I first cut the tubes to the correct lengths using
some very useful cutting tools.
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The parts needed for the first plaster mold.
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The parts assembled -- ready for pouring the plaster.
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The plaster has been poured.
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The resulting plaster mold. I call it the negative
since it is the exact opposite of the final mold that I need. It will be
used to make the positive.
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I put a thin layer of oil on the negative so that I
will be able to separate it from the positive. In my first attempt I
didn't do this and was unable to separate them.
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The negative is in place and the plaster has been
poured.
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The end result. The negative is on the left and
the positive is on the right.
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The positive is in place. Everything is now ready
for pouring the epoxy. I'll pour a little in first, then put the brass
tube in place, then pour the rest. Note the round slots cut in the endcaps
for placing the ends of the brass tube in. These are very precisely aligned
so that the brass tube will be centered in the positive.
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The epoxy has now been poured and the brass tube
is in its correct position.
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It has gotten too cold to let the epoxy harden outside.
So I've set up this ventalated fume hood. There is a fan in the window
sucking the air out.
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