Miniature Tools

[maximillian arango]

Please just call me Max, when ever I am called Maximillian I'm being scolded lol but if you would rather call me Maximillian its cool too you've earned by providing me the kid in a toy shop feeling. I really like how you intended to make hammers and ended up with tool art, but hey everything you make is art and still usable which makes it even better. I know you may not have a cut and dry answer but which is your favorite one?

[Ralph Juarros]

Hi Max. Thanks again for your thoughts. I have always liked fine art in its many forms and am proud to be a contributor as well as an appreciator. My favorite piece is typically the one that I am currently working on. However, over time some remain more memorable due maybe as much to my state of life and disposition of the moment as to other qualities. But I am especially proud of some pieces that are unique in the world with limits or elements that no one else has yet achieved - such as the 1/4 scale fully functioning silver #4 planes that I have built. Ralph









and the gold one.




or my 1/4 scale Infill dovetailed models.








etc.

[maximillian arango]

Again your work is perfect! I like the dovetailed ones so much.

[Ralph Juarros]

Thanks again Max.

And thank you Chris J.


I did post an "improved" video on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZgUu...qMJcEsSWF5Eu5A

Ralph

[Shawn Pixley]

My miniature knives.

image.jpgimage.jpg


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[Ralph Juarros]

Shawn, those miniature knives are very nice. Gives me ideas. Thanks for posting. Do you have others you can post? Ralph

[Ralph Juarros]

Tool board and bench for miniature tools. Ralph

[maximillian arango]

I just showed that to my girlfriend she said that "you're crazy" so that puts you somewhere in the realm of michelangelo because she thinks he was crazy too.


This is far better than the plane till I brought up earlier and by the way I hope I can have a collection as good as yours but in full size. lol

[Dan Hintz]

Tool board and bench for miniature tools. Ralph

Now THIS is a proper PC desktop background...

[Ralph Juarros]

She's probably right Max. One doesn't have to be crazy to do this, but it helps. And if I wasn't crazy, I'd go insane. Check out the action video. Ralph


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9XXJ...F5Eu5A&index=6

[Ralph Juarros]

Hi Dan. Again I hadn't thought about it as a desk top background. But I do now. Thanks. I'll use it that way. Check out my video of it. Ralph


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9XXJ...F5Eu5A&index=6

[Ralph Juarros]

I have built a variety of miniature tools employing the lost wax process and have been asked to post elements of the procedures I employ. This is an ancient art that has been modified and "improved" over time. I have added some modifications that I have experimented with which make the art a doable home hobby. Ralph


This post outlines the build process for a Monkey Wrench.





A master pattern is built and packed with uncured rubbed in a metal frame then baked to vulcanize. The rubber mold is carefully cut open to remove the master pattern then used to produce multiple exact wax patterns.The mold halves are lubricated and ready for injection.





Wax is injected.





Wax patterns are carefully removed from the rubber mold, and a "tree" is formed with three patterns. This will call for a 3oz pour, and that is about as much as I can safely handle at this time.





The patterns are mounted at the bottom of a casting flask (in this case a 10oz soup can.





Plaster is mixed and debubbleized in an improvised vacuum chamber on a custom built vibration table.





The flasks are placed in an oven to melt out the wax (lost wax) and hard bake the plaster molds.





When well baked in high heat, molten metal will be injected (shot) into the cavities in the molds.

[Dan Hintz]

Reminds me of how they cast finger pieces for flutes, clarinets, etc. Build a tree of the individual wax pieces, then cast them all at once.

[Ralph Juarros]

The mold is in the centrifuge ready for casting. This is the most exciting part of the process and the part with the greatest risk where it can go dangerously wrong. This machine is a "broken arm" spring wound instrument that slings the molten metal into the cavity in the plaster mold. Ralph





The cast "button" at the top of the mold is indication of a successful cast. it is from this button that the piece in the mold draws material as it cools and tends to shrink - the reason for using 50% more metal than the castings call for.





After the mold is broken open, there is evidence that it was a good cast. Next the cast is washed thoroughly and prepared for separation of the pieces.








cutting, filing, sanding, buffing & polishing will follow.


Other operations - drilling and tapping as needed.

[Ralph Juarros]

filing, sanding, buffing and polishing





And a finished product with fine grained wood accents results. Ralph