Cutting and Molding

Cleaning Molds for Making Ceramics
Clean molds allow individuals to make ceramic pieces that have no imperfections or embedded materials and debris in the slip. Extreme care should be used in the maintenance of molds. Any damage to a mold will show in the final ceramic piece. Molds need to be thoroughly cleaned following each use. Clean molds need to be stored banded in an upside down position. This will keep them free of dust and insect collection.

12-Piece Basic Pottery Tool Set		5 Piece Set		8-Piece Beginner Pottery Tool Set		Aboriginal
Price: $14 - $22		Price: $9		Price: $11 - $13		Price: $20 - $29
						Brand: Amaco
Start out right with this set of essential pottery and sculpting tools.		The basic shapes are included, for opening, shaping curving, smoothing, and trimming wet clay on the potters wheel.		This set contains all the basic tools needed to get started in sculpting or refining thrown or hand-built pottery.		This mold has designs inspired by the shapes and symbols used in Aboriginal art.
Aftosa Ultimate Edger		Amaco Pony Roller		Amaco Textured Slab Molds		Deluxe Pottery Tool Set
Price: $12		Price: $11		Price: $30 - $42		Price: $58
Brand: Aftosa		Brand: Amaco		Brand: Amaco		Brand: Conda
Add perfect edges to your clay pots with this stainless steel edger.		Use Amaco's double-ended pony roller for flattening clay, smoothing surfaces, and creating textures with molds.		Available in various designs, Amaco Textured Slab Molds measure 12" × 12" × 1".		This deluxe set includes an essential variety of pottery and clay sculpting tools, including: wire clay cutter 2 bristle brushes Sumi brush 2 broom corn brushes Spoutmaker ribs essential ribbon, wire-end, needle, large paddle, and boxwood tools The largest piece measures approximately 18" (46 cm) long.
East Asian		Islamic		Kemper Hole Cutters		Kemper Rubber Finishing Tool
Price: $29 - $37		Price: $22 - $30		Price: $3		Price: $2 - $3
Brand: Amaco		Brand: Amaco				Brand: Kemper
This mold has designs inspired by Vietnamese and Chinese symbolism.		This mold incorporates designs inspired by Islamic patterns.		Sharp, polished wood and steel hole cutters provide an easy method for cutting clean holes in wet, thick-walled greenware and clay.		Molded from pliable rubber in a kidney shape.

Some tips and suggestions for cleaning molds for making ceramics are in the following.

• Design crevices often collect excess slip. Remove this by blowing hard into any section that is dirty. Never use canned air or forced air to remove debris or dirt. Never scrape away dirt or debris. This will scratch molds causing definite imperfections in pieces.
• Wet slip should be allowed to dry for easier removal. Slip will shrink as it dries and be easier removed.
• Use a soft brush to rid dust and debris. Large cosmetic brushes work adequately for this task.
• Dampen a soft sponge with clean water to remove stubborn debris and dirt. Small sponge pieces can be used to keep amount of moisture to a minimum.
• Allow molds to completely dry before using.