China Doll

[raspero]

She has come to the point where I am almost ready to make a mold.





I will use water based clay to fill in the space between the existing clay and the figure.



It's nice to have enough clay to do build ups like this. Back when Dick Blick was selling Kleen Klay for a dollar a pound I bought a ton of it. Good thing. Kleen Klay went out of business several years ago.

Richard

[raspero]

Several of the photographs got un-linked in the above post. Here is one of them.



Here is her mold:



and her wax:



and the fresh casting, just busted out of the investment this morning:





Richard

[rika]

Great to see the process! Please show us more as you progress.

[raspero]

The chasing begins. I cut off the flashing and plugged the holes left by the core pins. I used 45% silver solder. And of course preheated it with a big propane torch. Bronze conducts heat so well that I have to preheat it or the seam never gets hot enough.







She has to be ready for an exhibition on Saturday. Tomorrow is Thursday. People wonder why bronze sculpture costs so much. I spent the entire day today just plugging those holes.

Richard

[Dries]

Morning Raspero,

Thanks for sharing, I always get excited when I see pictures of
the casting process. Sometimes I think I only sculpt to cast. Nice piece and nice casting.

[tobias]

Raspero, I'm a bit confused. Why are you filling holes in bronze with silver solder? Why did it take you so long to fill these holes what technique are you using? Why are you not using a TIG or oxy acetylene?

Why did you choose to Sprue off of the front of the piece as opposed to the back? It seems against the flow of the molten bronze. And I would choose in such a linear piece to blend that big square vent on the back of the piece not right in the middle of her abdomen?

Thanks for sharing

[raspero]

Why did you choose to Sprue off of the front of the piece as opposed to the back?

Her back is more complex. Her abdomen is the smoothest part of the piece, hence the easiest to blend in.

Why are you filling holes in bronze with silver solder?

I chickened out. I need her for a show tomorrow night and I didn't want to risk blowing a hole in her.

Why did it take you so long to fill these holes

The filling was quick; the time consuming part was making the plugs.

Richard

[rika]

Love to see it coming together. Please snap a picture of the completed figure!

[raspero]

Here she is in the gallery:

[rika]

She looks lovely, Richard.

[raspero]

Thank you.

R