The following instructions
we will be casting the lid to the Lights
Out Jar... a very popular seller for finishedware producers.
This lid accomdates a taper candle on one side and a tea light
candle on the other..
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| Before making a casting
from a mold for the first time. Always open it and determine if the
mold requires any special treatment. Timing, stress areas that
could result in cracking... or in this case a solid core. Also
with multi-part molds you can determine how the mold parts, when
it's time to pull the ware.
This mold has both a timing and solid core issue
to consider in your casting.
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| As with most of our molds,
we determine the casting thickness for you. You simply measure the
inside rim to determine your casting thickness.
This mold requires a thickness of 1/4" to
3/8". Casting a correct thickness is critical for this
design... This thickness will fill the flat plate portion of
the lid, and the trim at the top candle holder will be perfect.
No ledge to clean.
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If your mold is dry..
using a WET (water dripping) sponge add water to the plaster core.
Wetting cores slows the drying process in this area.. so the clay in
this area will not form a vacuum and adhere to the plaster rather
than release.
This need not be done with every casting, only when the mold is bone
dry.. |
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Assemble the mold and
strap tightly.
The mold is now ready to be cast. Pour slip into
the mold..
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Topping off the mold will be necessary
at least once.
Timing before dumping: On this day casting to the
correct 3/8 thickness took 15 minutes. The spare
thickness was checked.. by cutting a notch of clay from the spare to
see the casting thickness.
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After dumping the liquid slip out, we
turned the mold back upright. (Do not leave the mold in the draining
position)
We cut another notch to make sure our thickness
was correct. It was ! But had we have been short, it
could have been re-filled to increase the thickness.
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As soon as the slip in the spare had
lost it's gloss we removed the spare with a metal fettling knife. |
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Arrow #1The correct casting thickness
results in NO rim on the candle top. This eliminates the need to
knife clean the rim in greenware.
Arrow #2 The bottom of the tapered candle side is
solid. There is no visable gap as the ware transitions into the lid
plate.
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On this day, we were able to begin
pulling in 1 hour.
Time, temperature and humidity in your casting
area will determine the amount of time before removing ware.
After removing the banding straps, remove the top
half, by sliding the plaster part out and away.
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The second half of the top will slide
off easily. |
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Now it's time to release the core side
of the ware.
Using your air compressor nozzle fitted with a rubber tip simply
shoot a burst of air near the seam line edge. It is not
necessary to touch the clay. |
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One burst, pops the clay from the
core. |
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The core side of the ware, lifts easily
from the plaster. |
| Place the lid on the
Lights out jar bottom casting.. and set a side for drying. |
| Additional Notes:
Do not allow ware to remain in core type
molds and longer than necessary. With a lengthy stay in the
mold, the clay surrounding the plaster core will begin to form a
vacuum and adhere, rather than release. This is not a mold you cast
in the morning and take out at night.
FREE Hang Tags available for Merchants to attach to
Greenware, Bisque or FinishedWare.
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