Ann Brink on mon 16 may 05
Hi Kate- now there's a tip I think I'll use-thanks! I have a number of
shapes I like to use as either slump or hump molds and have tried various
things as a barrier to keep the clay from sticking. The favorite so far has
been very thin fabrics such as scarves from the thrift store, etc. I think
the cheesecloth may lend itself to the shapes without wrinkling; I plan to
try it.
Ann Brink in Lompoc CA
Kate wrote:>
> Recently we talked about what kinds of mold releases we preferred when
> handbuilding, and I've tried most of them! In my handmade plaster molds,
I
> don't need any, but when I'm utilizing something from the thrift store as
a
> mold--and old bowl, a pie pan, etc.--I need a release.
>> What works best for me is a double layer of cheesecloth, and here's why.
I
> take things from the molds at not-quite-leather hard after having a
problem
> with wet-cracking around the bottoms when I left them too long in the mold
> (when you slip-decorate things, the bottoms want to stay wetter than the
> rims, no matter how you try to even out the drying time.) If I've not
> gotten my circle of clay centered in the mold, a tweak on one side or the
> other of the cheesecloth sets that right, too. (I prefer cutting the
circle
> first to putting the clay into the mold and cutting along the edge.)
>
> When the ware is just dry enough to move without too much (if any)
> mis-shaping, what I do is grasp the cheesecloth and tug on it a bit in one
> direction to loosen, then the other, till I'm sure my bowl or plate or
> whatever is just sitting freely in the mold (the excess slip sometimes
acts
> as glue and the seal needs to be broken). Then, I take hold of the
> cheesecloth hanging over the edges on both sides as if it were a kind of
> hammock, and lift as evenly as I can to remove the bowl. Set it quickly
to
> the side to finish getting to leather stage, pull the cheesecloth away
> gently if I haven't already, turn the bowl upside down to finish drying in
> order to minimize warping, rinse the cheesecloth by hand and hang to
dry...I
> can use it again and again.
>
>
Kate Johnson on mon 16 may 05
Hi list...
Recently we talked about what kinds of mold releases we preferred when
handbuilding, and I've tried most of them! In my handmade plaster molds, I
don't need any, but when I'm utilizing something from the thrift store as a
mold--and old bowl, a pie pan, etc.--I need a release.
Well, having tried everything from WD-40 to cooking oil, here's what I like
best. Your mileage may--and probably WILL--vary, depending on what you're
using for a mold and what the humidity is!
What works best for me is a double layer of cheesecloth, and here's why. I
take things from the molds at not-quite-leather hard after having a problem
with wet-cracking around the bottoms when I left them too long in the mold
(when you slip-decorate things, the bottoms want to stay wetter than the
rims, no matter how you try to even out the drying time.) If I've not
gotten my circle of clay centered in the mold, a tweak on one side or the
other of the cheesecloth sets that right, too. (I prefer cutting the circle
first to putting the clay into the mold and cutting along the edge.)
When the ware is just dry enough to move without too much (if any)
mis-shaping, what I do is grasp the cheesecloth and tug on it a bit in one
direction to loosen, then the other, till I'm sure my bowl or plate or
whatever is just sitting freely in the mold (the excess slip sometimes acts
as glue and the seal needs to be broken). Then, I take hold of the
cheesecloth hanging over the edges on both sides as if it were a kind of
hammock, and lift as evenly as I can to remove the bowl. Set it quickly to
the side to finish getting to leather stage, pull the cheesecloth away
gently if I haven't already, turn the bowl upside down to finish drying in
order to minimize warping, rinse the cheesecloth by hand and hang to dry...I
can use it again and again.
It doesn't stink, it doesn't get TOO slick like Armour-all seemed to (I had
a couple of things go sailing out of the mold when I tried to do the slip
marbling!), and the cheesecloth is reusable, which I love...snug thing that
I am...
And speaking of snug, I "reclaim" my scraps by using them for sculpture
instead of wedging, etc. I don't own a pugger, and probably won't, and
wedging and kneading make my arthritis go nuts. So instead I use up my
scraps creatively, on sculpture, jewelry, glaze- and slip-technique tests,
and lately, fairy (or toad, take your pick) houses. Some of these,
including the latest little rustic house, are at my Yahoo Pottery in
Progress album,
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/graphicartepsi/album?.dir=/bbb8 , at bottom.
Where there's a will, there IS a way...
Best--
Kate Johnson
graphicart@epsi.net
http://www.cathyjohnson.info/
Art, History, Nature and More at Cathy Johnson's Cafepress--
http://www.cafepress.com/cathy_johnson/
Graphics/Fine Arts Press--
http://www.epsi.net/graphic/
Kate Johnson on tue 17 may 05
> Hi Kate- now there's a tip I think I'll use-thanks! I have a number of
> shapes I like to use as either slump or hump molds and have tried various
> things as a barrier to keep the clay from sticking. The favorite so far
> has
> been very thin fabrics such as scarves from the thrift store, etc. I
> think
> the cheesecloth may lend itself to the shapes without wrinkling; I plan to
> try it.
Do it, Ann! I forgot to mention that IS one of the advantages, as
well...cheesecloth is woven loosely enough that you can pull the wrinkles
out of it, gently.
I find that when I allow the clay to stiffen a bit (not leather hard, but
just not easily dented with a finger), what small wrinkles or texture there
may be in the cheesecloth itself don't make impressions in the clay anyway,
though I've seldom had a problem with it even when the clay is quite soft.
The neat thing is that even if it does stick, if it's wet or your slip
decoration runs between the clay and the form, that gentle tugging will
loosen it with no damage.
Best--
Kate Johnson
graphicart@epsi.net
http://www.cathyjohnson.info/
Art, History, Nature and More at Cathy Johnson's Cafepress--
http://www.cafepress.com/cathy_johnson/
Graphics/Fine Arts Press--
http://www.epsi.net/graphic/
bonnie staffel on wed 18 may 05
Hi all,
I have found that old tee shirts make good separators as it stretches over a
hump mold without wrinkling. It also works if suspended from a large hole
in a piece of wood to make a large bowl. This method allows the air to
circulate and dry evenly.
Regards,
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
Charter Member Potters Council
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