mold question, help me out

[minority]

whats up guys? so check it out, I bought this gauge mold online and I have a few questions about how to use it. I fooled around a little with it and im only getting half a gauge because its not deep enough to make a whole one. Im assuming you need 2 of them to press together to make a whole one, am i wrong? after i bought it and came across the metal cavity molds, im thinking that would have been way better. anyway what do you guys think? anybody messn with these?

[lost nebula]

I have the same one. You make one side, then punty up to the finished side and mold the other side.

[minority]

thats what i was thinking but i cant get the hang of it at all, seems alot easier than it is, or maybe i just suck at this. i also have this one and im in the same spot, every time i punty up to the clean side it just doesnt work out when i go to press it, same thing though? just punty up and press the other side? theres no easy trick for these things? also have you tried these cavity molds? seems a hell of alot easier

[Slow]

To use the sideways molds, you have to spin the plug while it's still a bit hot (like a marble mold). If you have both molds in your possession, I'd use the first kind to get the basic form (press > flip > press) and the second to fine-tune the shape.

[minority]

yeah thats what ive been doing so far, I just want to get good at only using one of them just for future purposes. rolling the gauge in the sideways mold is very difficult for me for some reason, I cant ever get the shape right and when i do i mess it up when i punty up to it.

[minority]

To use the sideways molds, you have to spin the plug while it's still a bit hot.

a bit huh?
that could be an issue, maybe im getting it too hot before i try to spin it.

[Slow]

Yeah, those indents in the edge in particular mean that getting the right heat base is pretty crucial. Too little and you're not changing the shape, too much (or if the heat is too deep into the glass) and the whole thing flops and folds and turns into a mess.

Don't try to get the whole shape at once. Work on the 2/3 or so opposite the punty, cold seal to the finished side, and do the same to the other side. It may take a few flips back and forth before you're happy with it, just don't rush or force it. Try a dozen or so in clear until you get a feel for it. Good luck!

[Jackass Glass]

once you have the basic shape you dont need to get it hot to the core again....

i made this mistake with marbles... there is a talent to just getting the outside bit molten

[minority]

ok thanks alot guys, good info. pretty sure i was going about it too aggressive and underestimating the perfect heat it needs to be to mold properly. Ill work a few and let you know how it goes. thanks again

[forevergrateful]

I think I was also making the mistake of working the glass to hot. I guess the last question I'm left with is do you need both molds? Or can you just use the sideways one if you watch your heat base?

[CannabeardGlass]

Gage is the size plug is the thing...

[minority]

yeah for sure like i said i want to get good at the sideways molds, is there any trick you did to get good at it? also do you think the cavity molds would have been way easier?

[forevergrateful]

I've been practicing and if you take your time and watch your heat base you can definetly use just the sideways double flare mold. I'm not the best with words and dont think I can put it into any better wording. Try workig it in the mold colder than you'd expect if it's to cold try slightly hotter. My biggest mistake in the beginning was working the glass way to hot and expecting to be able to form the plugs in one attempt. I hope this helps someone!