百姓　Hyakusho

2013-12-07

Gypsum Mouldings: Creating the Moulding Form

A moulding is a strip of material, often wood or plaster, with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration.
The following describes the creation of moulding form:

A metal sheet will be cut to create moulding.

Draw the profile of the desired mould on paper and tape the paper to the metal plate. In this case, the moulding is 60mm x 30mm, and modeled after the classical moulding Cyma Reversa.

Using a jigsaw, cut out the form of the moulding

Cut metal sheet

file the edges of the metal sheet to prevent injury and to eliminate any spurs that might streak the moulding.

Trace the moulding on a block of wood

Draw an additional line 5mm outside the line of the moulding design.

Cut out the moulding at an angle.

Sand the wood with sandpaper

Punch holes in the plate and attache with nails.

Moulding form

Attach the moulding form to an anchoring board.

Ensure the moulding form and anchoring board are perpendicular.

Attach diagonal bracing to maintain 90 degrees

The next post describes the actual creation of a gypsum moulding using the above form.

2013-12-03

Pouring Gypsum Molds

Although gypsum is not found naturally in Japan, over the past 100 years Japanese plastering has adapted the use of gypsum plasters and gypsum molds. The following are examples of poured gypsum molds featured at the Kyoto Plastering Institute.

An imprint

Student's mold

The following is a description of pouring simple gypsum molds. In subsequent posts, more elaborate moldings will be discussed:
1. Create the form with clay.

In this case, a clay mixed with oil is used.

The oil inhibits the clay from drying and provides easier release from the silicone mold.

2. Spray the clay mold and board with a lacquer spray to improve release.

3. Cover the clay mold with a silicone gel that hardens with the addition of a hardener.

Silicone

Hardening Agent: Add half a bottle of hardening agent to one can (1kg) of silicone

Mix thoroughly

4. Cut the edges of the silicone mold for easy release from a gypsum mold, and create a wooden framework around the silicone mold.

5. Mix gypsum to pour into the form work

Fill a bowl half with water and add gypsum powder until the powder comes to the surface of the water. Allow the gypsum to sit and slowly absorb the water.

Mix thoroughly, removing any clumps but being careful not to mix in air.
6. Pour gypsum into form-work.

7. Remove clay mold

8. Mix and pour gypsum into silicone mold.

9. Carefully remove mold after cooling.

2013-11-12

Bending neither to the rain

bending neither to the rain

nor to the wind

nor to the snow nor summer heat

firm in body, yet

unfettered by desire

never losing one’s temper

and always quietly smiling

eating four cups of brown rice

with miso soup and a few vegetables each day

in all maters

putting oneself last

watching and listening, and understanding

and never forgetting

in the shade of a pine grove

living in a small thatch hut

if there is a sick child in the east

he goes and tends him

if there is a tired mother in the west

he goes and shoulders her load

if someone is dying in the south,

he goes and calms their fears

if there is a quarrel to the north,

he goes and demands they put an end to their pettiness

during times of drought, he sheds tears

in cool summers, fearing for the harvest, he walks nervously

considered a fool by all

neither praised

nor blamed

such a person

I long to be

--Miyazawa Kenji (1896-1933)

After Miyazawa Kenji's death, a black notebook was found in the lid of his trunk. It was filled with the repeated copy of a Buddhist prayer, "namu myoho renge kyo", a verse from the Lotus Sutra. Amongst the repeated mantra, the above poem was written. It dates, November 6, 1931, a time in Miyazawa Kenji's life when he was quite ill.