HostPooling Pool and Spa Services and Supplies

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Spinning Tumbler

How Custom Made Jewelry is Made Using the Lost Wax Casting Method

Jewelers who specialize in custom designing often use the lost wax casting method to create one-of-a-kind rings, charms, pendants, or other specialized items out of precious metals.

First the jeweler may sketch an idea on paper, especially if he or she is working with a client.  When the diagrammed sketch is approved, the jeweler then fashions an exact replica of the finished item in a soft, pliable wax.  The wax pattern, or maquette, is fitted with a stem called a sprue, which will create an exit for the wax when it is burned out.

This wax form is weighed to determine the amount of metal that will be needed.  It is then attached to a base and fitted with a tumbler that holds the mold material, which is plaster mixed with water to a cake batter consistency, called investment.  It must be free of bubbles before pouring into the tumbler, so it is placed in a vacuum to remove all the air.  The investment is poured into the tumbler and then taken to a kiln to have the wax burned out.

A jeweler’s centrifuge machine is the tool that injects the liquid metal into the mold.  The mold is taken from the kiln and placed in a holder that has a hollow arm attached to a cup that lines up with the hole in the mold. The pre-measured metal is placed in this small crucible, and then heated with a torch until it is liquid. 

The pin is then released on the centrifuge, and it spins rapidly around while the liquid metal is forced into the tumbler and mold. Once the spinning stops, the tumbler is removed from the centrifuge with tongs (it is extremely hot), dipped into cold water, and the plaster cracks and falls off of the metal inside.

At this point, the beautifully designed object created on paper does not even slightly resemble the blob of metal in the jeweler’s tongs.  This is because the base (or button) and the sprue are now metal like the rest of the design, and must be sawed and ground off with a jewelers’ Dremel tool, which is an instrument much like a dentist’s drill.

Much fine sanding and shaping is done with the Dremel and its attachments, and gradually the original design emerges.  Jewelers’ rouge puts a nice patina on the finish, and after much polishing, the piece is now ready for use.

Having a custom-made, jeweler-designed ring, pendant, charm, or other special item is something to be proud of, since it can define who you are, what your interests are, or what is important your life.

About the Author

Each Personalized-Jewelry.com item is made to your exact specifications and made even more special with the personalization you choose. Create your custom piece to include a loved ones name, a wedding date, a birth date, religious occasion or words that inspire or touch your heart.

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Odor Free Composting In 3 Steps

One of the biggest complaints people have about composting is that it smells.  And in some cases, this is true.  When organic materials are heaped up in a pile and left to sit, they essentially rot, and we all know that rotting food and plants are going to smell.  But did you know that composting doesn't have to stink?  It's true!  In this article we'll explain the 3 simple steps that anyone can follow to go from smelly to odor free composting.

The first step in odorless composting is to understand the two basic methods of composting: aerobic and anaerobic.  As the name would suggest, aerobic composting requires air, specifically oxygen, to be successful.  Anaerobic composting, on the other hand, is what occurs when the compost isn't exposed to the air.

The primary differences between aerobic and anaerobic composting are speed of decomposition and odor created.  Aerobic bacteria work very quickly and efficiently.  Compost that's properly aerated can decompose to a finished product within a month or two, under the right conditions.  Anaerobic bacteria, on the other hand are very inefficient, sometimes taking as long as a couple years to produce finished compost.  Anaerobic bacteria also product methane and sulfate gasses as a byproduct of the composting process.  These gasses are bad for the environment; they are greenhouse gasses that deplete our ozone.  Furthermore, these are the gasses that smell offensive to humans.  When we think of a smelly compost heap, what we're really thinking of is anaerobic composting.  Aerobic bacteria, on the other hand, do not produce these gasses, thus the reason that aerobic composting results in little to no odor.

One of the best ways to ensure that your compost is aerobic is to use a compost tumbler.  These drum-shaped devices are usually mounted on an axel so they can spin or rotate freely.  The action of the compost turning and tumbling inside the bin aerates the material, providing the necessary oxygen for the aerobic bacteria to do their job.

If you don't have a compost tumbler, or simply don't want to invest in one, you can encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria in a regular compost heap by simply turning the material on a regular basis.  You may want to invest in a long handled tool such as a large shovel or pitchfork to make the turning process easier.  Regardless of whether you have a compost tumbler or a basic compost heap, you should aim for turning the material every 2 to 3 days for best results.

The second step in odorless composting is to maintain the appropriate ratio of browns and greens in the bin.  Examples of browns, or carbon rich materials, include dried leaves, shredded paper, sawdust, and dryer lint.  Examples of greens, or nitrogen rich materials, include green grass clippings, vegetable or fruit peelings, cooked rice and pasta, and seaweed or other aquarium plants.  If you get compost bin with too many greens, the material will begin to smell.  This is easy to adjust by simply adding more browns.  In addition to the items listed above, other browns might include peat moss, pencil shavings, shredded paper napkins, coffee grounds, chopped hay or straw, potting soil, nut shells, and tea bags.  Finished compost will also act as a brown material.

The third and last step in avoiding a smelly compost bin is to keep out all meats, eggs, and dairy products.  When the proteins in these items break down, they create an unpleasant odor.  Also to be avoided are any fatty wastes including butter, shortening, cooking oils, lard, and other animal fats.

And that's all there is to it!  With 3 simple steps, you can change your smelly and slow compost heap into a lean, mean, and odorless composting system that will turn out finished compost in a matter of weeks.  So what are you waiting for?  Begin your odorless composting system today!

About the Author

Ellen Bell works for Home Products 'n' More, a retail website offering composting tumblers and other compost bins, all with free shipping and handling! For more great gardening products, visit us at http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/Garden_Edging_s/144.htm

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