Effective Measurement for the Production of ‘Piece Mould’ in Metal Casting Sculpture Course, Diploma in Fine Art: An Experimental Study for Teaching and Learning

Abstract

The sculptural art of metal casting is an important course in the Diploma of Fine Arts. Personal experience had informed the author that the process for piece mould making taught in the course does not involve precise measurements of ratio between water and plaster of Paris (POP), and the conventional ‘Island Formula’ was used instead. This process produced inconsistent result with less durability. This paperwork aims to formulate the most effective measurement for the ratio of water and POP, for the purpose of piece mould making suitable for metal casting. Using the experimental methods found in the process of metal casting, the researcher had undergone 6 process of piece mould making using different measurement with 100ml of water as control. The 100ml of water is tested against a variable of 115g, 120 g, 125g, 130g, 135g, and 140g of POP. The result showed that the most effective measurement for a lost wax casting piece mould is the ratio of 100ml water to 125g POP. This ratio will prevent excessive use of POP or water, and thus could serve as an effective standard for educational purposes. Although the scope of this paper covers the exploration for effective mould making measurements, there were also suggestions to extend the research towards making investment moulds. Variables could not only be limited to material measurements, but also the type of mixed aggregates, and optimal firing time.