Introduction: Tetris Ice Cubes
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Make your own tetris block silicone ice cube tray.
The mold created in this project can be used for much more than just ice cubes- try making Jello tetris pieces, or tetris soap, tetris Popsicles, or even tetris ground beef squares!
Mmmmm ... ground beef squares
The mold created in this project can be used for much more than just ice cubes- try making Jello tetris pieces, or tetris soap, tetris Popsicles, or even tetris ground beef squares!
Mmmmm ... ground beef squares
Step 1: Materials
The materials and design for this project are somewhat flexible. The idea is to create many different 1" cubes, and piece them together in the form of the tetris pieces. The tetris pieces are then assembled on a board, creating a positive for liquid silicone to be poured on.
1. 1" thick wood (or any other solid material you have the ability to make the cubes out of; ie acrylic or metal can also be used)
2. Saw
3. Ruler
4. Sander
5. Wood glue
6. Molding Silicone
7. Hot glue gun
8. Exacto knife
1. 1" thick wood (or any other solid material you have the ability to make the cubes out of; ie acrylic or metal can also be used)
2. Saw
3. Ruler
4. Sander
5. Wood glue
6. Molding Silicone
7. Hot glue gun
8. Exacto knife
Step 2: Making the Blocks
A quick Google image search for "tetris solved" returns the block layout shown below. This design (or any other design where the tetris pieces fit perfectly together) will return the maximum amount of tetris pieces with minimum space wasted. As you can see from this design (5 blocks x 8 blocks) 40 wooden cubes will be needed.
Making the cubes:
1. Cut the 1" thick board into 1" wide strips. Further cut these strips into the 1" cubes necessary. A table saw and chop saw make creating the cubes much easier. I recommend making a few more cubes than necessary to have extra (just in case).
2. To form the "classic" tetris block shape we will sand off the corners of each of the cubes 1/8".
Making the cubes:
1. Cut the 1" thick board into 1" wide strips. Further cut these strips into the 1" cubes necessary. A table saw and chop saw make creating the cubes much easier. I recommend making a few more cubes than necessary to have extra (just in case).
2. To form the "classic" tetris block shape we will sand off the corners of each of the cubes 1/8".
Step 3: Making the Tetris Pieces
The design that we are using requires two "I" pieces, one "J" piece, one "L" piece, two "O" pieces, one "S" piece, two "T" pieces, and one "Z" piece. If you do not know what I am talking about Wikipedia has a very nice page explaining everything you would ever care to know about tetris. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris
1. Layout and glue the pieces together using wood glue.
1. Layout and glue the pieces together using wood glue.
Step 4: Making the Positive
The walls of the positive should be made from a nonporous material as to not stick to the silicone once it has dried. I recommend acrylic for this step, but really any nonporous material should work (glass, metal, etc.)
Once the positive housing is made, glue the tetris blocks to the bottom using a hot glue gun.
To prevent the silicone from sticking to the wooden blocks coat each of them in olive oil, or a non-sticking substance specifically designed for your exact type of silicone.
Once the positive housing is made, glue the tetris blocks to the bottom using a hot glue gun.
To prevent the silicone from sticking to the wooden blocks coat each of them in olive oil, or a non-sticking substance specifically designed for your exact type of silicone.
Step 5: Pouring the Silicone
Mix the silicone according to the directions provided. Pay careful attention to whether it asks to measure by weight or volume.
Pour the silicone mix over the wooden blocks, filling the housing to the rim.
Let set according to the directions provided (usually it will be at least 10 hours).
Pour the silicone mix over the wooden blocks, filling the housing to the rim.
Let set according to the directions provided (usually it will be at least 10 hours).
Step 6: Removing the Negative
To remove the negative from the holder:
Using a sharp knife, cut around the sides between the housing and the silicone.
If possible break away the sides of the housing (it will make removing the bottom much easier).
Pry the bottom of the housing off of the silicone. Because of the undercuts on the blocks, the tetris pieces will probably remain trapped in the silicone.
To remove the blocks from the silicone:
Using an exacto knife cut away the silicone trapping the blocks in the negative. Once enough silicone is removed flex the mold a bit, and you should be able to peel out the wooden tetris pieces.
Using a sharp knife, cut around the sides between the housing and the silicone.
If possible break away the sides of the housing (it will make removing the bottom much easier).
Pry the bottom of the housing off of the silicone. Because of the undercuts on the blocks, the tetris pieces will probably remain trapped in the silicone.
To remove the blocks from the silicone:
Using an exacto knife cut away the silicone trapping the blocks in the negative. Once enough silicone is removed flex the mold a bit, and you should be able to peel out the wooden tetris pieces.
Step 7: Making the Ice Cubes
To make clear tetris ice cubes just add water to the mold and freeze.
To make colored tetris cubes, first look up which game color scheme you would like to use from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris
Next mix food coloring and water to best try and match those colors.
Pour the colored water into the mold and let sit until frozen (5-6 hours).
To make colored tetris cubes, first look up which game color scheme you would like to use from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris
Next mix food coloring and water to best try and match those colors.
Pour the colored water into the mold and let sit until frozen (5-6 hours).