Clay Times Back Issues Vol. 2 Issue 6 • Sep/Oct 1996 | Page 14

Working with A Slump Mold
BY SHEILA JENKINS

I

’ve been a production
potter for over 20 years,
cranking out kiln load after kiln load.
While I love the wheel—that
anachronistic tool which pre-dates all
other instruments of torture—four
years ago I finally made a break. I
decided to hand-build some production items using slabs of clay and
drape molds.
Of course, there were the
inevitable disasters with my
makeshift molds, but not as many as
I’d had when learning the wheel.
There was also the side benefit of
moving around, working with my
whole body. In fact, I became such an
enthusiast that I developed the
“SlumpHump,” a series of plastic
molds for making plaster molds that
help the potter stay on her feet and
be more productive.

The

The following is a step-by-step
guide to using a plaster slump mold,
either created with the Oval SlumpHump mold or a different slump
mold of your choice.
Prepare the Slab

1

Roll out
approximately a
1/4”
thick clay
slab. Use
a thicker
slab for larger pieces, thinner for
smaller ones. Spray the slab with
water and smooth with a squeegee
on both sides.
Drape the Clay

2

Estimate
the size of
the slab
you will
need and
remove
any excess clay. Lay the slab into the slump
mold, which is placed on a banding
wheel. Ease the clay into the form
and smooth with a damp sponge.
Add Definition
Defining
the wall
from the
floor will
help give
a polished
look to
your
piece. First, smooth the floor with a
small rubber rib. Then, dampen the
rib and hold it at an angle while
pressing against the side wall and
turning the mold on a banding
wheel. Smooth the rim.

3
Pure & Simple Pottery Products
P.O. Box 1279 Ukiah, CA 95482

[phone] PHONE/FAX
WHOLESALE INQUIRIES ACCEPTED

14
▼

The Rim

4

There are a
variety of
ways to
finish the
rim. You
can add an extruded rim or you may
wish to bevel the rim as I have done
here. I have fashioned a bevel tool
from a formica sample chip by using
a rattail file to notch in a groove or
series of grooves. I then run this
around the rim while turning the
banding wheel. Another possibility is
to cut an uneven rim and then integrate the surface decoration with it.
Variations

5

There are
many different
ways to
use drape
molds.
Shaping the rim or adding a foot or
handle can give each piece a different
personality.
You may also wish to change the
contour of the plaster mold (which I
hope to feature in a future article).
Don’t forget that you can also pour
these molds to full depth for a baking
dish, or only an inch deep for a shallow plate or platter.
For larger items, such as an 18”
platter, I am sure you will find that
working with drape molds has a
great advantage over the wheel. I
have had few problems with warping and cracking, and a foot can be
added at the same time the platter is
formed. There is neither trimming
nor scraps to recycle. Also, ovals, rectangles, and squares can add interest
and variety to your line of thrown
ware. Experiment and enjoy! ■

— Sheila Jenkins is a studio potter, teacher, and owner of Pure & Simple Pottery
Products in Ukiah, CA. To order her molds, call [phone].