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The happy 2001 group, during one of the rare sunny moments. I'm
the nerd in the white t-shirt, centre. From left to right, back
then front are: Padraig, Niall, Anders, James, Holger, Fiona &
Dave. Anni, Lorraine, Tara & Dympna, |
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Construction
phase of a pit furnace, this one using 2 bellows. There is a clay
bottom, and stones forming the walls & top. Clay discs and pipes
will attach to the bellows. This is one of several designs experimented
with on this project. A used crucible stands to the right (about
10 cm high) |
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The
2 bellows hooked up. Mine is left, Holger's right. He has a copper
pipe hooked up to his, which we had to keep cool with water once
the fire started. The pit in the foreground is for preheating and
pouring the moulds. |
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Work
and work! Finding a comfortable sitting position can be a challenge. |
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A
view from above, showing the molten bronze in the crucible. For
greatest efficiency the furnace is designed not much larger than
the crucible on all sides, but with enough room to feed in fuel
and allow air movement. A small clay mould is preheating on the
edge of the furnace upper left. Clay tube leading to bellows is
at bottom centre. |
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Pour
that bronze! The red gloved hand gives an idea of scale. |
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Pouring
off excess bronze as ingots for later use. |
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Mould
from photos above cracked open. I had just enough bronze in the
crucible to form the shape. You can just make out the diamond pattern
around its edge. This was meant to be a "die" for stamping
patterns or coins, it has circular patterns on its face, also just
barely visible in this shot. |
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