<p>Making a piece out of ceramics, you should use plaster for the mold as it draws out the moisture from the clay slip, and you will not  need to  wait a  long  time to get the thickness of your  clay.  If you use a rubber mold, the moisture has to leave the clay through the  air, which is very slow.</p>
<p>Raku is a way to fire the clay, so unless you want a hardened piece out of the clay, I would not fire it raku style or otherwise.</p>
<p>If you are wanting to make a bronze piece, why use the ceramic as part? You can make the finished piece in several parts of bronze or clay.  The pieces  can  be  combined  afterward; molded clay glued with slip, or welding or soldering the bronze.</p>
<p>Another way would be a breakable mold for the entire piece, where you break the complete work out of the mold in one piece.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-03T06:22:25.090Z
I tried to clean up the grammar and punctuation but I'm not sure this is accurate for what you want to say.  Please review the edit and modify anything where I didn't get it right.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-03T01:34:39.720Z
2020-12-03T06:20:10.857Z
2020-12-03T06:20:10.857Z
beadforever
<p>I have a clay (plasticine) positive of a human figure standing 5' tall</p>

<ul>
<li>Next step is making a rubber mold for the lost wax process and a bronze positive</li>
<li>May I use the rubber mold for slip after the wax positive is made, plaster is to fragile and not at all charming</li>
<li>Is Raku the answer for drying, if I can make a slip positive </li>
<li>Would someone discuss the basics here?  Any pointers are welcomed, if they reference the project!  </li>
<li>The actual mold has multiple pieces that will be joined to form a container into which the slip may be poured and later poured out when the piece reaches the desired thickness.</li>
<li>Suggestions on thickness and etc.</li>
<li>Ideas other than plaster or slip</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-23T01:24:08.060Z
Five feet tall?
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-24T05:01:21.090Z
@Catija Yes, five feet tall.  Will be a complicated mold but, if memory serves me well, it will turn out fine.
Ace
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-02T19:54:30.003Z
5 ft tall is well beyond the size for lost wax casting ; 5 in. is more like it.
blacksmith37
<ceramics><clay>
Can large pieces of slipware be dried without a kiln?
Ace
# Can large pieces of slipware be dried without a kiln?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-22)

I have a clay (plasticine) positive of a human figure standing 5' tall

* Next step is making a rubber mold for the lost wax process and a bronze positive
* May I use the rubber mold for slip after the wax positive is made, plaster is to fragile and not at all charming
* Is Raku the answer for drying, if I can make a slip positive
* Would someone discuss the basics here? Any pointers are welcomed, if they reference the project!
* The actual mold has multiple pieces that will be joined to form a container into which the slip may be poured and later poured out when the piece reaches the desired thickness.
* Suggestions on thickness and etc.
* Ideas other than plaster or slip

**Tags:** ceramics, clay

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Five feet tall?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Yes, five feet tall.  Will be a complicated mold but, if memory serves me well, it will turn out fine.  
> **username_2**: 5 ft tall is well beyond the size for lost wax casting ; 5 in. is more like it.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-12-03. Score: 1

Making a piece out of ceramics, you should use plaster for the mold as it draws out the moisture from the clay slip, and you will not need to wait a long time to get the thickness of your clay. If you use a rubber mold, the moisture has to leave the clay through the air, which is very slow.

Raku is a way to fire the clay, so unless you want a hardened piece out of the clay, I would not fire it raku style or otherwise.

If you are wanting to make a bronze piece, why use the ceramic as part? You can make the finished piece in several parts of bronze or clay. The pieces can be combined afterward; molded clay glued with slip, or welding or soldering the bronze.

Another way would be a breakable mold for the entire piece, where you break the complete work out of the mold in one piece.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I tried to clean up the grammar and punctuation but I'm not sure this is accurate for what you want to say.  Please review the edit and modify anything where I didn't get it right.  

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