Make Ceramics Using Molds

Browse through our archive of articles to find a variety of techniques from making plaster molds for slip casting and press molding to making bisque clay hump or slump molds to creating molds for casting clay sculpture.

Make ceramics using molds.

To do so evenly roll out your clay to the thickness you desire using rolling clay slab sticks 3 8 inch is a good starting point. Why is that though. These molds can now be used as press molds press clay into it peel it out and to make sprigs clay that is attached to your piece for raised decorative effect. Because we plan to use the rotational casting machine we create a mold box lid with a pour hole.

The second type of mold is a bisque mold which is super easy to make yourself. Making ceramics does not have to require a kiln and pottery wheel. Learn to make and use bisque molds and plaster molds plus get casting slip recipes when you download this freebie ceramic mold making techniques. There are two basic types of molds in glass slumping.

The key is to make the mold out of the right material which will withstand the 1 200 degree temperature in the kiln. Molds for glass slumping are surprisingly easy to make. This example explains how molds are made from clay. Then cast your mold to form the shape of anything from cake tins to plates.

How to make ceramics using molds. You do not want to fire this clay or mix it into your other clay as plaster mixed in clay is likely to cause an explosion in the kiln. In preparation for creating the molds of the front half of each shape the prototypes are refined a final time. The remainder of the sculpture is removed from the mold and any clay left behind in the mold is cleaned out.

In ceramics this is becoming quite popular. The plaster texture slabs allow one to create slabs of clay with detailed designs on for use in handbuilding. Ceramics can be used for indoors or outdoors for pots tea kettles figurines and many other pieces. Hump molds are used to form the interior of the slumped glass.

Here we ll dive into why you should consider using molds for pottery along with some of the best ways to make ceramics using molds. Similarly sprig molds available in plaster ceramic and wood allow one to press clay into the mold and to release a sprig or a decorative dimensional elements such as a flower leaf or. Use the same clay a few times then discard. Ceramics are some of the most beautiful craft projects.

Here you ll learn how to make ceramic molds as well as how to use them. The mold is placed back into the mold box and then secured.