Miniature Tools

[Art Rafael]

Miniature replica of the 1827 Knowles metal plane cast in sterling silver -- said to be among the first metal planes.  Ralph

[oldtools]

WOW!!  beautiful tools!  and they all work? Amazing work.  That Drawknife & horse is too cute!!

[Art Rafael]

Thanks oldtools.  Yes, they all work -- but only on small projects.  Here's a special one just for you.  Ralph

[john k]

That Knowles plane, is more like jewelry!   I really appreciate you sharing your efforts with us.   Just how big a magnifying glass do you work with?  Thank you.

[Nolatoolguy]

I never paid much attention to minutures until this thread. The more I search them on the web now Ime becoming more and more intrested.

They are very nice looking thoe, I can't even think how much time is put into your collection.

[Art Rafael]

Thanks John.  You are right;  I think of my miniatures as jewelry.   It is a line of Fine Pocket Jewelry for the well dressed craftsman.  A ministure gold hammer, plane etc. for the well dressed carpenter -- a sterling silver pipe wrench for the well dressed plumber --  a monkey wrench for a jack of all trades, etc.  Thanks for your observation.  Ralph

[Art Rafael]

Thanks Nolatoolguy.  Building miniatures is much fun, interesting and very challenging -- especially if they are built to exact scale with close tolerance and to actually work like the full scale tools.  I have been working at this for 20+ years on & off as time, patience and resources permit.  Another 20 years and I'll have a complete set.  Ralph

[johnsironsanctuary]

Ralph, do you make your own silver and brass castings? If so, are they investment cast or sand? Tell us a little about your processes.

[Art Rafael]

Hi John.  Yes I make all my own silver and gold castings (although not so much gold these days).  My brass stuff is primarily fashioned and fabricated from flat stock -- cut out, arranged (posed) and silver soldered.  I have used the "split half" - cope and drag sand casting process. And and split half plaster mold casting.  And "lost wax" casting employing a centrifuge, which I prefer for casting higher quality more detailed pieces.  Posted below is a simply sketched example of a "split half" process I have used.  The "lost wax" process is a little more complex but basically similar.  Ralph




In the lost wax process a wax model is carved - fashioned  from a bar - piece of wax, and it is suspended in a container (flask) into which investment ( plaster ) is poared and allowed to harden under high heat which melts the wax out (lost wax) leaving a cavity in the shape of the model in the plaster into which molten metal is poared.  The plaster is then broken off revealing the solid metal piece ready for fileing, sanding, polishing and general finishing.  Or something like that.  I could describe the process better in volumes, but it's hard to do in a few words.   Ralph

[OilyRascal]

There is no question in my mind you are a master in your domain.  I've enjoyed this thread.  Thanks for posting; and welcome to the board.

[Art Rafael]

Thanks OilyRascal.  I don't know about master yet, but I'm sure working at it.  I'm glad that you have enjoyed the thread; it encourages me to keep posting.  Ralph

[jimwrench]

 Fantastic work Thanks for sharing.

[Art Rafael]

Thanks Jim.  I'm encouraged to post some others.  Ralph

[scottg]

Ah ha! I knew those hammers were coming from somewhere!!
 
The scraper plane is just drop dead killer!!

  Knowles? Are you kidding me??

yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  And what are you getting these pictures with?
    yours Scott

[Papaw]

Probably a Minox spy camera, Scott!