Sharri Gallant has an Orton AutoFire 3000 for sale. Hooks up to a kiln to make a manual kiln automatic. 30 amp. Almost new, cost $550. Make her an offer, or she will trade for bisqued pottery that she can use for fused glass molds. Contact her at sherri.gallant@gmail.com or 969-9870.
The PEI Potters Studio is a co-operative pottery studio for both new and experienced potters. We offer 10-week pottery classes for beginner and advanced potters three times a year that normally start in January, either March or April and then September. Our studio is open to our members whenever classes are not taking place.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Demerson Workshop -- Styrofoam molds
After cutting out the basic shape, a line is drawn about 2 cm from the edge all around to judge later cuts evenly.
Using a very sharp exacto knift, cuts are made away from your body and hands. Many cuts are needed to get all the excess foam cut, so don't try to do it all at once. More numerous shallow cuts are easier to control.

Keep a firm grip on the foam. Choose the highest density type of foam you can. Be careful not to get deeper gouges on the sides or knicks (from knife, fingernails) on the top as you'll see those impressions with every piece you make from the mold.

After you get it reasonably close to the shape you want, use a carpentry shaver to smooth it down. Have a shop vac handy to clean up all the shredded foam.

Use sandpaper (we used a medium grit) to smooth it down. This is where you want to be extra careful about nicks. It's easy to sandpaper smooth it out, but the foam can shred and leave holes or depressions if you try to rush it. If you want a curved edge, you can try to wrap your sandpaper around something curved instead of wooden blocks as we did.

Here's a small sample of the hump-style molds we made.

You'll want to protect the edges, but be aware that the edge line from the tape will form an impression in the mold, so try to line it up with edges already there in the mole. We used duct tape but other types are fine.
The tape will stick better if you get the fine dust off. With all the sanding, they had a good electrostatic charge, either vacuum or wash them.



Roll out some clay, press it over the mold and cut off the excess around the edges. With this type of mold, you can use stamps to give patterns in the clay.

Edges can be smoothed out now, but it is easier to wait until the clays has stiffened up to avoid distorting the shape.
Keep using the molds until they get damaged. Have fun!
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