[Jewelry making - Article 00462] - Re: [Orchid] Preparing pitch bowl

[brainnet]

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Hmm,

    Well I have some idiosycratic views of pitch bowl. 

    I believe a pitch bowl should be as heavy as possible, and should be
    filled with lead (diving weight material will do) if you can do it.
    There are serious ventilation issues and care is needed. Do only if
    fumes are exhausted properly. 

    The shape I prefer is that of a sphere with one quarter or so taken
    off the top. A bowling ball is used for it in this article at
    Ganoksin: 

    http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/jeweler-pitch.htm 

    I have seen Portugese pitch bowls in exactly this shape made from
    solid granite, one might be able to use decorative balls for garden
    pillars as pitch bowls. 

    Plaster is not a good idea as it can break up with time and work its
    way up eventually getting in the way in the pitch. 

    I've used concrete (read the instructions on the bag) and while it
    works I don't find it heavy enough. With either lead or concrete I
    fill the pitch bowl to within about 1 cm of the top. On never really
    places metal below the rim of a pitch bowl as then you can't get your
    tools at it with a full range of movement. Instead the pitch is piled
    up above the rim, and the work, if possible, mounted on a mound,
    which lets you get at it from a very large range of angles. 

    It is dangerous to heat pitch to molten temperatures, in an oven or
    elsewhere. One of the special benefits of the red pitch is that it
    becomes soft and pliable at a very low, touchable temperature. Heat
    also travels through it fast so you don't have to end up with molten
    material on top of still solid pitch. This means you can use a hair
    dryer (or a heat gun) to soften it. I usually hit the cold pitch with
    a hammer to get chunks (wear eye protection!), then place the chunks
    on the top surface of the pitch bowl, warm with the heat gun, and
    when it is soft press it into, and onto the top of the bowl to the
    desired shape. A bowl of water to dip fingers in while doing this is
    good, and traditionally fingers were not used, instead a lightly
    oiled steel stake was used to push it around. Never let the pitch get
    hot enough to get runny or stick to you. If it smokes or bubbles you
    are WAY too hot. Safety notes:

    http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/repousse-safety.htm 

    Pitch notes at Ganoksin:
    http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/pitch_opt.htm 

    Also there are notes on pitch in Erhard Brepohl's article at the
    Ganoksin Project. 

    http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/repousse.htm 

    Here is the address for ordering Northwest Pitchworks pitch. I like
    their medium one.... www.northwestpitchworks.com

    Mountain Gems in BC makes their own pitch as well.
    www.mountaingems.com 

    Fischer has a great black pitch and my favorite for chasing a red
    pitch. www.fischer-pforzheim.com

    Some online notes on pitch (blacksmithing)
    www.repoussetools.com/pitch.htm 

    Allcraft in New York has these as well. Ask for Tevel.
    Allcraft Tool and Supply
    45 West 46th St New York City, NY 10036
    (800) 645-7124 fax: (800) 645-7125

best
charles
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