Thursday 10 September 2015

JC week 6: continued construction of final project

NB: journal entry for the Jewellery and Small object module at South bank Griffith university (QCA) to view the full journal click here

NB: journal entry for the Jewellery and Small object module at South bank Griffith university ( QCA ). 

The following image (figure 1, figure 2) are relating to the cutting out of the cross guard. The metal is aluminium so is easily cut with a fret saw. To assist in the cutting I cut the metal of the "feathered" side first as it had the most detail. To hold the sheet in place I clamped the metal down, note in the images I have used a piece of timber, this is to protect the metal from clamp marks and to provide an even application of presure across the sheet.

figure 1
figure 2


The following images are experiments and current production of the blade(which is still under construction). I have purchased a 120cm length of 3/8 inch zinc plated threaded rod to use as an armature of the sword blade.
The intended process of the sword blade construction is.

  • Make a mold of a sword blade --> plaster and sand to create mold
  • Place sword blade in sand leaving half of the blade raised
  • Spray the sword blade with cooking oil ( to prevent sticking of the plaster
  • apply a minimum of 4 layers of plaster to the exposed blade for strength
  • wait for plaster to harden then turn over
  • remove sword from plaster mold
  • lay clingwrap on inside of mold surface
  • apply three layers of paper mache to the mold
  • once dry place steel rod and pack paper pulp around the blade
  • again allow for drying then remove the blade from the mold
  • repeat the last four steps for the reverse side of the blade
  • once dry then apply the "scriptured" paper as a final layer

white paper pulp, intended for use in the core of the sword blade

the paper pulp has been removed from the mix using a net



Engraving tests onto aluminium, i had intended on engraving the feathers onto the crossguard

Initial design for mold of blade

mold construction 1

mold construction 2

mold construction 3


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