Graphite Shell Mold..anyone use?

szglassy · #1 2009-10-20, 11:07am

I'm thinking abput purchasing this mold from Weaver
http://cgi.ebay.com/Graphite-Glass-L...%3D3%26ps%3D63

Has anyone used this or any other one of their molds for non-beads projects before??

Does anyone have pics of what they did?

Are they easy to use??

I have a special request for something with shells.

I've never used one before and would like some input..

Thanx!!

Sue

HWCGlass · #2 2009-10-20, 5:18pm

that sell has some cool stuff . . . . .

Crazy Woman · #3 2009-10-20, 5:19pm

I think MaryBeth Callahan uses them.... but I've not seen her around in a while

ArtcoInc · #4 2009-10-20, 5:25pm

What are you trying to make? Beads? Pendants? Cabochons?

Like all of the Weaver molds, how you use it is up to you. You can fill it with powders or frit. You can press a small gather into the cavity, using only part of the shape. You can press a large gather into the cavity, using all of the shape. You can sculpt, reshape, and embellish the piece after pressing into the mold.

I sell a lot of the Weaver molds. I probably have this one in stock too .... somewhere

Malcolm

szglassy · #5 2009-10-20, 5:26pm

Do you use any of their molds....HWC???
[color="Purple"]
BTW....your work is UNBELIEVABLY INCREDIBLE!!!

MaryBeth · #6 2009-10-20, 5:33pm

I have that mold and love it.
Let me see if I can dig up some pics. These are all on beads but you could make off mandrel pendants using the same technique.

MaryBeth · #7 2009-10-20, 5:39pm

Just a note on use. I make my base shape first and let it get fairly cool. Then I estimate how big of a gather I need for the mold cavity. I place the gather on the base shape and then I get the gather screaming hot.

You really need to get it fairly soupy to get the best impression. Then I push it into the mold cavity. I usually push on the back of the base bead with a graphite paddle to make sure I get a good impression. That's why the base bead needs to be stiff enough so it doesn't deform at this point.

I make sure I give the entire bead a good soak in the torch to equalize the heat after I've used the mold.

HWCGlass · #8 2009-10-21, 10:16am

the above are not boro, correct?

no molds for me, some wire or optic stuff some times, but no shells or stars or anything like that. love to own them all, though. they look like handy things to have around.

szglassy · #9 2009-10-21, 10:27am

Thank you Mary Beth for posting those beautiful photos and your technique.

Are they Boro?

To be more specific about my question .... I'm looking for something that I can mold shapes into that is not a bead or a pendant.
More clarity: Could you just mush some glass into the mold and pull out just a shell ( or what ever) that does not have the over blob of glass??

I'd like to attach them to a rod ( for decoration) .

Possible???

I know that I probably ( with practice) make them my self,but it could be an ongoing thing and would like to make things easy for myself.

Sue

MaryBeth · #10 2009-10-21, 12:02pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by szglassy

Thank you Mary Beth for posting those beautiful photos and your technique.

Are they Boro?

To be more specific about my question .... I'm looking for something that I can mold shapes into that is not a bead or a pendant.
More clarity: Could you just mush some glass into the mold and pull out just a shell ( or what ever) that does not have the over blob of glass??

I'd like to attach them to a rod ( for decoration) .

Possible???

I know that I probably ( with practice) make them my self,but it could be an ongoing thing and would like to make things easy for myself.

Sue

Nope - not boro. As far as just molding the shape it is possible. I have experimented with it but I really haven't done a lot with it yet. You would need to get a screaming hot blob of glass on the end of your rod and press straight down. It takes practice to determine how much glass you need to use so that you don't have extra outside of the design. You'd then need to hold the molded object somehow - either with a tiny cold sealed punty or hot fingers and burn the rod off before you stick them in the kiln. I have several tiny shells that have been laying in the bottom of my kiln for a couple of years.

Also, I don't know how big you want to work but these shell designs are small - almost tiny. FWIW

szglassy · #11 2009-10-21, 1:28pm

Several tiny shell laying on the bottom of your kiln for years? I'm sure there are more goodies if you look! LOL!!

Thats the idea..I'm going to just order one anyway...small would be just fine

ArtcoInc · #12 2009-10-21, 2:09pm

I would say that all of these molds work better with soft glass. You *can* use them for boro, but you have to work VERY hot, and use some tool to press HARD on the glass to get it to pick up any detail. Boro is just soooooo stiff ...

MaryBeth, your work is beautiful!

Malcolm

MaryBeth · #13 2009-10-21, 3:32pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtcoInc

I
MaryBeth, your work is beautiful!

Malcolm

Thanks, Malcom

Afterdark · #14 2009-10-23, 8:39am

I have it and have made a few set of beads with it! I've played very little but here is a set using the mold.

HWCGlass · #15 2009-10-23, 11:20am

cool

szglassy · #16 2009-10-24, 4:10pm

Very cool! Soft glass????

Afterdark · #17 2009-10-26, 9:02am

yes soft glass- I think boro would not work well- the mold is small and boro would not flow into the cracks. Soft glass is hard enough to get into the cracks and crany spots!