I’ve had a productive period since my last posting a week and a half ago. I continued making and pouring my saw handle molds and I’m now up to 18 poured handles. Larry kindly cut off all of the casting runners and gates from the raw poured handles. There is more to do once all 24 are poured. They will have to then be ground down and turned over to the guys in the Machine Service Department who will cut the slots for the saw blades and the bolt holes for installation.
I’ve also made another mold and had a successful brass pour on my third, and last, sextant piece.
I’ve had to dump the backstaff patterns I’d already started because they are just not precise enough. I finally broke down and ordered some “trammel points” also know as a “yardstick compass.” This is a simple device that attaches to a yardstick that enables the user to make large circles. It’s really dumb that I didn’t use one in the first place. I’ve been improvising for years on the rare occasion that I needed one, but my improvisations never worked that well. I’m happier now that I have the right tool for the job, but I did lose a few days having to start over. Oh well… it just goes to show you, use the right tool in the first place and you’ll be much happier with the end result! It’s my own fault trying to scrimp on an $8.00 tool, foolish.
