Does a stainless steel draping mold for creating vases need pre-drilled?

[glassy]

Is it necessary to drill a hole in a stainless steel mold such as that of a vase or cylinder mold? This mold comes without a hole. If you say, “Yes! It is necessary.”, then why doesn’t the manufacturer who designs the mold pre-drill it before shipping it out to the store?

[Becki]

 

If it’s for draping then no, it’s not necessary.

 

 

 

[lorraine]

hi, the reason that you have holes in a mould is to allow trapped air to escape and prevent an air pocket forming.

so if you are shaping glass over a mould, called draping and usually a stainless steel mould, then the glass slowly falls but the air can easily escape.

However if you are fusing into a mould, ie slumping then air could get trapped between the mould and the glass and then the holes give this potentially trapped air a chance to escape.

Generally draping moulds are stainless steel and you can utilise lots of charity shop kitchen and cookware for these, cocktail shakers make great floral formers. So don’t always think you have to buy very expensive moulds.

I am lucky and also do ceramics so can also make my own slumping moulds, of course i have a higher firing kiln for this as glass kilns won’t fire high enough for pottery

good luck

lorraine

[Daisy]

Pam

[Author]

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