My family is fortunate that when it comes to needing something, it doen't require a holiday to get it. So at Christmas time, we draw names for each other and only shop for that one person. This year, we decided to mix it up a bit. We drew names out of a hat as usual, but you must MAKE something for the person you got from the hat. You cannot buy something. It can be something as simple as making cookies. Well, I have a niece that was especially close to my father before he died in 2012 and she has an appreciation like he did for all things nautical. So I decided to stick the lanterns on the back burner for the moment and make my niece an anchor. It will naturally be cast in bronze using the ceramic shell method. I am not making a silicone mold so once again, failure is not an option. This thing is about 8inches and I think this should be pretty easy. Here is a quick shot after a couple hours of putzing with it. I'd like to get in shell this week, I'll try. Not sure about the scale yet. Google kinda sucked for images of anchors. Inspiration clips.
And it’s also suppose to be in a treasure chest with gold and silver medallions (coins). Fricken amateurs.
What a fine idea. Suggestion: her initial at the intersection of the shank and crossbar---first on front last on back??? Or maybe a heart??? Please forgive my intrusion into your art work.
No intrusion at all. That's why we post this stuff. I like the idea. I'll see what it looks like with a heart.
time for sprue.... and in typical Jason fashion, I went ape shit with them. Remember no mold. Any one see any issues? I need a lesson in fluid dynamics I guess.
The yellow sprues should slope down the other way. So the metal doesn't pour into them from the top down. The main sprue should fill with metal first and the back pressure fills the smaller yellow sprues from the bottom up. The way you have it metal from the initial pour will feed directly into the part from the initial pour. I know some people in casting don't like this because it causes turbulence and defeats the purpose of a J sprue and bottom feeding. It will probably work in Silicon bronze because you can almost do no wrong with the commercial stuff. But is not the best form for pickier metals since it might leave you with turbulence related defects.
A little late on this one gang. It has 4 layers on it already and getting the 5th now! I was thinking about getting the wax to drain when this thing is inverted as I stuck the yellow wax on. Oh well. Fingers crossed. The new book I got from mike kinda goes into this a little. Not much, I wish there was a decent guide on this stuff. Trial and error I suppose.
I decided to add some vent holes to this one. I'll patch them before the pour. Trying to get this thing in metal this week...
DEWAX!!! Good times. And a snazzy video too! Warning myfordboy... It's got tunes. When I'm finished, I'll snip together some footage into one little show.
Thanks man. I tried not to scorch the living hell out of it this time and only got one tiny crack. I read on the R&R site that during dewax, direct flame impingement is not a good idea or over heating also screws up the shell. SO I took it easy and it paid off. I'm patching the holes and the one fine crack. I should get to pour this before thanksgiving.
