'Kleopatra Dowsing Broom' Pattern : Assemblage made with a broom from China.
'Kleopatra Dowsing Broom' Making the sand mold
The resin bonded sand is 'rammed' on top of the 'pattern' and levelled off.
CO 2 gas is pumped into the sand to set it up hard.
The sand mold can now be flipped over ready to 'ram' the top half called the 'cope.'
The sand is seived to ensure the finest quality to capture the detail of the original 'pattern'.
During 'rammimg' the a tamper is used to evenly pack the sand.
After both sides (cope and drag) have been 'rammed' and set up hard, holes are drilled, 'sprues' to allow the iron in and 'vents to allow gases out.
The mold is painted or sprayed with mold wash, a mixture of graphite and denatured alchohol which is burned off to cure.
The sand mold is then put together, the cope on top with the sprues and vents and the drag on the bottom, it is weighted or banded together.
Copper is melted in the furnace.
The crucible of molten copper is lifted out of the furnace with lifting tongs.
Any impurities are 'skimmed' off of the top of the molten copper.
The copper is then poured into the mold through the 'sprue' until it comes up out of the 'vents'.
'Kleopatra Dowsing Broom' As it comes out of the sand mold.
'Kleopatra Dowsing Broom' being cleaned up.
'Kleopatra Dowsing Broom' Cast Copper 2006
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
Casting Copper at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas