not necessary to use a high infill rate
• You can use 'lightning' supports to optimize printing

⚠️ Pay attention to the intended use: the reliefs take up a lot of space. Think carefully about the dimensions, the model can quickly turn out to be too small

⚠️ Warning

Read the entire following section carefully before starting the concrete version. The process is quite long

Mold + Concrete Version

The previous tips also apply

Materials Needed

• Silicone (entry-level sufficient)
• Cornstarch

(There is another method with soap, but I have not tested it.)

👉 I advise you to watch a video to fully understand the preparation of the silicone + cornstarch mixture

⚠️ Precautions

• Wear gloves (silicone sticks everywhere)
• Wear a mask (strong and potentially harmful odor)

Mold Making

Once the paste is ready:

• Make the mold thick enough to prevent it from tearing
• Place the 3D printed model on a flat surface (e.g., plywood)
• Apply the paste, pressing firmly to get flat edges (this makes casting easier)

With the surplus, you can:

• Add reinforcements
• Create feet to stabilize the mold

Once dry:

• Peel the mold off the plate with a spatula

👉 Removing the 3D printed model:

• Peel the mold off the model as much as possible
• Use wire cutters / flat-nose pliers
• Remove the plastic gradually, layer by layer
• Be careful not to damage the mold

Concrete Casting

The mold is ready

• Stabilize it correctly (wedging)
• You can add a small rebar (wire)

Mortar Preparation

• 1 volume of cement
• 3 volumes of sand
• ~0.5 volume of water (adjust according to texture)

👉 The mixture should be moist but not liquid

Tips

• Wear gloves (cement is aggressive on the skin)
• Fill gradually
• Try to limit air bubbles
• Tap or vibrate the mold to bring the bubbles to the surface

Let it dry long enough

Demolding

• Demold gently so as not to damage the mold

✅ And there you have it, your catch-all tray is ready!

If you have any ideas to simplify the molding process, feel free to leave a comment