Short answer: setting silicone is the pad between the mounting base and the wax model. It holds the model still for the whole setting run and peels off clean afterwards. The ready-to-use putty (SSMAB-01A and 01B) needs no mixing and can be re-formed for the next model until it stops taking a clean impression. The two-part AB silicone putty is mixed before use and firms up around the piece. Either way, the base does not grip the wax by itself; the silicone is what does.
Why it matters more than it looks
An automatic stone setting machine works to a coordinate map. It has no way of knowing the wax has moved. If a model shifts by a fraction of a millimetre halfway through a run, nothing alarms and nothing stops; the machine keeps placing stones against positions that are no longer where it thinks they are, and the fault shows up after casting as stones out of line. Silicone that grips over the whole contact area is the cheapest insurance against that.
The two products
| SSMAB-01A / SSMAB-01B | AB silicone putty | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ready-to-use fixing putty, one tub | Two-part putty, parts A and B kneaded together |
| Preparation | None: take a pad from the tub | Mix, then shape while still pliable; it firms up |
| Colour | A is white, B is purple; same formulation, the colour tells batches apart | — |
| Re-use | Peels off and re-forms until it stops taking a clean impression | Releases cleanly; suitable for repeated use |
| Wax types | Casting wax, injection wax, milled and 3D-printed models | Jewellery wax pieces |
| Storage | Sealed tub, cool and dry, away from heat and sun | — |
How to apply it
- Take a pad from the tub (or mix parts A and B) and work it until it is evenly soft.
- Press it onto the mounting base so it keys to the disc and cannot rotate. The base is a 76 mm machined disc with a locating stud that puts every model in the same position.
- Bed the wax model in with steady, even pressure. Never force it down: heat and force are what distort wax.
- Keep the stone-bearing surfaces clear so the nozzle has a free approach.
- Check the model does not rock before starting the run.
- Peel, do not scrape, when the run is finished, and re-form the pad for the next model.
How much you will use
Enough to bed the model without swallowing it: the stone-bearing surfaces must stay clear and the model must not rock. Most operators settle on their own quantity within a few pieces; if in doubt, use a slightly larger pad and a shallower bed. Consumption over a month follows the number of models mounted and how many times each pad is re-used, so a floor running a machine all day keeps silicone as a stocked consumable alongside nozzles.
When to replace the pad
The signal is loss of clean impression. Once a pad has picked up enough wax crumb, workshop dust or stray stones that it no longer moulds crisply around a model, it is gripping on high spots rather than over the whole contact area, and a model gripped on high spots can pivot. Replace it then, not when it finally lets go of something.
Bases and studs
The silicone sits on a 76 mm base with stud, sold singly or in 1 kg and 2 kg packs. Most floors keep a stack so the next model is bedded while the current one runs, and the machine only stops long enough to swap a base. A base is replaced when the disc face wears, the stud shifts out of perpendicular, or corrosion pits the mounting surface. Everything here is under Consumables and dispatches the same day from Mumbai and Rajkot.
Frequently asked questions
Does wax setting silicone need mixing?
SSMAB-01A and 01B do not: they are ready to use from the tub, with no catalyst, no ratio and no cure time. The AB silicone putty is a two-part product: parts A and B are kneaded together, shaped while pliable, and firm up around the piece.
Can the silicone be re-used?
Yes. It peels off the wax and the base cleanly and can be re-formed for the next model. Replace it once it has picked up enough wax crumb, dust or stone debris to stop taking a clean impression, because contaminated putty grips unevenly and uneven grip is model movement.
Will the silicone mark or distort the wax model?
It is formulated to release from wax rather than bond to it, so a clean model peels off clean. What distorts wax is heat and force: bed the model in with steady, even pressure and keep the tub away from radiators and direct sun.