View Full Version : Pennyroyal
labraid
Apr-16-2008, 8:45pm
Keeping in line with the names of flowers, we're calling this one the Pennyroyal. She was a real challenge to cast because the top bit is so thin -- 20 gauge. I was pulling hairs yesterday, but this morning went from wax sheet and some replica backs to brass casting in about 9 hours. It is a victory worth celebrating. And I got a spare one to boot!
otterly2k
Apr-16-2008, 9:05pm
Congratulation, Brian... it' gorgeous.
labraid
Apr-16-2008, 11:05pm
oh yeah, credits to jgarber for his collection of old photygraphs. My initial design was a bit different afore 'e came along with his tailpieces of bygone eras. Thanks, man.
Eric Hanson
Apr-16-2008, 11:23pm
Nice work!!
I've done a bit of lost wax casting as a jeweler in the past. Such a joy to start with a piece of wax and end up with a beautiful piece of metal.
I have done so many different jobs. Hopefully I will add building a mando or two to my list.
Eric
Graham McDonald
Apr-17-2008, 2:55am
Very elegant. Are you selling these?
cheers
graham
BlueMountain
Apr-18-2008, 7:54am
That's a really lovely design. Do you think the two brass legs connecting the top to the back are strong enough? I bought a new tailpiece last year with a similar sort of design, and it cracked. Maybe it was a weak alloy of brass--it came from Pakistan (I needed an inexpensive tailpiece for an inexpensive instrument). Am I right in thinking that cast brass is sort of brittle, so the top can't be adjusted by bending it?
Clif Wayland
Apr-18-2008, 8:22am
Sweet! Makes me want to build a mando around it!
Clif
labraid
Apr-18-2008, 8:15pm
Hey Blue,
Thanks.
I'd always recommend heating metal joints before bending. I do just that, pretty much all the time. Doing it cold fatigues the metal. Or a really strong alloy could snap sight away. Not good to risk it. I don't.
G'luck!
crazymandolinist
Apr-19-2008, 11:54am
Glad to see it finished, looks great!
JEStanek
Apr-19-2008, 9:18pm
I'm looking forward to seeing it on a mandolin... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif Perhaps even mine.
Jamie
mrkrishna
Apr-20-2008, 12:21am
Brian, it looks terrific. You must be very happy...Kerry K
labraid
Apr-20-2008, 10:13am
Krishna,
What I'm happy about is you having stopped by mon apart with your Monty back in Spring '04 when I was just getting going, passably mentioning "you should cast your own..."
Four months later Job was born..
I think I owe you a coffee man.
Jake Wildwood
Apr-23-2008, 11:00am
That's a very tasteful tailpiece!