Post #623444 by danlovestikis on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 9:04 AM

Hi Tiki Tonie I have thought about writing a mold making book. I had to read many and also have instruction from mold makers before I could do it on my own with Dan.
I'd love to see what you come up with. There are always surprises to deal with.

WestADad you crossed fingers gave me perfect tops. I'll continue this new technique and hope they don't explode in the kiln.

Chuck Tatum is Tiki, this is fun I can see you in my minds eye as I write, great to have met you. I like the looks of the mug too.

dartharnie thank you so much. We love tiki art and I'm happy you included mine.

Professor G glitches allow me to post more photos. When on happens its, "Oh got to get a good photos of that one".

MadDogMike it seems I have to save something every day.

Progress Report on Torches #12 and #13.
For 24 hours I had a fan blow inside the molds to firm op the clay.

Nice and dry on the outside.

Nicely dry on the inside.

Top one looks good.

Top two looks good.

Next up the sea-life for the Bumatay Chunk Lamp. I think I've finished all the sculps.

The molds that Roge makes are extremely expensive. So to make it work he needs four of my Bumatay. So yesterday we molded the Bumatay so that I can cast four and bisque fire them for him. Then he'll make one mold of all the small sculpts and one mold with four Bumatay heads. That will make enough for one lamp with his chunks.

I had problems making this simple one sided mold. So here goes with the problems and the solutions.

This mold was small and one sided so I decided to see if I could make it in a sturdy box.

I covered the bottom with a layer of clay.

I pressed my sculpt of the Bumatay into the clay to anchor it.

Always wear a mask when working plaster or sanding clay.

We got out everything we would need.

We mixed the plaster and filled the mold. I lifted and dropped the box and tapped the sides to cause the air bubble to rise to the top. In retrospect I should only have thumped the sides.

As soon as the plaster became hot we cut away the box.

We turned over the mold.

We removed the clay to find that the Bumatay had come loose and floated up in the plaster.

I felt lucky that I could see the Bumatay, or so I thought.

I began my archaeological dig with chisel and mallet. First with a V chisel I outlined the Bumatay.

Then I thought I was whacking a thin layer over the clay. Instead I broke out a huge chunk of the mold. What I had outlined was not where the Bumatay was located.

Much more carefully I removed the top layer to expose the clay.

Finally I was able to extract the fish.

At the International Marketplace at Don the Beachcomer's this past weekend my booth was next to GoTiki's. I happened to talk to GoGo about repairing molds. He said he glues the pieces in with Elmer's wood glue.

I just happened to have some so I put it on the large piece.

I pressed it into place and held it until it stuck.

Once it was done I mixed some plaster and filled in some of the gaps.

Now it will dry for a week or two.

Today we plan to make a second Bumatay mold and to also mold a bowl I sculpted years ago that I will use to make tiki bowls, including a Bumatay bowl. If we have energy we will pour Torch mugs #14 and #15.

Thanks for checking this out and thank you for your comments they make the time posting worth it. Cheers, Wendy

PS thank you GoTiki