Were to buy ceramic molds ???

Brian

Does anybody know of a source or2 to buy molds to pour pots,, i have a fairly large kiln here and would like to give pots a try,,
Thanks in advance

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Brian
Zone 4
Michigan USA

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Earl

You might just use whatever you have...kitchen pans, other bonsai pots, etc. You can mold slabs over the outside or "slump" the clay into the inside. I tried a couple of those recently and they turned out very nice.

Earl

bonsaial1

I will go through the process in which I made my own molds to pour in. I had bought some commercial molds but the designs were limeted, so this is how I resolved it.
The commercial molds are made of plaster, to absorb the water out of the clay and give you something to remove from the mold in a reasonable amount of time.
I took some of the pots that I wanted to reproduce. I made wooden boxes for them approx. 3 inches larger on the ends and sides and about 3 inches taller over the pot. I took the pot and pressed clay into the drainage holes to seal them. I coated the bonsai pot with a very thick coat of vasaline. I placed the pot upside down into the box. Center the pot and run some wet clay around the rim and the bottom of the box to seal. Put a stick across the box and wedge a cut off pencil or small dowel to hold the pot down for the next procedure. Mix in a bucket enough plaster of Paris to cover the whole pot right up to the edge of the wooden box. as the plaster starts to set up, you can remove the stick holding the pot under the plaster. Mix enough plaster to pour into the hole to patch. Let harden over night.

Next day. This is where you really test your nerves. Remove the wood from the sides. Hopefully you used screws during your construction of the box. When you turn the thing over and remove the bottom board you should see the pot imbedded in the plaster. You may have a little seepage from plaster but thats OK. Now the fun part. Use a piece of plywood on the floor of your garage or other concrete surface. Pick up the plaster block about 4 inches from the ground and slam it down as flat as possible. You can leave the sides on if you like, but I never did. It may take two or three trys, but it will come out. If you put on enough vasaline it will come out pretty clean. Sometimes you will have a little chip out in the feet area. you can use a little paint brush and put plaster down in to patch. Start with a cheap pot to get your feet wet and learn how the plaster works. I made about 15 of these molds. I used some pots that I paid 150.00 for and never lost one. Good luck!! This is your only route trust me. I searched the world over and had the worlds biggest ceramic supplier in my backyard, Duncun Ceramics.

Best regards, AK

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