Question:
How do I care for my molds?
Preperation.
When stirring your slip, use a round dowl. This is less likely to cause air bubbles.
Slip should be about the consistency of heavy cream for proper pouring.
Many people put several layers of newspaper on the table before pouring to make the clean-up easier. Rolling up the top layer usually takes care of any spills.
Quick drying #2
Never put a wet mold on top of a kiln to dry. The uneven heat may cause the mold to warp.
If you must force-dry a mold do it in front of a forced-air electric heater. If it is too close to hold your hand in that spot, it is too close for the mold. Turn mold frequently.
Quick drying
The best way I have found to dry molds is to place them in the sun for a few days......if you want a quick dry, however, try the oven, don't heat over 150c as will weaken mold, but a few hours in the oven will do wonders.
Plaster in your clay
Be careful not to get plaster in your clay. In the studio the wedging table, various molds and bats are made of plaster. Plaster (calcium sulfate) in the clay is transformed by firing to become calcium oxide or quicklime. Quicklime is unstable--it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. When it has absorbed enough water to become stable calcium hydroxide, the lime will have expanded to 30 times it's original volume. If this happens in the wall of a pot the pressure of the expanding lime will blow out the surface of the pot leaving a crater with fluffy white powder at the bottom. This will usually happen after the bisque firing. Plaster molds are easily chipped or scratched which can dislodge bits that get into clay. Be very careful when working with plaster, and never use metal tools on a plaster surface.
Facts
A mold is like any other too in that it will wear out after prolonged use.
Molds are expensive and should be cared for properly like any other investment
If you have poured a mold a number of times and it shows wear it is possible to scribe some of the detail back by carefully carving with a sharp tool.
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| Guru Spotlight |
| Patricia Walters-Fischer |
