Post #744368 by danlovestikis on Sat, Jun 6, 2015 1:33 PM

Katiki thank you so much. It's fun to meet one of the mysterious viewers of my thread. I'm glad you have written. Messages is what makes it fun for me. I like doing the Wish Lists because I never know what someone will want and how I'll be challenged. Sometimes its something simple and that's nice too.

LoriLovesTiki I'm so happy with this mug and with how much work Dan and I have done up to this point. I'm ahead of schedule and I needed to be on a mug so labor intensive. I'm so glad you like it too.

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Here are more photos of the Sacramento Crawl mug being molded. How I made the next three pieces of a five piece mold.

All the blocks and clay have been removed and it's time to make the next two pieces.

Before putting on the mold box I did all the coats of mold soap.

I did four on and each sat for 5 minutes and then was wiped off afterward. None touched my fingers, it is poison. It's not to be breathed either.

Once that was done I put on the box.

I used the clay ropes/snakes to seal off the joints between the box sides and the first slab and sides. I've found that once these are in places wiping them with a wet paper towel makes the seal even better. Leaking plaster is hard to clean up.

The first time I showed how we mixed the plaster I forgot to show a photo of the plaster dust which can kill you. It will harden up with the moisture in your lungs and never come out.

You can't see any of this dust. The reason it shows up here is the flash on my camera highlighting it.

Just like butter milk means it's ready to pour.

I am doing two pieces. Since it's not taking a lot of plaster I used a cup to pour one side and

then the other side.

Two pieces at once saves time.

I used a wet brush to clean up where some plaster got on the sculpt.

It didn't work too well but in the end it didn't matter.

When the plaster had firmed up some I carved in some locks along the sides.

This shows all the locks I carved.

Now I just picked off the plaster where it didn't belong.

Cleaned and ready for the next mold side. That would be piece number four.

Layers of mold soap.

Wipe between

Face masks. Mix the plaster.

We always have an extra bucket of water in which to spin the mixer clean right away.

Pouring slow.

Pouring fast.

I forgot to show that it was buttermilk after mixing and before we poured it into the box.

Dan does all the outdoor cleanup.

I labeled this slab.

The box is removed.

I cleaned the edges so they would be smooth.

Where you see clay at the end is where the fifth and last piece will be made.

Strapped together it's ready to be worked on.

That's it for today. Cheers, Wendy

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[ Edited by: danlovestikis 2015-06-06 13:49 ]