How to Make a Mold for a Glass Pitcher

Create your own glass pitcher with a clay mold.

Create a glass mold for a pitcher, and serve beverages from your homemade artisan glasswork. Glass molds can be created from wet paper or clay, but clay is often recommended as it is a stronger and more durable material. Mold your soft clay around a glass pitcher and set it in an oven kiln. The heat of this furnace will give you a strong mold that will allow you to create as many glass pitchers as you feel inspired to make.

Things You'll Need

• Clay
• Pitcher
• Oven or kiln to heat the mold
• Small, round-headed hammer

Instructions

1. Knead a large piece of clay until it becomes soft enough to mold and work with.

2. Find a pitcher shape that you have in your house to help guide the shape of your pitcher. Apply grease to the bottom of the pitcher and attach the clay to the pitcher. When the pitcher begins to change shape, remove the jug from the clay and continue molding the shape using your hands. This might seem difficult so keep the pitcher in front of you and work off the form of the pitcher. Once you have defined your shape, smooth the edges.

3. Heat the mold in a kiln or hot oven at the same temperature you will use to heat the glass. The mold will shrink a little and become hard. Leave the mold in room temperature for 24 hours.

4. Coat your mold with several layers of kiln wash. This will prevent the glass sticking to your mold.

5. Prepare your clay mold to use. This model created is ideal for Slump molding. This method is used when you allow your glass to fall over the outside of the mold.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when working with a kiln as materials can become very hot and dangerous. Use gloves and goggles.

References

• Poly clay: Make a glass mold
• Glass Australia: Glass molding methods