Crafts Now that we know something about casting slips and molds, let's see how they are used to produce ceramic greenware.

Suppose we have a mold for a pitcher consisting of two separate molds: a two-piece drain mold for the body of the pitcher, and a two-piece solid-casting mold for the handle. Assemble the two parts of each mold, and fasten heavy rubber bands around them, to hold the sections together; be sure to use enough rubber bands so that, when the molds are filled with slip, the weight of the slip can't force the sections apart and allow the slip to escape. Place the molds with their openings — called "pouring gates" - uppermost on a level table.

Fill a plastic bucket with casting slip, and stir thoroughly with a clean stick, a slotted spoon, or your hand; the slip must be fluid and free of lumps. Place an ordinary kitchen strainer over a clean, empty bucket, and pour the slip through it. Mix and strain your slip each time you use it; the extra time involved will pay off in quality greenware. Now fill a large, plastic or enamel pitcher with the prepared slip.

Pour a steady stream of slip into the center of the pitcher mold until it is filled to the level of the top of the mold; don't stop pouring, even for an instant, once you begin to fill a mold, or blemishes called "hesitation marks" will encircle the finished greenware. Fill the handle mold in the same manner.




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Home > Crafts > Ceramics > Casting Greenware

May 19, 2012