Found Dreaming

I burned out the investment for four days and nights at 1000 F. This morning I shut off the kiln burner and lifted off the kiln body with the gantry crane. The investment looked perfect. So I fired up the small furnace and began heating metal. http://sjames.users.sonic.net/exhibit_2023/metal:melting...

Old age has slowed me down. I finally got the girl ready to invest and this morning I did it. It was elbows and assholes for a few hours. The foundry floor after investing: http://sjames.users.sonic.net/exhibit_2023/foundry_after_investing.jpg Pay no attention to the saxophone. The investment: http:...

As I examined the wax closely, I found some problems: several holes and thin spots in her neck. I have made three more waxes. The last one I made this afternoon has no holes and seems perfect. I think I am good to go now. Making waxes is the simplest part of this procedure. With a good mold, which I...

Very hollow. She is between 1/8 and 3/16 of an inch thick in most places.

Richard

I coat the rod with either a silicone spray or with petroleum jelly before pouring the wax. When the wax is cold and solid I place the end of the steel rod in a vise and pull the wax sprue off of the rod. I opened the mold this morning and was greeted with a perfectly good wax. Made me happy. http:/...

Well, I took a day of preparation and organization before making the first wax. I made it today, along with the necessary sprues. I won't open the mold until tomorrow. It would be nice if it is a good one. If not it's back in the pot for another pour. No big deal. I had forgotten how much work inves...

Dateline Tuesday---
I made the plaster mother mold today. Tomorrow is wax day.



Richard

I have always been a one-man foundryman. I use my employee to do some of the dirty work, but when the metal melting happens, I don't want anyone around me. They get in the way, and they distract me. A distracted man with a crucible full of molten bronze is a dangerous thing. Making the rubber mold t...

I have spent the past three days in getting my foundry back into condition. Cleaning out the accumulated leaves and dirt, Replacing fuel hoses and the rope that hoists the oil tank to gravity feed level. Buying a fresh bag of plaster for the investment. (I always use fresh plaster.) Making the sheet...

It's cold here too. Yesterday when I went out for my five am walk with my dog I wore a shirt for the first time since last March. Today it wasn't so cold.

Richard