Tetris Ice Cubes

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

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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

cmedina7 says: Jan 10, 2013. 10:09 PM

very nice for a party, =)

HoshizakiIce says: Jan 22, 2012. 3:49 PM

Why didn't we think of that. http://www.hoshizakiice.com/Home_Page.html

TheMacyC says: Sep 25, 2011. 6:37 AM

Awesome!

builderkidj says: May 1, 2011. 11:27 AM

Awesome!

SHIFT! says: Mar 13, 2011. 3:49 PM

Hey Tetrinate!

Just wanted to say this build is completely amazing and the results I had with my own Tetris Ice cubes were amazing! Thank you also for inspiring me to create my own Video Game ice casts instructable : http://www.instructables.com/id/FREE-Z-or-How-to-make-VG-Ice-Casts-from-Papercraft/

You Rule!

vt13013 says: Jun 4, 2007. 10:04 AM

Did you tap or vibrate the mold to make sure you didn't have any air bubbles? I noticed a few on the pour images.

Tetranitrate (author) in reply to vt13013Jun 4, 2007. 11:30 AM

I tapped it a few times to get rid of as many bubbles as I could.

neckrochylde9 in reply to TetranitrateSep 14, 2009. 10:53 AM

Mixing the silicone very slowly will also help with air bubbles, check the cure time of your rubber first though, most have more than enough time to be patient when mixing. Ideally you would make a vacuum chamber and vacuum the rubber before pouring it. but be sure not to fill your container more than 2 thirds or less or you'll end up with silicone all over your vac chamber! gooey mess!

Void Schism in reply to neckrochylde9Mar 8, 2011. 1:53 AM

it also helps to use an old brush to paint a layer of silicone over the surfaces, especially where there are overhangs, before pouring the rest

robinhood2605 says: Dec 29, 2010. 6:28 PM

congrats for your creativity

coppeis says: Dec 1, 2010. 8:52 PM

Where could I get the silicone and the positive? Also does it have to be food grade?

P.S. I live in the NYC aria and would prefer not to buy it only line any suggestions?

neffk in reply to coppeisDec 9, 2010. 11:23 AM

I was reading about silicon the other day and noticed that there are several kinds. They differ in the curing agent, which can be platnium or peroxide. Platnuim is safe for projects in which the silicone cures against skin. Not the same as food grade, but related.

coppeis in reply to neffkDec 9, 2010. 4:37 PM

thanks!

aleybru says: Oct 28, 2010. 9:09 AM

Dr. dB says: Jul 20, 2010. 1:23 PM

Good Instructable, coherently presented and well photgraphed! I may have to try this, as my wife is an avid (or would that be "rabid"?) Tetris player. I have to keep an NES001 alive and operating on each of our main TVs so she can "satisfy the urge" whenever it strikes... (Plus, the "XBoxed" grandkids are hooked on some of those "quaint, antique" games, too!) Definitely should WASH THE MOLD THOROUGHLY a couple of times, before using, to ensure complete removal of any remaining "release compound". None of them would be very tasty, and some of the "commercial" products are rather toxic... For folks going with wood as their "positive" medium, I would suggest starting with a 1" square moulding strip - might cost a little more but reduces cuts considerably. A hunk of angle iron or a pair of straight 2x4s nailed into a "V" would make a handy "alignment jig" for glueing the shapes. Perhaps a shallow cardboard tray lined with that "release"-type aluminum foil for an expendable mold housing? Hot glue should stick well enough but silicone ought to "peel out" fairly well. Plus, if the hot-gluing is done carefully enough, maybe with some cotton swabs for "dressing-in" the excess around edges, the shapes should "pop" out from behind without much hassle, once the facing foil is removed. (You might even get to keep the undercuts, although the expansion of the water as it freezes might not allow that to work....) This would also make interesting candles, and those needn't be limited to 1" cubes since they wouldn't have to fit a glass...!

mikoto says: Dec 30, 2009. 10:43 PM

Oh my goodness, Now I want to play with silicone.

Dr. dB in reply to mikotoJul 20, 2010. 12:27 PM

hmm... I had that same thought a couple of times while Pam Anderson was "Dancing With The Stars"....

endawmyke says: Aug 15, 2009. 4:19 AM

Did you use COOL AID to color the cubes (sorry for the caps the caps lock gets stuck alot)

zazukain in reply to endawmykeAug 24, 2009. 6:17 AM

Did you not read Step 7? and I doubt that there is something wrong with your caps lock because it just happens to be for the words, "cool" and "aid." Anyway, you could have just fixed it.

cowscankill in reply to zazukainOct 2, 2009. 6:19 AM

Lol. And why would he apologize for it being stuck if he cuold just backspace and retype it... Some people on the internet just don't have comment sense.

M4industries in reply to cowscankillOct 17, 2009. 9:58 AM

Heheh
comment sense
common sense

was that spelling intended?

cowscankill in reply to M4industriesOct 17, 2009. 10:14 AM

I meant Common but Comment actually works xD

pyrorower in reply to cowscankillJan 3, 2010. 12:05 PM

Just a typo that happens to fit the context :P

Dr. dB in reply to pyrorowerJul 20, 2010. 12:25 PM

Serendipity rocks!

nodnodwinkwink says: Jun 16, 2010. 7:43 AM

Theres plenty of novelty ice cube trays out there for sale online and in shops, this would sell too!

myvoiceisdubbed says: Jun 15, 2010. 10:18 PM

Love this. I was going to give it a 4 1/2, but the very idea of tetris ground beef squares... that's an instant 5/5 right there.

Morriscow says: May 26, 2010. 5:09 PM

now if only they would disappear when i made rows... hmm *chomp* ow fk my tooth

rennoc says: Feb 18, 2010. 10:17 PM

You can make an awesome game from this instructable!!!

anniehela says: Feb 18, 2010. 7:33 AM

I like it. Very nice idea and can create more new ideas..

Radke22 says: Jan 10, 2010. 6:23 PM

Sweet instructable! 5/5! If only I was as creative! =]
My first instructable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-ice-fishing-rod/

jotism says: Oct 20, 2009. 11:10 AM

<a href="http://www.makeyourownmolds.com/">http://www.makeyourownmolds.com/</a> there should be some useful stuff there...

jdc187 says: Sep 27, 2009. 11:49 PM

where does one get molding silicone from?

EgViAgN in reply to jdc187Oct 14, 2009. 11:50 AM

www.smooth-on.com/index.php
Its a great site.

adamgillies says: Oct 1, 2009. 5:17 AM

Food grade silicone or just normal silicone?

Hero Under The Pine says: Aug 12, 2009. 7:09 AM

Definitely gonna use THAT at my next party, Thanks!!! w00t Tetris FTW

mickyminime says: Oct 14, 2008. 11:30 PM

i cant find moulding silicone ANYWHERE!!! im so sad. if anyone knows where, please say.

dvsdarrel in reply to mickyminimeJun 25, 2009. 1:33 PM

Have you tried the craft stores in your area? Hobby lobby or Michaels

Hey Jude in reply to mickyminimeApr 5, 2009. 3:48 PM

bentley chemicals or smooth-on often give sample packs out for a small fee. I recon from the pics that this is the actual company too. good luck, if this post isn't too old!

cd41 in reply to mickyminimeJan 2, 2009. 9:23 PM

just a comment but you could use polymorph alittle expensive and not real sure if you can afford/find/want-to-work-with it and might be hard to color unless you got the right grade but if there is absolutly no place for ytou to get molding silicone(to be honest i never heard of it) try it let me know