Tapered wire

My first attempt I rolled the taper into the bar and forged it round. The forging took a long time as the wire kept wanting to stay on the flat edges.

I tried again but I used the draw plate to get a taper that is already round, thus reducing the amount of forging required. I still need to forge the wire to blend out the steps created by the draw plate. 

Bowes, K., (2021). Tapered wire. 

Anodizing process

 I can't wait to try this anodising my mesh as soon as we are allowed back at campus. Ganoksin has a tutorial on how to do aluminium anodizing. My process may not be exactly the same as the article but I summarised the notes and attached the diagram of the process below as a starting point.

Tisdale, D., (1985). Diagram B

Notes about Diagram B:

Caustic Soda- 113-170g of soda to 4 litres of water for 5-10 min

Nitric Dip-5-10% solution for 2min

Anodise-Sulfuric Acid bath of 15-18% solution at 21C, with a positive current at +/-12 volts

Neutralize- Baking Soda and water solution

Dying- cool dyes and short anodizing time for pale shades and hot dyes and longer anodizing time for darker colours

Seal-boiling water with Sandoz Sealing Salt for 10min

Do not touch the aluminium surface until after it has been sealed as the porous surface is susceptible to dirt.

One week update

One week after being submerged in the water I like to check how far the leave has skeletonised. The ones that are almost done I place on top of the stack and the leaves that haven't started to skeletonise are at the bottom this is because the leaves tend to float so the leaves at the bottom are constantly submerged.

 

Second batch of paper

 I made my second set of papers that was slightly off white for watercolour painting. The first time Amy made the pulp but this time I learnt a bit more about how to get the best consistency for making paper.  So I can understand and help with the whole process.

Bowes, K., (2021). Pulp making

Bowes, K., (2021). Stringy pulp

Bowes, K., (2021). Fine pulp

Bowes, K., (2021). Checking consistency

Bowes, K., (2021). Making paper

Bowes, K., (2021). Dried paper

New skeletonisation process

 My old process of making the skeleton leaves, by boiling them in washing powder, was quite toxic. I found a video of making the skeleton leaves by leaving them in a closed container covered in water. The process takes 2 weeks but the outcome is closer to how the leaves skeletonise naturally. 

I started this batch on the 25th of June.

Bowes, K., (2021). Skeleton leaves in water