May Pictures - As you know, we are traveling with two other boats. I also know that we have a number of other people following our website just because our new friends are on this trip. So I thought it would be fun to see some pictures from another persons perspective without all the "Jim Narative." So here you are. These are from Mike and Kim's phone but only a few of the pictures. I hope you enjoy another photograpers perspective.
I hope to get some from Bill and crew when we meet back up with them in a couple of days.
The Lost Wax Process - Learned at Johnston Studios Foundry
For the most part, Mike and Kim on Mile Marker provided the text and some of the photographs for this description.
Once the plug is created then the artists’ job becomes more mechanical. A rubber mold is used to create an exact negative.
The rubber mold will need to be adapted to include “plumbing” allowing the molten metal to fill the entire art piece and allow the air to escape.
Molten wax is poured into the rubber cast. The rubber structure is removed after the wax has been allowed to cool which ultimately creates the mold.
Additional wax tubes
may be added at this time allowing the molten metal to freely flow into
deep recesses. The wax may also need to be touched up now that it is hard.
To the left is a wax plug with all of the additional tubes installed ready for the next process.
Below - Next the wax is covered with slip (a wet clay). After dipping the wax into the slip coating of sand is added and the process is continued multiple times until a thick shell covers the wax.
It is important to
allow the wet clay to dry completely.
Working with an extremely hot kiln requires the proper safety equipment.
This kiln is fired with propane.
They don't all come out perfect. This one has some shrinkage which will have to be welded up.
Below you can see two other examples where the one on the left has shrinkage which was welded up and needs to be "carved." The one on the right came out just fine.
We hope we've captured this and are both sure you would really enjoy the tour if you ever get to Little Harbour and visit the Johnston Studio and Foundry.
We appreciate Bret Ingold's patience while we "fired" a thousand questions his way. He answered them all and had a great attitude taking us through the foundry.
May 30 - We caught up with Pisces as they were heading south to drop off Jim and Barbara. I know you haven't really met them since they were part of the "fishing/diving people." Regardless, we stopped them just long enough to grab an SD disc from them and I picked up a bunch of their pictures to show their families and anyone else who happens to be reading this website. They all had a great time and I'll tell you more later. As you will see, it's definitely the water action for this crew!
And honestly that is what this cruise should be about. Met up, join up, but more importantly - enjoy what you enjoy without encumbrances from others. The old live and let live slogan as long as everyone has fun. So out of 688 pictures I picked out a few to share for them.
Once again, it's fun to look through someone else's lens.
They said goodbye to the Bluff House and we met them just as they were pulling anchor from New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay. They were taking Jim and Barbara to Guana where they will pick up a ferry back to Marsh Harbour. I think they are getting a room then heading out early for their flight tomorrow back to the States.
It actually looks like we will meet back up with Pisces tomorrow afternoon at Manjack then we will be heading together for a couple of days to our positioning point for a crossing. Bob and Bill haven't decided yet if they will try to catch the opening still for Okeechobee or if they will head down to Bimini then across to Miami then back through the Keys. You will all find out later.
For me, Jim, I'll have our update tomorrow morning before we leave. After that we won't update until we get back to the States.