James A. Monk on fri 12 aug 11
Good Morning Everyone,
Vince, requested that I post my instructions on making your own plaster
bats, here on the list.
The following are the instructions that I gave Elaine.
If you are not using your Bat pins, you will need to install them.
Here is a list of things that you will need to make your own plaster bats.
1. Flexible metal ribbon, enough to encircle you wheel head one and 1/=
2
times, and the thickness of the bat that you wish to make.
2. You need a tie down strip, so that you can tighten it around the
metal ribbon.
3. Plaster, I would suggest Hydrocal white plaster, since is the
strongest.
4. A little modeling clay.
5. Murphy's Oil Soap, this is used as a releasing agent.
The thickness of the bat depends on how thick you want then, I would sugges=
t
that you make your bats, at least one to one and 1/2 inches thick. The meta=
l
ribbon should be wide enough to reach the bottom of the wheel head and the
thickness of the plaster bat. Secure the metal ribbon with the stripping, b=
y
tighten the stripping around the base of the wheel head. On the inside of
the metal ribbon and the wheel head, run a small clay bead to seal the
inside, so that the plaster will not leak out, this also helps you to remov=
e
the bat from the wheel head. After you have prepared the wheel head for the
plaster, brush a thin cost of the oil soap, or a releasing agent that you
prefer. Mix the Hydrocal to the directions and then pour it in slowly, so
that you do not get any bubbles or cavities in the bat. Oh, make sure that
you coat the bat pins with the releasing agent, since you want them to be
perfect. Oh, I almost forgot, you want to make sure that you machine is
completely level. I did forget to tell you to use a smooth sided stick to
level the plaster in the mold.
The rest is easy, let the plaster cure, remove the stripping and let the
outside of the bat cure.
I hope that you find these instructions helpful.
James A. Monk
Webmaster for the Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society
http://www.missgems.org
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