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I have got to get some taller floral forms for my draped vases. The current jerry-rigged setup is not great - balanced on multiple other ceramic bowls and fiber blanket. Does anyone have any contacts? Thanks!

I once bought a floral former for $19 from a glass supply wholesaler. Then I bought a martini shaker for $3.50 at a restaurant supply store (late 80's), and they were identical, same manufacturer etc. To make it higher, all you have to do is jerry rig something to raise it up, a carved fire brick, a steel post, some kiln furniture, whatever. I have also bought some black iron pipe that is threaded on both ends. On one end I put a cast iron base, and on the other an iron cap. Then I draped fiber blanket over it and tied the blanket on with some nichrome wire I had kicking around. That rig works fine. If you really prefer a flat top, raise the martini shaker.

Not sure who makes them (although if you have a good metals fabricator nearby that does spinforming you can have them make just about anything. It costs.

Another option is to either visit a good local restaurant supply or check out one online. A big cocktail shaker is probably $5. http://barsupplies.com/mako-shaker-p-190.html

You can also use the one you have--get a soft, big firebrick (wear a mask) and trim it to fit inside the base of your upside-down floral former/cocktail shaker and flare out, continuing the slope of the original former. Then you kilnwash the firebrick and put it in the kiln, and set the former on it. It'll be stable and taller.

Thanks, but the point is (1) I need one MUCH bigger than standard; and (2) I am trying NOT to jerry rig one. And no, I do not have any metal mfrs nearby.

So...MUCH bigger and taller doesn't tell us much. How big? How tall?

And unless by nearby you mean "within walking distance" it is hard to believe that there isn't a metal fabricator in Tallahassee. You don't need a factory, just a metal shop willing to work with you.

Or some imagination. It doesn't have to be labeled "floral former" to do the job. I use an upside-down kitchenaid mixing bowl I picked up from Goodwill. Works great.

steam table inserts are good as well. get thee to a restaurant supply store. rosanna

rosanna gusler wrote:steam table inserts are good as well. get thee to a restaurant supply store. rosanna

Yep. Restaurant supply stores (especially if they buy used equipment) are right behind Goodwill in my favorite spots to find stuff for the studio. Well, that and Harbor Freight.

Dewey, the guy who owns the metal shop down the street from me, thinks I'm crazier than a goat rollerskating but is a great last resort when Goodwill or whatever doesn't have what I need. I draw it out for him, he tells me I'm nuts, and then makes it for me, cheap. He's done stands and molds and jigs...I wish I could do that stuff.

Morganica wrote:

rosanna gusler wrote:steam table inserts are good as well. get thee to a restaurant supply store. rosanna

Yep. Restaurant supply stores (especially if they buy used equipment) are right behind Goodwill in my favorite spots to find stuff for the studio. Well, that and Harbor Freight.

Dewey, the guy who owns the metal shop down the street from me, thinks I'm crazier than a goat rollerskating but is a great last resort when Goodwill or whatever doesn't have what I need. I draw it out for him, he tells me I'm nuts, and then makes it for me, cheap. He's done stands and molds and jigs...I wish I could do that stuff.

I find a lot of molds at the Salvation Army

Century Metal Spinning
Bensenville IL

Another option is to either visit a good local restaurant supply or check out one online. A big cocktail shaker is probably $5. http://barsupplies.com/mako-shaker-p-190.html

Cynthia, I'm liking that a whole lot. Can you ballpark the height of that shaker? I looked at the website but it is not mentioned and it's not a concern for drinkers but I'd like to know how much taller I have to go to get to about 20".

Thanks
Joe

Joe Wokovich wrote:Another option is to either visit a good local restaurant supply or check out one online. A big cocktail shaker is probably $5. http://barsupplies.com/mako-shaker-p-190.html

Cynthia, I'm liking that a whole lot. Can you ballpark the height of that shaker? I looked at the website but it is not mentioned and it's not a concern for drinkers but I'd like to know how much taller I have to go to get to about 20".

Thanks
Joe

I really don't--I've never purchased that one. Other 28-ounce shakers are around 8 inches tall so it's probably similar. So you're talking another foot of stacked firebrick. If you need 20 inches you may want to look around for stainless steel vases, umbrella stands or urns. I'm not sure you'll find a kitchen implement that tall. (If there's a chef hanging around here somewhere they can probably tell you more definitively.)

spinning stainless to a height of 20" with a small diameter, i.e. 5" or less is very difficult, if not almost impossible. stainless is very difficult to spin as opposed to other metals. how about having it spun in cold rolled steel and then chrome plated. It can also be fabrictaed by rolling the stainless and welding the seam, then polishing the seam out and putting a cap on the end of it. I've never seen a 20" cocktail shaker and doubt anyone else has either. I would think you should be able to find someone to fabricate it for about $125- $175.

I already explained a simple solution here. Black iron pipe (threaded on both ends) with pipe fittings like a base. If the base diameter is small enough, you could put one on both ends. I'm talking about a circular fitting that is used to bolt pipe to a floor or wall. You can cut pipe to any length you desire. If you need more stability, bolt on a stainless steel plate to the bottom, using machine screws.

When I did this, I wrapped it in blanket, although I don't think that was absolutely necessary. I did not use the martini shaker as I didn't really want a flat top, so I used a pipe cap wrapped in blanket. The blanket was a bit unruly, so I tied it on with some nichrome wire I had sitting around. Copper would have worked. There is no reason, I couldn't have slipped the inverted martini shaker on top.

I used a small ss cup, ground off the rolled edge and made the edge as thin as possible then put it over a small clay pot. Pressed down hard to make sure it did not come off, kw it all and presto had a set to fill the kiln and make draped vases. You could do the same with a tall ss cocktail shaker and if you can not find a clay pot or bisque or green ware to fit, maybe make you own. I never had trouble with the combined drape mold because the glass barely touched the clay pot. Just an idea. Sometines I find it takes less time to make something than to hunt for exactly what you want. Georgia

I use clay formers that I throw........
basically a large vase inverted. You do have to use 1/8" fiber blanket over it even with kiln wash but they work great.