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plaster positive from plaster mold

updated thu 13 feb 03

 

Mary O'Connell on tue 11 feb 03


Dear Clayarters,

My father-in-law was a dentist for over 40 years. One day while we were =
chatting he started to talk to me about dental materials. Turns out =
that dentists who do their own lab work use a lot of plaster for mold =
making. They have a lot of tricks up their sleeves like using a couple =
different plasters for a mold so one pops off the other as they set. He =
thought artists who chose to work with molds could really benefit from =
talking to a dentist about the various techniques and materials they =
use. The conversation took place many years ago and since then he has =
passed away the information gone with him. If I were making molds today =
I would find a dentist or lab person to consult on ways to work with =
plaster. Just a thought.

Mary O'Connell

Marry Lukeman on wed 12 feb 03


Your chat about dentist reminded me about my experience with a small business who used a similar approach. Before rubber moulds came into use. The plaster negative was reinforced with burlap so it could more easily be handled without chipping. A particularly hard plast (similar to one of the dental plasters (They will often sell you some) for the positive. It is becoming a lost art.

Marry Lukeman
>
> From: Mary O'Connell
> Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 13:48:45 -0600
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: plaster positive from plaster mold
>
> Dear Clayarters,
>
> My father-in-law was a dentist for over 40 years. One day while we were chatting he started to talk to me about dental materials. Turns out that dentists who do their own lab work use a lot of plaster for mold making. They have a lot of tricks up their sleeves like using a couple different plasters for a mold so one pops off the other as they set. He thought artists who chose to work with molds could really benefit from talking to a dentist about the various techniques and materials they use. The conversation took place many years ago and since then he has passed away the information gone with him. If I were making molds today I would find a dentist or lab person to consult on ways to work with plaster. Just a thought.
>
> Mary O'Connell
>
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