How to make a Plaster Press Mold -- Slab Building Pottery

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You can use many everyday items to create a plaster press mold! In this video, I will show you how you can make a plaster mold to slab-build a ceramic tray. Slab building is one of the most approachable pottery techniques for beginners. Get started today!
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[@vickyvanderbilt]

Great to see you getting beginners interested in pottery. Especially liked how you are able to explain steps clearly. Couple of suggestions from a 40 year teacher of ceramic arts. This is not a press mold, its a drape mold. A press mold has two halves and one is lowered onto and "pressed" into the other under mechanical tools. Normally used for items too large and thick for a drape mold, such as a sink. Also, should be using a NIOSH respirator and not a fabric mask. One inhalation of fine plaster can cause permanent damage to the lungs that shows up when you get older. When mixing plaster always add dry to wet, people often get this backwards, but you want the dry plaster to form a "volcano" shape in the water and peak above the water line. Lastly, if you use a porous container such as bisque clay, simply let the plaster fully cure, takes longer but better result, it will pop right out when completely dry. Keep up the videos, you are a good teacher and that can be rare in the arts.

[@adrianadanish2884]

you can actually just turn on the weighing scale while the bucket is on that so you dont have to do the math, it just automatically turns zero for you:)

[@jessfulcher5957]

You are a fantastic teacher. You gave us the courage to fall in love with pottery. We’ve come together as a family during Covid and started our ceramic adventure. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the masses.

[@lamardon9723]

Plaster is a great alternative to the messy shaped and shaved styrofoam or crudely cut and glued cardboard. I already had some from chalk paint projects. 🎉

[@MEM2022]

You can also add a bit if dish soap before putting the plaster on it that helps the unmolding much easier

[@noortjebosma]

So cool! I’m planning to make plaster molds but didn’t know how thought I will look it up when I get to it but this video was in my recommendations and it solved every question I was probably going to face. I love that this is possible! Thanks for the clear instructions as always ❤️

[@dianalest553]

Omg, thank you so much for all your tips, since last year I started to be crazy in love with ceramics and your channel have helped me to be motivated 😊🌸

[@PotterytothePeople]

I'm so glad!

[@ritmopop]

Thank you so much for your videos! Whenever I get in trouble with clay, there we go, you save the day with your videos. Greetings from Italy

[@PotterytothePeople]

Glad you like them!

[@mrjasonblackman]

Love your channel! Keep it up.

[@jennyp7084]

Very helpful. I’ve not made a mood as yet but now I’m keen to do so. Thank you.

[@maddoochamow]

That is super cool! thank you!!

[@fulmere1]

Thanks for this video and your studio (pottery to the people) take home kits!

[@shilpichatterjee8686]

So many questions answered 😀

[@ladymonstergirl]

This was super helpful!

[@PotterytothePeople]

I'm so glad!

[@lp9074]

still stuck on the math equation lmao! great video

[@Kirill3519]

Thank you so much for your videos! They are so useful and off course you are very charming) Every time I see your video I learn something new for me and become more calm then before. Thank you so much again ☺️ And if you can, please, put the microphone more closely to you for we can hear you better)

[@PotterytothePeople]

You are so welcome!

[@smashingtiles]

Great video! Thanks! I want to make a bunch of long slabs ceramic for an outdoor bench seat. They will be attached to a metal framework to make the bench. I guess if I find a container that I like for the slab shape, I could just use that as the mold, right? Thanks for any tips you might have. The slabs will be stoneware because they need to be strong.

[@drakeface]

Some safety notes: it's important to use a mask rated for fine particles ! A cotton mask isn't enough protection, and the dust can hang around in the air too so ensure you are in a well ventilated area. Lastly, plaster, wet or dry, should never go down the drains. Thank you for the video, great demonstration. Stay safe!

