I have found three shapes of extruded brass that are suitable for making braces to protect the bottom corners of moulds. The largest size is a true half round 1/2″ wide and 1/4″ thick. The other two are roughly half oval. One is 1/2″ wide and about 1/8″ thick and the other 3/8″ wide by 3/32″ thick. IContinue reading “#62 Soldering Brass Corner Braces”
Category Archives: Understanding Moulds
#60 An Alternate Sewing Method
Two Wires Instead of One for Very Fine and Single Faced Laid Moulds Very fine laid moulds and single faced laid moulds can benefit from having closely stitched laid facings. Shortening the distance between stitches gives the delicate chain wires more protection from being stretched or bent. Especially in the case of single faced laidContinue reading “#60 An Alternate Sewing Method”
#57 Investigating a pair of 19″ x 22-1/2″ Double Faced Laid Moulds from Wookey Hole
This is the other pair of moulds that was referred to in post #46; “Investigating a pair of Amies Wove Moulds”. There were not as many surprises this time but, as always, there are interesting details to observe. Both moulds and deckle have this identifying tag, #319. These moulds have laid facings that are asContinue reading “#57 Investigating a pair of 19″ x 22-1/2″ Double Faced Laid Moulds from Wookey Hole”
#46 Investigating an Amies Wove Mould
In which some interesting variations (and a couple of mysteries) are discovered. This pair of wove moulds was given to Cathleen Baker by the late Larry Lou Foster of Tuscaloosa, Alabama who acquired them in 1968 while traveling in England. Cathy loaned me this pair and another laid pair to examine. The moulds are small,Continue reading “#46 Investigating an Amies Wove Mould”
#28 Fit Wove Facing and Sew
A piece of phosphor bronze ‘wire cloth’ is cut to the size needed. I have always used phosphor bronze for this though it is more difficult to find than ‘plain’ bronze or brass. Either of these would likely work well but are less durable. Paper mould wove facings typically are made from wire cloth inContinue reading “#28 Fit Wove Facing and Sew”
#25 Wove Backing
A wove mould’s backing layer is similar to that of a laid mould. I’m not sure why but wove backing wires are usually more closely spaced than those used for laid moulds. At least this was the case with the moulds I was able to examine when getting started years ago. The counting wheel ofContinue reading “#25 Wove Backing”
#26 Making the Grid for Wove Backing
The next step in making a wove mould is to add a wire that passes back and forth across the top to form a grid. This will support the fine wire screen that will be used as a facing. In the photo above the grid is nearly complete; below are the steps needed to createContinue reading “#26 Making the Grid for Wove Backing”
#27 Mould Brass Sheathing
Many moulds made for use in commercial mills are fitted with metal sheathing. Since most of the moulds I make aren’t used this way I rarely use sheathing. The mould used as an example here is a small wove mould made entirely of western larch, both ribs and frame. This choice of wood is anContinue reading “#27 Mould Brass Sheathing”
#24 The Functions of Backing Wires
The function of backing wires in laid moulds Following is my best effort at understanding why paper made on single faced laid and double faced laid moulds turns out so different. I think I’m on the right track but questions remain. Single faced laid moulds make paper with distinctive characteristics. As paper is formed itContinue reading “#24 The Functions of Backing Wires”
Timothy Moore Bookbinding Tools 