: Wil - Viewing Profile

I am retired, and between "other college classes" and the studio hours are not recorded or ground in stone. I have my pugger, blender, table, wheel, and the kiln with me right here and I just go from project to project. When the clay is stiff, pug it, when it is too wet, put it with the dry. I am currently involved with some rather large items and it will be tasking now because I am still working on finding my "white" body clay for ^6. I am doing fine with a lot of the forms, but my examples are just photos or drawing of what the anthropologists believe they looked like. I do need the white clay. Then I will make a mad dash to the south west and get a few hundred pounds of "Rocky Mountain Bee Plant" for the rest of the project.

As for the original question, I will work from the time I get up until I have to take a shower and go to bed. This is relaxing.

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Wil, on 01 January 2013 - 10:55 AM, said:

bobbiedee, on 12 November 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

I have been working in slip cast ceramics for over 40 years. I have found that as the mold ages, it will wear. The condition which you are describing could be caused by casting too soon. Reguardless of what you have been casting or pouring, it is known that porceline can be cast more than non-porceline casting in a regular period of time. The pieces of mold could be caused by fatigue by the plaster. Remember, you made the mold. The general rule of thumb is when the cast item is dry, the mold can be cast again.

I am a certified ceramic instructor and have been so for many years.

As for putting something on the surface of the mold to protect it, do not. The slip will not set up in that area and you will ruin the mold. I am manufacturing some molds of my own and I am keeping it simple. I make the forms from hard wood and then produce the mold with good plaster. If there is a problem with my mold, I make another one and destroy the bad one.

Good luck in your actions and career

I have for a time, used "B" mix and enjoy it, but it still gives me a headache at times. The size of my pieces cause some problems. I want to try porceline and I am about to start making my own, but I do not like working with cream cheese. It is therefore, the reason I am working at making my own white body. I want that so that my pastel colors stay pastel and the white stays white. I want my colors to stay alive, so I will be using white.

No particular source as yet. I am still experimenting. I will check with a source in Baton Rouge in a couple of weeks, he will blend and produce my clay for me once I get it formulated.