Third Stamp Mold & Trial Flat Sconce

In December I fired a third stamp mold, and also tried fusing together a flat sconce in the same kiln (one) - because it would be easier if I could pick up the texture in a fuse and then slump it later, instead of doing a stamp mold.

The flat sconce didn't turn out at all, and without the pressure of the plaster mold (oddly), it did what fusings normally do at 850 and it blew a hole.

The stamped sconce didn't turn out, and it took me awhile to realize it was because I had put in one sheet of glass instead of two (so there was a gap of space between the glass and the two layers of plaster). Eventually I refired this with the usual schedule.

I make no promises that I will find this schedule, as I have an incredibly terrible habit of writing out schedules but not writing what I'm firing!

A successful sconce firing can be seen here.

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A Sconce / Stamp Molding Sheet Glass

I originally wanted to create a mask, then a series of masks. Then when I showed the waxes to everyone they, and I, unanimously agreed that my textured pieces would make great light fixtures.

Due to unavoidable circumstances (the intense need to see Wreck-It-Ralph) I was an hour late to my school, where I needed to specifically insert the stamp at 680. I asked a fellow classmate to put the kiln on hold at 600 for me, but unfortunately the kiln accidentally cancelled it's program, and so when I came in the kiln was at about 350. I assume this is why the base mold had a large crack in it, and the stamp mold cracked in two when I tried to pick it up. This is my own fault, but the piece still turned out!

The glass I measured out was 8.75" wide by 13.75" long. It seemed I completely messed up the length (it was too long, and thus too thick near the bottom), but the width worked perfectly!

My second stamp mold test and first attempt to create a mask / sconce.

My next attempt for making a sconce via stamp molding was less successful, and can be seen here.

November 17, 2012
Kiln 5
1) 10 hr ↑ 120º
2) 24 hr ↑ 600º
3) 26 hr @ 600º
4) 26:01 ↑ 680º
5) 26:16 @ 680º
6) 26:17 ↑ 850º
7) 26:22 @ 850º (I skipped after a few minutes)
8) 26:23 ↓ 516º
9) 36 hr @ 516º
10) 40 hr ↓ 390º
11) 41 hr ↓ 50º

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First Stamp Test!

I was extremely excited for this test and it went absolutely wonderfully. The concept was brought on by a difficult wax that a fellow student made. It was a very shallow bowl that had texture on both sides, which means there is no easy area for the glass to melt in. Because of this he had to add on a very inventive reservoir and do a lot of cold working after the fact.

When I was trying to devise an easy way to cast his piece, one of the things I thought of was a two part mold that you put together in the kiln when it's at temperature - like a stamp.

This test piece was sculpted haphazardly but turned out quite nice. There was some odd wrinkling around the edges, and there was some ill texture in the indents that were created by the stamp mold. I assume this is because there was too much glass, so it began eating away at the lowermost part of the plaster stamp.

November 6, 2012
Kiln A1
1) 06 hr ↑ 120º  * wet mold
2) 08 hr @ 120º  *
3) 18 hr ↑ 600º  *
4) 19 hr @ 600º
5) 19:01 ↑ 850º (melt, stamp, re-melt)
6) 26 hr @ 850º
7) 26:01 ↓ 516º
8) 33 hr @ 516º
9) 38 hr ↓ 390º  ~ test for slow kiln
10) 40 hr ↓ 50º  ~

Above is the part of the glass that was hit by the mold. Below is what might be the traditional 'bottom'. Technically though, due to how amazing stamp molds are, either side could be up (and personally I like the bottom view better).

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