slumping bowls?????

bskirwin · Post by **bskirwin** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 7:16 am

OK, what is the trick in making sure that your round blank sits evenly on the stainless steel bowl and slumps evenly in the mold.....??? I painstakenly try to place it on the rim of the mold evenly, and almost always end up with an uneven bowl. Arg!!!! Please give me any useful helpful hints. THanks. Barbara This is true for any size of bowl, from 4 inches in diameter to 16 inches in diameter.

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 7:45 am

Is the kiln floor level? The mold, too? The blank is uniformly thick?
Try a bubble level on the blank to make sure it's level.
Try grinding a slight bevel on the rim to help it set in the mold.
Slump slowly.

Brock · Post by **Brock** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 8:34 am

Marty wrote:Is the kiln floor level? The mold, too? The blank is uniformly thick?
Try a bubble level on the blank to make sure it's level.
Try grinding a slight bevel on the rim to help it set in the mold.
Slump slowly.

Everything Marty said plus, DON'T SIT IT ON THE RIM.

Put your blank INSIDE the mold, down from the top any increment you desire.
This helps tremendously, in ensuring an even slump. Brock

Tony Serviente · Post by **Tony Serviente** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:50 am

Without seeing your form I am going to guess it is steeply sided, and that will quite often give an uneven slump. Either a two firing approach will get it even, or putting a rim on it, and cutting it off after.