How to Combine Different Moldings
A mold is something that you pour a liquid substance into so it can harden and form a particular shape. There may come a time when you like the features of two different molds and would like to combine them. For example, you may have a mold for a tree and another mold for grass, which you think would look good in combination. One approach is to destroy the border on the mold and fit the molds together. Another approach is to take objects created by the two different molds and use them to create a new mold that has both molds combined.
Instructions
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Making a Combined Molding
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1
Place a pallet board on the table. The pallet board will make the mold easier to use by giving you a firm surface to press against, without having to worry about damaging the surface.
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2
Place clay on the pallet board. Make sure the clay is big enough and thick enough to embed both objects into the clay.
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3
Take the two objects that were created by the separate molds and put them together, where you want them to be in relationship to each other.
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4
Press the put-together object into the clay so half the object is completely embedded. Move the clay around so the clay wraps around the object's edges.
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5
Flatten the rest of the clay as much as possible so that the other half of the object can fit easily into it. Do this while the first half of the object is still embedded in the clay. Shave off rough edges with a thin, sharp knife.
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6
Carefully remove the object from the clay. Bake the clay in an oven. Most clay objects are baked in the oven at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 minutes.
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7
Place the object into the newly fired clay mold. Place more clay snugly against the embedded object and the first half of the clay mold. Now you will have both sides of the mold. Smooth out the edges of the second piece of clay using a knife. Bake this half in the oven at the same time and temperature as Step 6.
Merging Two Molds Together
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8
Place two different molds together.
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9
Chop off the edges of the molds, where you would like to join them, with a thin, sharp blade.
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10
Add new clay around the edges of the two molds, where they are joined.
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11
Merge the two molds together. Cut away some of the fresh clay with the knife.
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12
Fire the molds in the oven at 275 degrees Fahrenheit, for 20 to 25 minutes. The new clay will harden and merge the two molds together.
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Tips & Warnings
When you are creating complex parts, you may want to keep the molds separate and combine the products of the molds. For example, if you have a knight with a lance, you may want to mold the knight and the lance separately to simplify the molding process.
When combining two different molds, the molds may have characteristics that make them incompatible. For example, one mold may be resistant to high temperatures, while the other mold melts. Make sure both molds are compatible for your project.
