FMD #42

The mold is made using multiple coats of polyurethane rubber. Usually 4-6 coats but more may be necessary especially for tricky areas. “Keys” are tabs that are made to help the two halves of the mold align securely. The ‘flange” is a 3+ area all around the mold that the keys are inlaid into.

Once the mold and mother mold is made the mold is opened and the original clay sculpture is pulled out of the rubber mold. The clay is usually damaged or destroyed in the process. I drove the truck down to pick up the completed molds (there were still several sections at the mold makers and will be picked up separately). Here you can clearly see how the sculpture was cut up for moldmaking and destroyed in the process. 

Always a sad sight - the original work with hundreds of hours invested reduced to a macabre pile of body parts. When my work is complete I will scrape off as much clay as I can to salvage it for reuse again later. Now the mold maker will finish that last sections of the mold and begin the process of casting the mold with molten wax.

For additional information Brick in the Yard is a supply company based in TX that produces a lot of informational videos. Here is a good video showing the basics of a brush-on mold with keys.