Cuttlebone Casting Part II – Model and Mold Preparation

Good Morning,

 

Wednesday’s are devoted to what’s happening in the studio here at The Alchemists Vessel, and this morning is Part II of the three part series, Cuttlebone Casting.

 

Monday we discussed materials and the very basics of beginning to model and mold the pendant.  Today we are going to continue the project with making the model and creating the mold itself.

 

If you would like to follow along, I recommend a quick review of Monday’s post, Cuttlebone Casting Part I – Materials and Model Making.

TOOLS:
Pencil

Paper

Pin or Sharp Pointy Object

Modeling (Jeweler’s) Wax
Flat File

Jeweler’s Saw

Lighter Fluid

Soft Cloth

Brass Rods

Unsharpened Pencil

Prepared Cuttlebone halves

Last time the design of the piece was decided upon, sketched and cut out.  The sample project shown throughout the instruction will be  simple Cross shape.

This is about 1-1/2″ tall x 1-1/4″ wide.  Sketched in pencil (then traced with ink for a clearer photo), cut out of the paper, this will be the Paper Template from which to trace or “scribe” the design on to the wax block.

PREPARE THE MODEL

Cut out and place your Paper Template on top of the modeling wax and with a pin or other sharp object draw or “scribe” your design into the wax.  Trace the template.  Below is a T-pin, which I use to scribe the design in to the wax.

Note: You can see that the template is a little too long for the wax, you may adjust your design to fit with in the wax area before your trace the design.

Next with a Jeweler’s Saw and a Spiral saw blade (these cut modeling wax best, and straight blades work just fine, too) cut out your model.

Here is the beginning of the wax model.  Using a straight saw blade the block has been cut along the scribed lines in the wax.  Once completely cut out the model will be ready for final preparations.

Once your model is cut out, use a wax file to smooth and true the edges up, keeping them straight and even.  They make specific files for wax, if one is not available a flat jewelers / craft file will work as well.

Using a tiny bit of lighter fluid and a soft cloth, smooth out the surface, corners, and sides of the model.  This will remove any imperfections, nicks and scratches, and smooth the surface for a better impression.  Remember every imperfection will transfer to the finished product.  Be careful, over working the wax will distort or destroy any detail you may have carved into the model.

I have drilled tiny pilot holes in my design, the center hole will house the gemstone, and the others are to keep the design consistent.

NOTE:  I failed to take a picture prior to completing the next steps.  What you see here, is the final model, after it has been pressed into the cuttlebone halves.  The white material is dust from the bone.   Also, I dropped it, as I mentioned the wax is very brittle and I managed to break the arm of the Cross on one side.  However this happened after creating the mold impression!

Whew!  Almost there!

MAKE THAT MOLD

Now the fun starts!  Using one side of your cuttlebone, press your model into the flat surface of the bone.  The bone is soft, use gentle even pressure.  Next place the other half of the cuttlebone on top of the wax model and other half of the bone-mold and press the two sides together.  GENTLY!  If you press too hard the cuttlebone will break and another one will have to be prepared before continuing.  The wax model is now embedded in the cuttlebone.  It does take some pressure, and you can hear the model sinking into the surface of the cuttlebone.  The halves do need to touch, but press the wax into them enough for a well-defined impression.

With a pencil, mark several places on the outside of the bone so you can align the halves later.  This is important, the sides of the mold must match up for the inside to cast properly.

Remove the model.  The impression will be left behind.  This model may be used again to make another mold.

 

Here you can see the impression the wax model has made in the bone, along with the natural striated patterns of the bone itself, they are distorted by the the impression of the cross.  (The other side of the cuttlebone looks just like this).

If desired, very, very carefully sand the impression for better definition.  Do not overwork the area or you can distort the impression.

ADD SPRUE CHANNELS AND VENT GATES

Choosing one side of the mold, lay it flat and using the end of a pencil (not sharpened) create a SPRUE CHANNEL by gently pressing the pencil into the bone, just above and at the edge of the impression.  What’s a sprue channel?  It is a channel that allows the material you’re pouring to enter the mold for casting.  Make sure that this just touches the edge or of your model impression, but not so much to distort your design.  (Simon didn’t say to remove the pencil).

Next using brass rods or something with a smaller diameter than the pencil create VENT GATES.  What’s a vent gate?  It is a channel that will allow air to escape the mold during the casting process.  Just like you did with the pencil, using two (2) Brass rods (or tool) lay them just at the end and edge of the arms of the Cross.  These should also just touch the edge of the impression.  With the pencil and then the rods in place, place the second half of your mold over the pencil and rods and press down, keeping in mind to align the pencil marks on the outside of the cuttlebone.  The channels must be created in both sides of the mold.  Take the halves apart, remove the pencil and rods.

Are you still with me?  Still want to make a piece of jewelry?   Alrighty then!  Here we go!

Now match up the halves with the lines you made on the outside.  Find the Sprue Channel. Very carefully mark the top of the mold (both sides), on either side of the Sprue Channel.  This is where you will cut the SPRUE HOLE.  What’s a sprue hole?  It is a larger opening in the mold, which allows you to pour material into the Sprue Channel and into the mold.  This makes it easier to pour the material from whatever you have melted your material in, into the mold itself.  If you try to aim for the Sprue Channel you will wind up with material on the outside of the mold and possibly severe burns.  Molten Metal is HOT HOT HOT!  This project only gets up to about 400 degrees, but that can still do some serious damage!  Be careful.

