Frit-Happens !

Fusing and Stained Glass Tips and FAQ's => Fusing Tips and FAQ's => Slumping => Topic started by: Soozintheshed on May 03, 2007, 04:22:45 PM

Title: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 03, 2007, 04:22:45 PM
Does anyone know what materials you can safely use in a kiln to slump glass over?  Apart from the ready made slumping molds that is.  :)
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on May 03, 2007, 04:56:36 PM
nope


marshmallows?
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: handmadeheaven.biz on May 03, 2007, 05:06:57 PM
i know stainless steel & thick fibre paper are ok. you can carve out of fibre paper for good effects.

in one of my books someone's using a handleless wok as a bowl mould. have to drill small holes in bottom 1st though (and make sure it IS stainless steel!)
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 03, 2007, 06:47:04 PM
Cool, will try stainless steel then - and the marshmallows (great suggestion, I love marshmallows!)

What about teracotta plant pots?  Did I read somewhere that they might work?
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on May 03, 2007, 06:52:29 PM
I know you can do pot melts in them so I don't see why they wouldnt do for other kiln stuff ???
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: jewelchiz84 on May 03, 2007, 06:53:35 PM
Yep, you can use terracotta pots. So long as they dont have a 'sharp' rim.
I was told to drill a couple of holes in them. Worked fine for me.
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 03, 2007, 08:08:35 PM
Tan, I had to send Andrew out for Marshmallows !

If you are a marshmallow connousieur  then I can highly reccomend the Spar's own - yum !

Will try and get a terracotta pot with no rim tomorrow, thanks jewelchiz.
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on May 04, 2007, 04:23:55 PM
oooooo marshmallows.....one isnt enough :P
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 04, 2007, 05:38:44 PM
Ok got a stainless steel bowl , but do you have to kiln wash it?  the stuff just slides off !

So I covered it best I can in kiln paper.
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on May 04, 2007, 06:55:14 PM
Steph had this problem and I think mary said to heat it first so the water of the wash evaporates
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Mary on May 04, 2007, 07:02:22 PM
http://www.mikefraserprojects.com/MoldPreparation.html
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 04, 2007, 07:08:12 PM
Oops !  Its already in and cooking - too impatient me !
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: BlueMoon on May 04, 2007, 08:06:35 PM
Sooz....are you slumping into the stainless steel bowl or over the outside of it?
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 04, 2007, 08:14:13 PM
Its upside down in the kiln, then I layed strips of kiln paper over it in a criss cross pattern then layed the glass on top.

Will this work?
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: BlueMoon on May 04, 2007, 08:36:17 PM
I bet it will if the thin fire paper doesn't burn out to ash and drop to the shelf before the glass comes down to contact it.
The best way I have found to coat stainless steel is to heat it in the kiln or oven to about 93C and then spray kiln wash on the mold. Spraying works better than brushing but if you don't have a sprayer, then brushing will work. You might have to heat the mold several times and brush on kiln wash each time as the SS tends to cool very quickly.

I found a product made by Hotline called Mold Armor that I use on my SS molds. I spray it on. they claim it is good for 50 or so firings. I have some floral forms that I have slumped over at least a dozen times that are still holding up well with the initial coating of Mold Armor. The stuff is a bit pricey ($60 for a 17ozs) but it goes a long way if sprayed.

Good luck with the piece you have in the kiln...I wanna see pics!! :-)
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 04, 2007, 08:39:17 PM
I could do with a mold I can use a lot, any suggestions?
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: BlueMoon on May 04, 2007, 09:12:40 PM
The ceramic molds are what I prefer.  The kiln wash goes on much easier and holds up to multiple firings. Do you have vendors over there for those?
I carry Bullseye molds as well as Slumpy's. Give me an idea of the size and shape you want and I'll send you some part numbers to look for.
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 04, 2007, 09:17:22 PM
Ohh fab, about 6"  - and a smaller one perhaps.

They need to go into an SC2 kiln.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated !
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 04, 2007, 11:08:36 PM
Your a Star, thank you  :)
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on May 05, 2007, 10:43:20 AM
Jim rocks!! ;)
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: Soozintheshed on May 05, 2007, 11:08:42 AM
He certainly does, he has agreed to be my personal shopper, bless his cottons !
Title: Re: Slumping Molds
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on May 05, 2007, 02:59:56 PM
I wouldn't have got as far as I have with my fusing if it wasn't for Jim, he was fantastic to me.... :-*