Hadar’s Molds – Exploring the Donut

This posting is a bit long, but covers quite a few possibilities.There is so much that can be done with a simple donut shape. The simpler type starts with a circle cut from a layer of clay, and another, smaller circle cut inside the first circle.

Cut a big circle

From this point on, you can change the shape of the donut just with a slight touch of your finger. You can elongate it:

Elongating

Or you can dent it:

Denting

You can also cut the smaller circle off center:

Off center to the top left

Off center to the top left

With gentle manipulation of the shape the donut turns into a bean.

Bean shape

Here it’s done with a texturing mold. I used Mokume-Gane 9. I took a big chunk of clay and pressed it into the mold. I did not mind having it very thick, since fired steel clay is so light-weight.

Donu with Mokume-Gane 9

While the bean was still wet, I inserted eyelets on both sides. If you use Low Shrinkage Steel XT, use nickel chromium wire (also called “high temp wire” or “nichrome”) to make the eyelets. This wire is available from PMC Connection

Instructions for making the eyelets can be found in my book The Handbook of Metal Clay: Textures and Forms, second edition, p. 45.

Firing

Low-Shrinkage Steel XT is best suited for structural purposes and the easiest clay to fire. Just cover with carbon and fire 2 hours at 1750°F/955°C (brick kiln); 1830°F/999°C (muffle kiln). If you happen to have the Mini 1800 just set it to the highest setting and come back after 2 hours. One phase firing.

Fired bean

A Clasp

A toggle clasp is also a donut of sorts. Using the same texture, I started with a circular donut.

Circular donut

Then changed the shape with my fingers and dried.

Change shape

The toggle bar needs to stick out of the donut about a quarter inch to each side. What if the texturing mold is not long enough?

Roll a fat snake, bend it into a half circle, and press it into the mold.

Press half-circle into mold

Remove the snake from the mold.

Remove from mold

Gently straighten it out.

Straighten

Then cut to size.

Cut

Lay the bar on top of the donut to dry. Let the middle part slump inside the donut.

Wavy bar

Now make another donut, 6 cards thick, with very small circles (for example, use two straws of different sizes). Let’s call it a washer.

Donut/washer

Cut the washer in half and dry.

Cut in half

Attach one half washer to the top left of the donut, and the other to the center back of the bar.

Attach half washers

Fire as described above.

Toggle Clasp

Have the patience for one more? This is going to be a long weekend.

I wanted to use the same shape as the toggle’s, but as a frame, not flat. For this I had to make a template and use 6 mm thick foam sheet, preferably white, which you can get at Michael’s and JoAnn Fabrics (Foamies).

Template

A variety of lovely shapes can be found on the first four templates at PMC Connection.

Cut the template on top of the foam and trace it with a pencil.

Trace

If you want to make earrings, turn the template over and trace it again to make the mirror image. If you choose to use a plastic template, turn it over and trace the inside contour line.

Mirror image

Cut the shapes out of the foam with scissors. To make it into a clean shape, I like to cut a 6 mm strip out of a postcard, wrap it around the foam, and tape.

Cut a strip of clay 6 cards thick, 6 mm wide, and wrap it around the foam shape. This is the frame.

Wrap strip around shape

Once dry, seal the joint if necessary, and dry again.

Seal joint

Place the frame on top of the texturing mold. Wet the inside of the frame, and press a chunk of clay into it, filling about half of the space inside the frame.

Press clay inside the frame

Remove from the mold.

Remove from mold

With a knife, cut the top part on the inlaid chunk to a shape that pleases your eye.

Shape top of chunk

After drying, turn the piece over and add more clay until the back is flush and the joints disappear. Dry and fire as described above.

Pendant

Earrings

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