Kiln Casting Techniques
These glass tiles are created in the ancient lost wax method of casting. An original is created from a clay sculpture. Once the clay is at a ‘leather hard’ state a rubber solution is applied over the clay to start the mold making process. This then leaves a negative reproduction of the original.  Hot wax is then poured into this rubber negative containment. The wax is removed leaving a positive reproduction of the original sculpture. The wax sculpture is now used to calculate the glass needed to cast in the firing. A method of weighing its mass in water measurements offers the artist the precise calculation of glass which is then set aside for the final firing stage. A wood frame is created to encase the wax positive in which a high temperature plaster is poured over the wax positive. Once the plaster is cured, the plaster and the wax are placed in a kiln and heated to melt the wax out.  The plaster mold is now void of the wax and now fired again in the kiln to cure the plaster for the next phase of the process. The glass previously measured is carefully placed into the plaster mold. A precise firing schedule is calculated to fire and anneal (or cooling to room temperature) the glass piece. There is a variety of glass to choose from and each have various temperatures suited for its density and composition. |
