Private Advance Mold-Making & Slip casting
What you’ll learn
- A customized 1:1 or small-group workshop that takes you from zero to a complete plaster mold for slip casting—terminology, why we split molds the way we do, measuring and mixing plaster, pouring, demolding, and cleanup. This course delivers a production-oriented, end-to-end mold-making workflow, culminating in a finished mold tailored to your selected piece. your target object will be reviewed and an executable mold plan will be proposed.
- Learn the end-to-end workflow of slip casting—from making slip from clay , pouring, demolding, and finishing. This class is production-oriented: you’ll complete a functional mold and cast initial prototypes, with practical guidance on scaling to small-batch output.
- firing
Project & size guidelines
- Before purchase, share sketches/reference photos or a sample of the form you’d like to cast.
- Best results with pieces ≤ 9" in any dimension. Smaller forms yield cleaner first molds.
- Master material can be any solid object，greenware or bisque. Note: masters may be damaged during molding, especially thin or spiky forms.
- Max 3 students per session. For 2 students, you’ll work on the same or similar mold collaboratively.
- Groups larger than 3--Please contact us to discuss a custom plan and scheduling.
Professional 3D Modeling & 3D Printing
- No master on hand? We provide professional 3D modeling & 3D printing to create a mold-ready master tailored to your design. Share references and measurements at vacantcasa@outlook.com or call +1 (312) 684-6235 for a proposal and pricing.
Duration & pricing
- Base session: 6 -7 hours (see outline below).
- $500(1 student)
- Extra sessions, if needed due to complexity, will be confirmed in advance and billed separately.
Curriculum (6-hour baseline, 3 classes)
- Terminology & full workflow overview.
- Mold strategy: how and why we choose parting lines for your specific piece.
- Measuring & mixing: volume estimation, plaster-to-water ratio, mixing technique.
- Build the mold: pour 1–2 parts depending on size/complexity.
- Finish & clean: pour final part(s), trim, keying, labeling, cleanup.
- Casting review (time permitting): clean last cast and discuss improvements.
- Slip making: use wet / dry clay to make slip
- Pouring
- demolding
- firing
Materials & tools
- All tools provided + 12 lb of plaster included. Additional plaster available for purchase if your mold requires more.
- Mask recommended，Gloves（included）.
Scheduling
- Mon–Sun, 10:00–20:00 by appointment. You’ll receive an email/text to discuss your time and comfirm after purchase.
- Location and arrival info are provided in the confirmation email.
Questions & booking
- Questions before purchasing? vacantcasa@outlook.com｜+1 (312) 684-6235
- After purchase, please check the confirmation email for a prep checklist (references, dimensions, material preferences). We’ll confirm your project and schedule within the window above.
Notes
- This is a mold-making for slip casting class (not a wheel-throwing or hand-building basics class).
- Kiln firing and small-batch production support are available as add-ons.
