Foundation making

[mbc]

I spent a bit of time this evening converting wax into foundations using herring plates and an old mangle, most enjoyable and productive!

 

[Amari]

Good work! What are herring plates please?

 

[JamezF]

Good work! What are herring plates please?

As far as I'm aware they're a pair of (metal?) plates carrying (in this case) the foundation pattern such that a sheet of wax can be placed between them, then pressed (using the mangle) to emboss the pattern into the wax.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Good work! What are herring plates please?

crockery for kippers

 

[Olivia9801]

crockery for kippers

Excellent and well done. Are you going to put the wire strengtheners in as well? How much wax in weight did you start off with??

 

[JamezF]

How much wax in weight did you start off with??

That would be interesting to know. My first efforts with my silicone mould were around 120g per sheet whereas Thorne suggest about 75g per sheet with theirs (which is close to identical as far as I can see). Mine are improving as I get more practiced though.

I'd also be interested to know how you cut them to size. I have one of those heated foam-cutting wires that I'm tempted to try, and failing that a hot knife of some sort.

(I'm making this stuff up as I go along. Can you tell?)

James

 

[JamezF]

As far as I'm aware they're a pair of (metal?) plates carrying (in this case) the foundation pattern such that a sheet of wax can be placed between them, then pressed (using the mangle) to emboss the pattern into the wax.

In fact, if you zoom in on the photo, I believe there's one half of the set of plates behind the large stack of foundation.

James

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I'd also be interested to know how you cut them to size.

Pizza cutter.
Wax needs to be warm.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Pizza cutter.
Wax needs to be warm.

as long as the wax is not so cold as to be brittle, it will work in just ambient room shed temperature

 

[JamezF]

as long as the wax is not so cold as to be brittle, it will work in just ambient room shed temperature

I might have to sit it in the airing cupboard for a while then. "Shed temperature" has turned a little brisk over the last few days.

James