Plaster and molds is a very useful course to all those who want to carry out series of pottery. The course introduces the prototype of “any material”,  he study of the building and the construction of molds with sheets. The course includes the study of the various casts, the use of silicone rubbers for the mother form. Furthermore, the session Prototypes and 3d Printing helps the realization of works with innovative means, including printing 3d.

Creation of a simple mold 30 x 30 cm.

We starts by making or finding an object that we like to reproduce in clay: this prototype is known as model. We analyse this object (diagnosis of undercuts) and we place it on a work board, then we can start to build a mold box (or walls) around it. These walls are made of moist clay, wood, metal or other materials. The mold box holds the liquid plaster against the model as the plaster hardens. We mix plaster and pour it into the box. Then we can remove the walls when the plaster has hardened. We remove the model from plaster mold, we clean the mold and allow it to dry before using it.

Cutting slab clay.

Keeping the slabing layer.

Cutting perfect edge.

Scraping the shape (modelling).

Wood wall around clay tile.

 

Pour plaster into the wood box.

In 15/20 minutes liquid plaster starts to consolidate.

Mold ready.