Categories
Sculpture

FIRST POUR

I mixed up the silicone really good with some tongue depressors and set the mixing cup in the vacuum chamber. I fired up the vacuum compressor and was surprised how quiet it was. It took me a moment to figure out the valves but once I did the vacuum gauge shot up and within moments the silicone started to rise. Before it could crest the top of the mixing cup, I opened the release valve and the silicone sank. I repeated this process four times before it stopped rising. I left it alone for another minute then shut off the pump and the intake valve. I waited another minute then released the outtake valve. My first degassing procedure was complete.

I took the mixing cup and carefully began filling up my clay barriers where the parts were enclosed. It must be a good day because I had mixed up the perfect amount of silicone. There was none left over and each barrier was filled perfectly. I felt no rush or stress while pouring because I had purchased the slow-cure silicone. It takes 45-minutes to set.

I’ll check on them after work in a few hours and tear the walls down and remove the parts. Then I’ll probably mix up some resin and attempt to pour the parts this evening if there’s time.

By Cody Deegan

Cody Deegan is a life-long artist versed in drawing, painting, sculpting, and design. He studied filmmaking and character animation at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles as well as figurative oil painting at the Gage Academy of Art in Seattle.

Leave a Reply