It seems my suspicion of how Pilgrim’s Ampullae were made is indeed correct, although not confirmed by a properly referanced source yet, Jerry Jackson’s Pewter website seems to confirm my theory, and the information contained there in; is consistant with confirmed sources. I’m eagerly awaiting the book I ordered by Brian Spencer, as from what I can work out Brian would have included a great deal of detail in his documentation of specific pieces. This will give me a rough size and wall thickness to attempt to acheive. If anyone has access to any of Brian Spencers publications, I would be greatful for digital copies of anything that is free to be distributed as such.
The crystalisation of the pewter however provides a very rough interior to the container. I’m also having difficulty getting reasonably thin walled castings using this slush casting process. This is most likely due to lack of practice and I shall endeavor to practice and get to a point that I can replicate something that I am happy with.
Don’t know if it’ll make a difference, but making it in two quick pours might help with the crystallisation issue. Probably not, though, now that I think about pewter’s heat transference. How quickly are you pouring the pewter out of the mould?
I’m waiting a couple of seconds… maybe even three…, it’s just a matter of getting the timing right… if I don’t wait enough, it hasn’t formed enough of a skin, and if I wait too long, the skin is too thick. I shall practice more.
Have you tried different speeds for pouring the pewter back out, as well? Just thinking that a slower emptying pour, and maybe a little sloshing about, might work well (with sufficient precautions taken, obviously)
Yeah… to some degree. It didn’t really make that much of a difference… The only things that seem to affect it, are, mould temp, pewter temp and time between pouring it in, and pouring it out… however I am completely filling the mould… so I do think your sloshing it around idea might work, though I was a little reluctant to try that without a large pot to pour the excess into. Though with that I’m worried that I might not get the full mould as that would depend totally on the skills of the pourer to slosh it about enough, and evenly enough to cover the entire mould interior… But everything is worth trying.. and I might attempt that later this week. Thanks Myk.
No worries. I’m interested to know how it works out. I’m yet to get all the gear together do do my own casting, so the more I can learn from your mistakes, the less I will need to make myself, eh? I know that the “slosh it about method” works for wax lining of drinking horns, so I thought it might possibly translate to this medium.