Hi all -
It's been awhile...June snuck up on me without any warning. Well, without any warning I noticed I guess. It's the classic story of looking at my calendar to add an appointment and realizing I was still on May. LOL
Anyway, so a quick rundown on what's been happening my little world in the past month.
1. 26 weeks down, 14 or so to go. Pod is flailing spastically more and more each day. She seems to really be active when I am working. Especially with anything that vibrates my hands (polishing, grinding, etc). And when Thor calls or video chats.
2. Went to see Thor in Maryland for a week in mid-May. It was a fun trip - wish I could have stayed longer. We got out to see DC and the Smithsonian as well as Annapolis. Was just great to spend normal couple time with him. Trying to pull together another trip to see him before I am grounded from air travel.
3. The Outdoor Market at Midtown Crossing has BEGUN! I was out there for the first 2 Saturdays and it's an amazing group of vendors, great event staff and just a fun, easygoing atmosphere that is a joy to sell at. Look for me 5 more weekends throughout the season - June 25, July 2, July 9, July 30 and Aug 6.
4. Tons of new hair accessories - that's my concentration this summer season. Not making the full switch over from jewelry (since that is my first love), but am only concentrating on casting jewelry in silver and bronze.
5. Third semester taking metal casting - love it. Am finishing projects faster and faster and have many to share. (In a separate post though). This will be my last semester for a bit, because it ends right around my 8 month of pregnancy. Won't be able to pick it up again until after Thor gets home and Pod makes her appearance. But, hopefully I will be back for Winter Quarter in January.
So that's pretty much it. I am still working on the nursery. Walls are painted, crib and mattress purchased, stocked up on clothes and basic essentials to see us through the first few weeks. The amazing Jenny and Kara have a Dr. Seuss themed shower in the works for mid-July...super excited about that.
Looks like the next couple of posts are going to be picture-centric since I still haven't edited pics from my trip, the last round of headband production, Jackie's wedding (I got to accessorize the lovely ladies of the bridal party), etc.
Showing posts with label casting class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label casting class. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Classes, classes, classes - Casting 101, Part 1
Hi all -
A while ago, Thor and I signed up for a lost wax casting class. Wax casting is something I always wanted to learn, but for whatever reason hadn't until now. I've taken many a silversmithing class, in both high school and college, and never came across casting before. Thor was game too which made it even more fun. So we've been going for about 5 weeks now and we both really enjoy it.
So I thought I would give a rundown of the steps to casting. And I recommend it to anyone who would like to learn new skills, or is just looking for something fun to do.
Step 1 - Work with wax to create a design - using carving tools, shapers and a bunsen burner to heat the wax molten. You can also use organic material or plastics to "burn out" a mold without using wax.
Step 2 - Mount your completed design on a sprue (a thin wax stem) inside a casting flask (a steel tube). The casting flask must allow 1/2 inch from top of design to top of tube and 1/4 inch around the sides. It must not touch the sides of the casting flask.
Step 3 - Weigh/Measure out the investment and water according to the amounts on the flask (each flask has 2 numbers on it, for the amount of investment and water you need.) Investment is a sticky kind of plaster that dries around the design and is maintained once the wax or organic material is burned out, forming the mold.
Step 4 - This step is timed and needs to be completed within 7 minutes. Mix the investment and water to the consistency of thin pancake batter and pour at an angle into the casting flask until the mixture covers the design. Then it's over to the vaccuum machine to tap out any bubbles in the investment so that it's ready to cast. Once the vaccuum is completed, the flask is set aside for 15 minutes to dry.
At this point the actually casting process begins, which will be continued in the next segment.
Next time...Casting 101 - Part 2
A while ago, Thor and I signed up for a lost wax casting class. Wax casting is something I always wanted to learn, but for whatever reason hadn't until now. I've taken many a silversmithing class, in both high school and college, and never came across casting before. Thor was game too which made it even more fun. So we've been going for about 5 weeks now and we both really enjoy it.
So I thought I would give a rundown of the steps to casting. And I recommend it to anyone who would like to learn new skills, or is just looking for something fun to do.
Step 1 - Work with wax to create a design - using carving tools, shapers and a bunsen burner to heat the wax molten. You can also use organic material or plastics to "burn out" a mold without using wax.
Step 2 - Mount your completed design on a sprue (a thin wax stem) inside a casting flask (a steel tube). The casting flask must allow 1/2 inch from top of design to top of tube and 1/4 inch around the sides. It must not touch the sides of the casting flask.
Step 3 - Weigh/Measure out the investment and water according to the amounts on the flask (each flask has 2 numbers on it, for the amount of investment and water you need.) Investment is a sticky kind of plaster that dries around the design and is maintained once the wax or organic material is burned out, forming the mold.
Step 4 - This step is timed and needs to be completed within 7 minutes. Mix the investment and water to the consistency of thin pancake batter and pour at an angle into the casting flask until the mixture covers the design. Then it's over to the vaccuum machine to tap out any bubbles in the investment so that it's ready to cast. Once the vaccuum is completed, the flask is set aside for 15 minutes to dry.
At this point the actually casting process begins, which will be continued in the next segment.
Next time...Casting 101 - Part 2
Monday, January 3, 2011
So you think you have high cholesterol?
Accomplished everything I set out to today, except the grilled salmon healthy dinner I planned in the early morning hours. Epic Fail.
A trip to Office Max to get a new printer (my old all-in-one decided to turn cannibal shortly before Christmas, and would only scan, but not print or copy), found one marked 75% off (yay, me!) turned into a wander for "actual food" which in turn translated into calzones.
Yeah...the calzones had spinach in them covered in mountains of lovely cheeses and chicken, so hubby tried to say they were healthy...ish. Noooooo. Again...Epic Fail.
Post casting class Starbucks stop was necessary...as was the Gingerbread loaf slice. It's coldddddddd tonight.
And that's all folks!
***Stay tuned for Casting 101 - aka When redheads hold torches, light ablaze crucibles and generally wreak havoc in a community center casting lab with wax.
A trip to Office Max to get a new printer (my old all-in-one decided to turn cannibal shortly before Christmas, and would only scan, but not print or copy), found one marked 75% off (yay, me!) turned into a wander for "actual food" which in turn translated into calzones.
Yeah...the calzones had spinach in them covered in mountains of lovely cheeses and chicken, so hubby tried to say they were healthy...ish. Noooooo. Again...Epic Fail.
Post casting class Starbucks stop was necessary...as was the Gingerbread loaf slice. It's coldddddddd tonight.
And that's all folks!
***Stay tuned for Casting 101 - aka When redheads hold torches, light ablaze crucibles and generally wreak havoc in a community center casting lab with wax.
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