Post #764231 by danlovestikis on Wed, May 25, 2016 9:03 PM

hang10tiki and cy I love reading messages like those. Thank you.

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SACRAMENTO CRAWL MUG 2016 BEING MOLDED. PART TWO: one piece has been made, now I will make two at the same time.

I took the box apart.

I used a rasp to smooth the edges. You can do this with the backside of a knife and it works just as well.

I forgot to take photos. We put straps around the blocks and slab and flipped it over and then removed them.

I took the blocks off and put them away.

Then I peeled the clay layer off and

saved the clay by putting it into Tupperware type containers. I also sprayed it with a bit of water to keep it moist.

I noticed that I had not centered the sculpt. I want the sides of the mold to be the same so that the water is pulled from the slip the same amount.

So I made sure the sculpt didn't get moved and the debris was kept from it while Dan sawed off the extra along the line I'd drawn.

Done without a problem.

We are still wearing our masks. This photo shows how the dust stays in the air for hours after we have mixed the first plaster. This is not on my lens it is the flash hitting the floating particles that we do not want in our lungs.

Next I cut a piece of foam to cover the writing on the bottom of the mug.

I used a roll of tape to hold it in place until

I could build up the clay to cover this area. The shape of this mass of clay is important because it will be removed later and the hole will be the last mold piece.

Now I covered the blocks with clay. When this is removed this area becomes the open top where the slip is poured into the mold.

To make the two side pieces I must build not only the top and bottoms but I must build two dams to stop the plaster and to make the tops of the pieces thick.

All done.

Next I do 3 or 4 (4 is better) layers of mold soap. MOLD SOAP IS POISON. Wear gloves or be very careful not to touch it to your skin. It requires a face mask but you should still have it on.

Between each layer I gently wipe it dry.

Now the box is placed around it and the snakes are sealing the pieces.

We mix the plaster after I estimate how much we will need. Then it is poured into one side

and then the other side.

All done and now it sits. As soon as there is standing water on top I know I can scoop out some plaster to make the locks.

The locks are done.

Plaster is fragile so you don't want any thin edges that can deteriorate or easily break off. So if I see an area that is thin I will trim it off. Then when the next piece is poured it fills in this area and I have a stronger mold. All these little pieces must be removed before the next piece is poured.

Phew, that's a lot of posting for an evening. I need to go read a good book. Good night, Wendy