[Jewelry making - Article 00026] - Re: [Orchid] Preparing pitch bowl

[Kaytzbdz]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    I was taught by my jewelry instructor to heat the German wax in a
    clean and dry coffee can. Heat with the torch until melted and add
    very small increments of olive oil until, when cool, the wax just
    very slightly bends between the fingers, then breaks. Use bamboo chop
    sticks to stir in the oil well, while continuing to heat. You can
    ruin the whole batch if you add too much olive oil. As the mixture is
    heated (this whole time), lift the chop sticks up over the coffee can
    to make a strand of the wax. Dip the strand in a bowl of cool water.
    Test that strand as it cools using the above method. It's tricky, but
    worth it! I suppose you could try a smaller amount, then do the
    whole after you know you've got the right consistency. This recipe
    allows the wax to conform to the "blows" of the tools on the metal,
    but will not break the surface of the wax. 

    Then pour into the pitch bowl or box. Hopefully, you can make a
    slight fingernail mark, but not a thumbprint (too much oil) after it
    cools and hardens. 

    Never heard about the plaster. We used enough to fill a 10"X12"X2"
    box, plus the pitch bowl. One for large chasing/repousse and one for
    smaller jobs. 

    It's beautiful stuff. 

Kay Taylor

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________