The Essential Guide to Mold Making & Slip Casting

Wow... I have read the negative reviews. All I can say is re-read the book the information is there, and if it is not there he tells you where to find it. This is a well written book that is easy to understand and comprehend. The book is more so about a quick way to make prototype molds using Andrew's unique speedy technique, and how to make lid's that will fit well. He covers the basics well, pointing out along the way the most important things you need to do to ovoid common mistakes before they happen. He gives you just about every possible mold making scenario from 1piece molds to 6 piece molds. The two things that would make this a better book. #1 Certain techniques in the book are not regurgitated. "Wash off the mold soap with vinegar." These seven words are just easier to print than; "Refer to page bla bla on how to wash away mold soap." #2 It almost seems like a few pictures are missing, while some of the other pictures that were included are pointless. I would have been a good idea to give this book to the targeted novice mold maker for a prerelease review. Overall I do love the book and I find myself referencing this book again and again.

I’ve been involved in ceramics for 25 years, and this book is packed full of helpful tips, tricks, and gorgeous photos. It’s quickly become one of the prized books in my art book collection, and I will be referencing it again and again. If you’re thinking about getting into this side of pottery, absolutely get this book.

This is an essential for anyone interested in mold making & producing molds from pieces you have made & would like to duplicate in uniformity. It also has good examples & photos to explain the process. I would have liked more on the area of the clay bodies used in casting and the unique properties and problems you may encounter vs. the properties of the plaster to make the molds. As references go, this is a probably the best I've read & would highly recommend it for anyone interested in casting.

Great book. Just wish UPS had not tried to fold it in half. Hard back book with lots of pictures and instructions on how to make molds and then slip casting. Lots of info.

Great book and resource for beginners and experienced artists alike. Plenty of photos to go along with easy to follow instructions and guides. Would highly recommend this book.

I've been a potter for 50 years, but never tried slip casting and wanted to give it a try. Took a couple of books out of the library and this one was the better of the two. The other book had been recommended by well-known potter/author John Britt, but this one was just a little more clear on the 'getting started' information. If you are just starting out with slip casting, I also recommend watching some of the many online videos available.

Possessing a modicum of mold making experience ,I have found this book to be extremely helpful as I explore the medium on my own . It is well written and the pictures are great. I consult it all the time and it has indeed been an essential guide for me as I learn through trial and error. No book can offer the same learning experience as an actual lesson but Andrew's latest offering , ceramicsacademy.com which provides video tutorials , may , perhaps, be the next best thing.

This book seemed to me to be a good start, but maybe was rushed to production. There are a number of significant issues with this publication: * Poorly organized - rather than taking you through a step-by-step process for each important phase of mold making and slip casting, the information is scattered throughout. Including information on other artists adds to the value of this book, but detracts from fundamental goal of teaching you how to slip cast. * Missing/minimized information - 'Begin with the water and .25 percent of sodium silicate.' How the heck do you get to .25 percent sodium silicate? Does it come only in liquid form, or is there a powder available? Is the liquid form measured by volume or weight? Is the liquid considered 100%, or is it diluted? The tile-making example looked really cool. But two whole paragraphs on the silly fill tubes? And nothing after pouring the slip into the mold. How long to wait? How do you remove the tile after you open the mold? What if the tile doesn't want to come out? And (on page 68) "Mix the Hydrocal and pour it into the frame." Ok - nothing - nothing about mixing Hydrocal. How much water? How long to wait? Is it the same as #1 Plaster? Also (page 19) "Then sand the whole exterior...Sand the interior surfaces as well..." Huh? Why do that? Is it optional, or a key step to getting a successful cast? Also, how long do you dry the molds before you can use them? It's a mystery.... * Instructions don't work - I followed the mixing and pouring of plaster and slip down to the last available detail, including the cone 7 Hensley/Polseno recipe. The casts won't come out of the molds. From Troubleshooting, suggests the mold is too wet (how long do you let the things dry?) or too much EPK, but I used the recipe in the book!

One of the best pottery books I've ever bought. So much unique and in-depth information. Really well written with an easy to understand, step-by-step format accompanied by stunning photography. If you want to do anything at all to do with pottery mould making it will be covered in this book. I especially love the balance of technical information - which makes it so valuable - with inspirational examples of work from contemporary artists. It both inspires and informs, a genuinely brilliant book and one that will be used for the rest of my potting life!!!

A useful book, lots of photos of Art Pottery, lots of information. I wouldn't rely on it as my only source of information but definitely a good resource. Definitely worth having.

Muy buen libro, explica a detalle materiales y procesos con ejemplos claros de otros artistas. Muy recomendable.

見ていても楽しくなるデザインの型作り、日本の技法集ではあまり見かけない。いつか時間が出来たらトライしてみたい。

Está bien, para algo de información aunque no és la bomba.