Relief Glass Slumping Moulds
by Tina Walker
(Brisbane, Australia)
I have been working with glass for 10 years now and done a bit of most techniques. I teach leadlight, copperfoil, stained (painted and fired) glass and fusing and slumping, beadmaking, sandblasting... you get the drift. Despite this, I have never ventured into kiln casting,or more specifically which mould materials are easiest to use and are the most suitable for different projects.
I was trying to dream up something new and challenging to make for our upcoming exhibition and I thought about a Lalique inspired fan light. I was considering making a clear panel that is sandblasted and/or an engraved from behind. This would be eventually be mounted in a fan light base. Then I thought doing some kiln carving first could make it easier and require the removal of far less glass to get the desired result.
What do you think of this idea??? (possibly more trouble than it is worth!!! But simplicity isn't what keeps us all enthralled with glass, is it?!)
Thanks for your thoughts.
Milly's suggestion: Hi Tina, sounds like you're hooked too! The easy path is never the most satisfying...
Your idea sounds great. How about starting off with ceramic fibre paper moulds? (I hope that translates across the world, and that you know what I mean?)
They're really easy to do - have a look at the bottom of this page for Mold Making Instructions.
Basically, you're creating a relief in fibre paper that you then place your glass over and slump. The more complicated plaster recipes are at the top of the page.
You can add sandblasting/engraving afterwards if you want to elaborate. Here's a Kiln Firing Schedule for glass carving that might start you off.
Good luck with your exhibition, it sounds really exciting. Post some pics of it on my site!
To find out more about how to make stained glass, click here and return to the Everything Stained Glass home page.
