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That's what I do. Esp with an open face, you should have minimal cracking, with proper drying. I just saw some nice molds come out of the oven today. Steel casks, 60 silica/40 plaster, but contained by the steel outer shell. Also if you are paranoid, stack a couple of hard brick around the edge of t...

I would not do a splash coat. Esp if you are going with a different mix for the body of the mold. You might get flaking, and that would be bad. The 50/50 will do fine with chicken wire reinforcing. You WILL want to lightly sponge the entire inside to remove the clay film, or it WILL show up on the p...

Double on the "don't get the plugs wet", boy that annoyed me.

But on clean out, if you are carefull, a masonry bit can help a lot. Just swiss cheese the plug, then you can easily dig the rest out.

Greg

Something in my head is unclear. Are you slumping into the clay, or casting? I've never heard of casting onto a clay mold, but I guess it could be done. And there are many things that I have never heard of.

Greg

Well I'll tackle the Art school part. Yes I'm 42 and yes I just dumped my biz (etc) to go to Grad school, but here's my 3 months in take. If you want to go into bizness, or if you want to learn more about your technique, Spend your Art school money on Workshops. I will spend approx 30K on my MFA. If...

As much as I hate to say it. $0.40 a hole, seems a bit pricey and you've gotten some good advice for cutting the cost, , but what are you selling the pieces for? $0.40 is 1/2 a 12oz can of Coke. Most places, 1/2 a candy bar. Yes improve your technique and your equipment, but $0.40 is less than the d...

IF you are retro-fitting, you could use a piece of steel (pipe if the mold is small enough) as the outer, fill with sand, then the plaster. Most of the guys in my shop are using steel outers, instead of chicken wire etc, to contain the plaster. But steel is cheap here, and we have benders and welder...

What would be the code words, as I walk into fastsigns. I would like you to ____ with this drawings, and do it on _____ paper/resist, so I can ____...

I know that sandblast resist is not what they do, so if I can say X in their language, some time might be saved..

Greg

Something I saw at SOFA. There were 3/4 glass panels stacked, and held together vertically/off the floor, with steel cables. The cables could be hidden in U channels cast into the sections. Even if you didn't want to suspend the whole thing, you could use the cables as a front/back stabilizer. The c...

Any clay is OK. Just remember that you will have to toothbrush the mold to get the last of the clay off. If you want a backup, remember that clay shrinks 10-14% when fired. So the fired backup will be smaller. I would make a plaster backup if possible. I have not heard of plaster mold shrinkage. Wou...

A fellow grad showed me how, tonight. Once you pull the mold, palster still damp, you can hose the mold down, then take a brush and fill the holes with additional plaster. It ONLY works if you hose the mold.

Greg

Ellen, I especially fond of the so and so cheaper thing. In St Lou, the Pond field was fairly small. I fairly quickly found out who re-built, the "cheaper guy's" work. They didn't have the "cojones" to call me, but it DID bite them. I was guiltily pleased.

Greg

I would second a couple of things; Write everything down.... Even if you just put a sentance on the bottom that says " I think through things better on paper, it helps me clarify my thoughts" I just did that on an informal offer to buy a house. Delivery, NOT installation, unlees you are in...

A mostly useless tip, but Kemper (kester?) Paste soldering flux, does a wonderfull job of eating mirror backing. Also, when you buy it, choose wisely. Some Mirrors are electroplated, some just painted and covered with tar. Plus, since mirror is VERY TOXIC when applied, I would imagine that it is VER...

Yes, but usually I open the lid, or pull out the car to re-fill. The only problem I have had is the, previusly mentioned, half full pot when the mold is full, changing the annealing thickness. And while I'm thinking of it; Is the Mesh face shield the SAME as the mesh shield for Chainsaw work? I'm ju...

Hey Jack, your buddy still got those lenses? Charlie, I'll try and post a photo, that will explain why (other than laziness on my part) I cannot use the rice method. And to all, I am NOT reccomending my Lack of precsion, to others. All I'm doing is suggesting a coping mechanism, for my faults. Maybe...

No Ed and Nikki, you aren't missing the point. I do not weigh and measure as I should. Also many of my molds are more than 1 pot full. So oftentimes I have ended up with too much glass, in a hot pot, in the oven. Leaves me with 2 choices, move the pot, or anneal the pot and the piece attached. With ...

One of my compatriots at the shop helped me with a problem, and provided a new use for a tool today. Problem was, a flower pot had fallen over. I was looking to just pry it off, and he handed me the Pastorelli pipe. This is a long handled 2 pronged fork, used for vetntian style blowing. So I kind of...

Casting with the mesh, is fine IMHO.

Sorry I don't have more to add.
Greg

I too, have no exp with FHC, but the G-12 (25% lead,) casts like a charm. I have not tried the Gaffer lead, as the cost has been prohibitive. You know, $5 a lb vs $0.12 a lb, it takes a while before I go to Gaffer. Esp when my castings weigh in pounds, not ounces. Since Gabbert says that FHC has a m...