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oval platter molds

updated fri 23 sep 05

 

Marcia Selsor on wed 21 sep 05


Funny you should mention this. I was working on an article for PMI on
making oval hump molds.
Here are a few steps.
1. put two nails in a board and tie a string loosely around them.
2. Run a pencil line by drawing pushing out on the string.
3. Adjust the oval shape by loosening the string. Tighter gives you a
longer skinny shape.
4. Trace the shape onto plywood. Cut out the shape.
5. tape cloth over the negative oval.
6. pour in plaster. More is deeper, lees is shallow.you can get a
flat bottom by having the plaster reach the supporting table surface
as the cloth droops.\You can see an explanation of this in the bird
bath article I wrote for PMI a few years ago.
I have been leaving large lips to sandwich with wood to lift the clay
off the mold. also explained in the article. This sandwich idea is
something I learned from Linda Blossom. It works well to avoid stress
and warping.
Marcia Selsor
On Sep 21, 2005, at 10:04 AM, Lori wrote:

> Hi there,
> I'd like to make a mold for a lo-o-o-o-ong oval fish platter with
> slightly
> flared out sides and a small, flattened rim (for decorating). All the
> techniques I've tried so far (cutting an ellipse out of a thrown
> form and
> pushing the sides together, cutting a vertical slit part way and
> squishing
> the sides together, etc.) have resulted in a distorted, wavy rim. Any
> suggestions?
>
> TIA
>
> Lori
>
> Lori Bernstein
> Froggy Bottoms Pottery

Lori on wed 21 sep 05


Hi there,
I'd like to make a mold for a lo-o-o-o-ong oval fish platter with slightly
flared out sides and a small, flattened rim (for decorating). All the
techniques I've tried so far (cutting an ellipse out of a thrown form and
pushing the sides together, cutting a vertical slit part way and squishing
the sides together, etc.) have resulted in a distorted, wavy rim. Any
suggestions?

TIA

Lori

Lori Bernstein
Froggy Bottoms Pottery

Wayne Seidl on thu 22 sep 05


Lori:
Two suggestions. =20

First, wait a bit until the clay stiffens some, but not to leather
hard, that will help.

Second, wait until the clay is _soft_ leather hard, then flip the
platter onto a mound of clay (or a towel or block of wood, foam
etc.) so that the rim is in contact with the work surface, and the
bottom of the platter is supported. Then cut and join that vertical
slit. That rim can be smoothed flat again with a rib. You might
find a ware board helpful if the piece is that long.
Hope that helps,
Wayne Seidl

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Lori
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 12:05 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: oval platter molds

Hi there,
I'd like to make a mold for a lo-o-o-o-ong oval fish platter with
slightly
flared out sides and a small, flattened rim (for decorating). All
the
techniques I've tried so far (cutting an ellipse out of a thrown
form and
pushing the sides together, cutting a vertical slit part way and
squishing
the sides together, etc.) have resulted in a distorted, wavy rim.
Any
suggestions?

TIA

Lori

Lori Bernstein
Froggy Bottoms Pottery

Gordon Ward on thu 22 sep 05


Hi Lori,

I have made long oval platters by extruding a rim and attaching it to a
long oval slab. The rim extrusion is flared and has about a 3/4" rim
and a small flange at the bottom to help in fairing the joint where the
side meets the bottom. The problem with these is where the sides come
together at the ends. It is very difficult to make a tight turn with
flaired sides and this type of rim. I solved it by making a handle
extrusion that covered up the joint on the ends. People always thought
that they were made in a mold. When I set up my old pug mill to make
the slabs and sides, I would do twenty 26" long platters at a time.
The second day I would flip them on some chunks of foam (to keep them
flat and protect the handles) and smooth in the joint on the bottom
using a roller and sponge.

Gordon

On Sep 21, 2005, at 9:04 AM, Lori wrote:

> Hi there,
> I'd like to make a mold for a lo-o-o-o-ong oval fish platter with
> slightly
> flared out sides and a small, flattened rim (for decorating). All the
> techniques I've tried so far (cutting an ellipse out of a thrown form
> and
> pushing the sides together, cutting a vertical slit part way and
> squishing
> the sides together, etc.) have resulted in a distorted, wavy rim. Any
> suggestions?
>
> TIA
>
> Lori
>
> Lori Bernstein
> Froggy Bottoms Pottery
>
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