[@noortjebosma]

Oh wow I see my comment from 2 months ago I just made my first plaster mold! The plaster is now drying in the mold.. I didn’t make enough plaster so I had to make more and add it real quick I hope it turns out fine… edit: I had to tap it really hard to get the plaster out and broke the mold 😅. Luckily it came out at the end so I can use the plaster mold. Next time I’ll use Vaseline ánd conditioner/bodycream :)

[@esichka]

Hey Mia!! Live your content :) can you use paper take away cups for making slip casting molds? Thanks a million! 🙏

[@PotterytothePeople]

Yes you can :)

[@aprilhoyle]

Your rolling pin is nice and simple but effective... where did you get it?

[@dishasoni1709]

Very informative video! Would the 5/4 ratio be applicable for making a plaster batt (for wedging/reclaiming clay)?

[@PotterytothePeople]

Yes, absolutely. That's what I use for my bats too.

[@daveymichael6891]

I've been having alot of problems with plaster when making molds of simple shapes like circles and squares. When I remove plaster from a mold the top surface has a very small curve or bend so its never completely straight and flat. Is this something common with plaster caused when it heats up and expands? I thought maybe after completely drying out they might go back to retaining their original shape. Have you experienced this on the flat surface side of your plaster shapes?

[@samanthanicholson9015]

What kind of plaster do you recommend for molds?

[@lalineaableful]

Thank you so much! And Peanut is adorable! I have a question: could you make your own clay shape and use it to make a mold? Does it have to be bisque fired or it could be just bone dry clay? Thank you so much and keep up the good work! I like to see you're working your best with what you got!

[@audreyrrose]

yes but it does have to be glazed and fired before you make the mold!

[@PotterytothePeople]

Yes you can! You can use either leatherhard clay or glazed ceramic. It need to not be porous, so bone dry or bisque won't work.

[@solr4cc]

Thx for tutorial. As for weight you just use "tare" option to avoid calculations.

[@thesixofus2047]

loving the math lessons! LOL

[@PotterytothePeople]

haha!

[@Nrscathy60]

Tip: just place empty bucket on scale and zero it. No need to weigh it and subtract to get plaster amt.

[@lucielenkrad7768]

Do you have a tipp, when the gips does not come out of the cup I used. I think the vaseline sucks it stuck 🙁

[@PotterytothePeople]

sometimes you have to break the mold 😓

[@SN-if8dh]

Or multiply plaster with 0.8(4/5) to get water amount

[@PotterytothePeople]

nice one!

[@johnonorgan]

you add the plaster to the water and let it slack a bit over the level of the water I think it is in the instructions

[@robertdumoulin4612]

On tips trick to avoid bubble on top of mold just spray alcool on the surface to remove it

[@PotterytothePeople]

nice!

[@vaishali8313]

Can we use white cement

[@PotterytothePeople]

I don't know! You mean for the mold? Anything absorbant could work.

[@aidaalo]

I saw once a woman compressing the clay against the mold by pushing into a pillow. Really cool tho :)

[@PotterytothePeople]

Interesting!

[@PaulByrne-ev2zm]

@@PotterytothePeople I’ve also seen someone use some thick furniture foam and with one quick motion push the clay down using the. Foam for shaping. Probably a bit more clean up after.

[@PaulByrne-ev2zm]

*Using the mold, with the foam…

[@smashingtiles]

Sounds interesting, but can you explain what exactly you mean? Did she use a pillow instead of a rolling pin? I would love to learn from your comment! Thanks!

[@aidaalo]

@@smashingtiles she uses a rolling pin. Then she places the slab onto the mold and presses the mold with a pillow/foam square to shape it without any finger tips and no cracks. Hope it helps :)

[@tanjasblog4735]

Love love love this, except the background music is too loud. Please turn it down or leave out all the same 🥺 anyway I’m learning so much from your videoes 🙌🏼

[@PotterytothePeople]

thanks for the feedback! it's super helpful :)

[@jaynedavis3388]

I can’t believe I’ve done an art kit that contained plaster but no warning beyond “don’t sniff the plaster dust”. They also put resin in the oven in the instructional video 😰

[@MiejskaSzamanka]

why arent you using tara button?

[@MiejskaSzamanka]

i mean at the beggining

[@PotterytothePeople]

no idea ;)

[@antiwar8859]

Use bigger paper n darker pen