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mold making &/or slip casting

updated fri 27 aug 10

 

Fabienne McMillan on thu 26 aug 10


Greetings,

Has anyone recommendation for a good book on mold making and/or slip
casting, making your own casting slip resources online or other? I'm
also looking for a workshop in mold making to take the guessing out of
it and preferably in my area, Chicagoland, or Midwest.

Thank you,

Fabienne - forever curious

"We never touch people so lightly that we do not leave a trace." ~
Peggy Tabor Millin

James Freeman on thu 26 aug 10


Fabienne...

This is from the archives, from last year. Perhaps it will help.

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On Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 12:10 PM, Linda Stauffer w=
=3D
rote:
> Is there a book
> that I can use to learn how to make a multiple part mold and make
> multiple castings.
>



Linda...

I learned what I know from two books, "The Essential Guide to Mold
Making and Slip Casting" by Andrew Martin, and "Mold Making for
Ceramics" by Donald Frith. Both are excellent. Martin's book is more
"down and dirty" in it's approach. It is very easy to understand, and
is aimed at the studio potter. Frith's book is much more "correct" in
it's approach. It is far more technical and more concerned with the
"right way", but seems aimed toward a more industrial type potter. If
you can, read them both. If you only have time for one, probably best
to start with Martin. Others may have different suggestions.

Also, there are two experts on clayart, Jeff Longtin and John Rodgers.
Better than any book, and both have generously answered questions for
me.

Good luck with the project.

...James
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=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D
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=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D3D=3D
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...and in deference to Lili, here are the ISBNs:

Martin: 1600590772

Frith: 0873416929

All the best.

...James

James Freeman

"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice.=3DA0 I
should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne

http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources




On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 1:35 PM, Fabienne McMillan wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> Has anyone recommendation for a good book on mold making and/or slip
> casting, making your own casting slip resources online or other? =3DA0I'm
> also looking for a workshop in mold making to take the guessing out of
> it and preferably in my area, Chicagoland, or Midwest.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Fabienne - forever curious
>
> "We never touch people so lightly that we do not leave a trace." ~
> Peggy Tabor Millin
>

John Rodgers on thu 26 aug 10


1) Best book on moldmaking I know of is MOLDMAKING FOR CERAMICS by
Donald Frith

2) Dunno of any workshops in mold making, out your way, but try
Polytek.com for info.

3) Visit http://www.lagunaclay.com/support/art-of-slipmaking.php.

This has really good info on making your own slip. However, don't get
caught up in their recommendations about 500 ml flasks. Nor about
viscosimeters. You need a gram scale, two pint plastic paint cups. Zero
your scale with the cup on it. Then fill each with equal amounts of
water in one, and slip in the other. Weigh each, then divide the weight
of the water into the weight of the slip. The resulting number should be
1.xx . The document from Laguna on slip making will give the specifics
on the numbers.
To adjust the slip viscosity, just follow the instructions. But you can
use a viscosity cup from New Mexico Clay that makes life so much easier.
No 500 ml flasks. Fill the viscosity cup with slip, note the time on a
sweep second hand clock, and the cup should empty in 23 seconds. If not,
further adjustment per the Laguna document is required. Get your
viscosity cup for about $5 or so at

http://www.nmclay.com/Amazing/PSearchResult.asp?Tp=3D
TL497 Viscosity Cup - $5.75

Any questions? Feel free to ask.

Regards,

John Rodgers
www.moldhaus.com


On 8/26/2010 12:35 PM, Fabienne McMillan wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> Has anyone recommendation for a good book on mold making and/or slip
> casting, making your own casting slip resources online or other? I'm
> also looking for a workshop in mold making to take the guessing out of
> it and preferably in my area, Chicagoland, or Midwest.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Fabienne - forever curious
>
> "We never touch people so lightly that we do not leave a trace." ~
> Peggy Tabor Millin
>
>