Over the past few weeks I've been researching plaster mold making and not finding the information I needed so I ordered " The Essential Guide To Mold Making and Slip Casting" by Andrew Martin. Spent some time reading and trying to absorb all the information. The book was helpful and I think I'm ready to tackle a new set of molds. My next hurdle was finding the right plaster. No 1 Pottery Plaster is the best choice according the Andrew. Found it at Dick Blick. While waiting for the plaster to arrive I worked on removing undercuts from 19 parts. This is very important step. Sanding, sanding, sanding...
Each part has been sanded and parting lines have been determined. Now I'm ready to cast a new set of molds!
I love your hands. They are really wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHi Teri, I love your blog. The WIP BJD photos are excellent. I know you mentioned that you have a plaster mold making book already, but I hope you won't mind if I mention another one? This one is so good, I have a copy that stays on my reference shelf, and a studio copy.
ReplyDeletePlaster Mold and Model Making.
Charles Chaney and Stanley Skee.
NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1973.
ISBN: 0442215118
I don't seem to be able to find it anymore, but I used to be able to buy Green Soap at the Pharmacy. It makes the best soap separator for plaster molds and models. Another item that I can no longer find is Laundry Bluing, for making a color layer for plaster molds. The best soaping brush I ever owned was a Japanese Hake brush about an inch wide. It had the softest brush, and made the best soaped separator layer on a plaster mold.
There is also this book:
Mold making for Ceramics.
Donald E. Frith.
Radnor PA: Chilton Book Company, 1985.
ISBN: 0713651482
It includes two calculators; a volume and mix calculator, and a shrinkage compensating calculator.
You may also want to take a look at:
The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook.
Thurston James.
White Hall, VA: Betterway Publications, 1989.
Hopefully Helpful.
I would also like to make better molds. I use ivory soap to separate my molds and it works good. I don't always get parting lines right and then end up making a 3 piece mold instead of 2.
ReplyDelete