Using my spare dinner plates as a mold for making new plates

[ceramic-rain]

I was wondering if anyone could answer what I believe to be a strange question. I do not have the money to purchase molds or materials to make molds but I really want to make some plates for my family and my mother and was wondering if anyone knew if using a spare plate, bowl, etc that I already have on hand would work as a mold. I have seen the isntructions for using paper and stryofoam plates but I wondered whether the same could be done with spare plates.


Any suggestions would be helpful...

[Mark Norman]

I would think so, just lay the layer of clay between two plates with plastic wrap and trim after squishing em together? Experiment and report back.

[jbittkau]

How are you getting along with the plates? I use all sorts of things as molds. If the item is not porous allowing the clay to release, I cover it in plastic clingwrap... just smooth out any crinkle marks. Its good to make a low bisqued plate as a mold too, although the finished item will be a bit smaller than the original due to shrinkage so choose a larger plate than you desire.

[Mark Norman]

I have had great success in doing this. I got large plastic dinner plates from rite-aide on sale for a buck and after rolling a slab to the desired thickness (~1/4") I use cut up sheets for release between the clay and the plastic plate then another piece of sheet to hand form the work to conform to the plate/bowl. Heck half my dinnerware is now out in the workshop! lol