Here you can see the Vent Gates, Sprue Hole, Sprue Channel, and the pencil marks I made on the outside of the bone to align the pieces.

Now align the Mold again.  Using Mold Wire, Rubber bands, or other type of binding (I do not recommend Duct Tape or other adhesive strips or bindings), match up the halves and secure (close) the mold.

The photo above is the closed mold, with Rubber band binding.

You just made a mold.  COOL!

WHEW!

Set the mold aside, some place safe and dry.

The preparations are now done and the mold is ready to begin casting the piece.

Take a break, have a little sit down and enjoy some tea, coffee, a beverage, or snack of your choice!  You’ve earned it!

Next time.  Part III – Casting the piece. 

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant Wednesday.

Featured Artist: BlueHighways

Good Morning,

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you all to BlueHighways hand bound Journals, from the site Handmade Artists.

Ever wonder what is on that road less traveled?  Perhaps you travel those little blue lines on a map to someplace different, unique and off the beaten track.  That is what Blue Highways has to offer, different, unique and original hand bound books that are not your average Barnes and Noble aisle find.

Beautiful fabric covers and pages of lined or drawing paper complete the books. I have included five of my favorites below (and it was hard to choose).  Great for sketching, a day at the beach or jotting down your journey in a journal!  This is how people used to blog!

What Blue Highways says about her shop:

Old road maps used to have the back roads printed in blue, they’re 
the roads less traveled…those are the ones I prefer. 
Welcome, and travel some Blue Highways with me!
All books, art & writing journals, sketchbooks & albums are made 
with nice thick durable fabric covered covers, they are 
beautifully handbound and have generous page counts.I have a 3 
book maximum on any one fabric design then it will be retired, 
even then each of the 3 will either have different paper or binding 
or both.
An encouragement to buyers; if you don’t see something already 
made that you like please contact me so that together we may 
collaborate to make a custom book or journal that is absolutely 
perfect for your tastes and needs. Page counts, fabrics, paper colors, 
binding technique…all up to you. Deeply Entwined

Chucktown Ballet

Description: Maybe I can explain the odd title on this handbound book (though many are odd I must admit). I was in Charleston, SC not long ago to visit a sweet friend, we went to the aquarium… there were sea turtles with amazing grace swimming right before our eyes…and that’s the rest of the story!

Twittering on The Edge

Soundscape

 

Internal Storm

I hope that some of these have inspired you or perhaps caught your attention that you might click through and check out her Shop.

Thank you for stopping by and having a read.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

Three Great Gifts To Give Presenting Handmade Artists Site

Good Morning.

Today I would like to feature some truly unique, clever and beautiful, handmade from start finish gift ideas.  All of today’s featured gifts are from shops on handmadeartists.com.  A great site to find things handcrafted by some amazing artists and craft-people.  There is no question here about re-sellers, these items are handmade by the shop owner.

Although I invited any and all shop owners to participate, I only received three entries for this weeks blog, so I turn the post over the them.  Hoping to pique your curiosity enough to click the link and have a look see at some of their other offerings as well.  Looking is always free!

Without further ado:

From Southern Country Creations

Brown Leather with Green Tree Agate Beads and Peace charm

Product Details: This bracelet was handcrafted using brown leather and round green tree agate beads. It sports a shell button for closure and a Peace charm.

It measures approximately 7 1/4 inches

From: Blue Highways

Hand Bound Book Wings of Scarlet

 Product Details: It may be fall but I’m holding on to warmer weather with this gorgeous 6″ x 9″ book covered in a fabric of red tulips. The colors are shades of scarlet and greens popping on a black background. The red was difficult for me to photograph perfectly, the 4th photo is the actual cover scanned on my scanner and represents the colors a little better.

Inside I have bound 160 pages (front & back) of premium 80# acid free white drawing paper excellent for pencil, colored pencil and charcoal also good for pen and ink, marker and oil pastels. I have them sewn with a hand waxed red cotton thread and ribbon bound them with a 7/8″ scarlet grosgrain ribbon. As with all my ribbon bound books, refills can be ordered once the book has been filled, please contact me if you are interested in one – it’s simple to replace, I’ll be happy to walk you through it.

From: My European Touch

Handmade Mosaic Tray shabby cottage chic china broken plate rims Mosaic Tray clay roses pearls

 Product Details:   Glamorous shabby chic cottage Mosaic Tray. This was a vintage silver plate tray, Silver plate all gone, I sanded it down, primed it, it got a coat of cottage white paint. A lil bit of distress to give it that worn well loved look. I then proceeded to cut up my already damaged fine bone china plate rims and stained glass and filled the inside with this lovely mosaic. Roses and blooms are climbing on this tray like a briar bush in the wild, so romantic.

I then filled the rim with lil pearls and tulle roses all the way around to give it that finished look. A lil arrangement of handmade clay roses in the left corner and this Mosaic tray is brimming with beauty.
The mosaic is grouted in an antique white grout and sealed. I showed it photographed in different light and it can be hung up on the wall too.

It is a footed tray and I tied a pale cream organza ribbon to two of the the feet, tied it in a nice bow and it can hang on your wall..
The colors are the truest on the close ups of the pictures.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.   The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant week.