Plaster molds

As I’ve probably made clear, I enjoy working with ceramics. One aspect that I enjoy so much is using plaster mold as a means to produce pieces rapidly and identical to one another. Prior to this semester I had used these molds but never made them –which brings me to today’s thing.

Plaster molds can have other uses besides ceramics but I’m going to let you figure out what that is. Regardless, the process is really simple and goes as follows.

1.      Set up your coddles (wooden boards used to hold the plaster in place) and clamps around the object you plan on making a mold of.

2.      Seal the joints of the coddle with clay.

3.      Fill a separate container approximately 1/3 with cold water.

4.      Sift handfuls of plaster powder into the cold water slowly until the plaster isn’t absorbed anymore.

5.      Mix the plaster by placing your hand in the bottom of the container but try not to introduce additional air into the container. 

6.      Slowly pour the plaster into the box you created earlier.

7.      Wait at least 24 hours before using your mold.

It’s really that simple. And it takes practice since the first time I did it, I didn’t use enough plaster and it spilled through my sealed joints and all over the counter.