I accidentally fell asleep at midnight last night. I’d planned to stay up all night and finish my presentations for India.. but… I konked out right after 12.. I woke up well rested but in a panic. I had no idea when I was going to finish these things. Somehow I managed to sit down at around 7AM .. and not stand up until noon.. When I did .. the first passes of 2 ouf the four presnetations I needed to pull together were done. There’s a lesson in there somewhere.. as in… don’t work all night, it’s not worth it.. or sleep makes you more effective.. or soemthign like that.. Whatever it was.. I was so happy to have at least finished a pass.

I worked my @^ off today trying to get ready for traveling next week. I had so many loose endes I needed to track down.. btut somewho.. by about 5:45 .. I had most of the stuff I neded to get done behind me.. I drove to williston and waited for DIane.. While waitng I finished another of my India presentations.

When Diane got there, we drove together down to Pine St. for the last bit of prep before the iron pour tomorrow.. . I got there just as they began the safty walkthrough. We learned all the ways to hurt yourself with a 100 pound ladel of white hot metal.. It’s going to be SO COOL tomorrow…

Here are Yolk ad Jennifer.. the calm before the storm.

Once the safety walkthrough was done, I went in to finish my mold. Elijah helped me crack the molds apart

The back and front seperated nicely.. Both had great images of the SamStones.

It took some el ow grease and patience to nidge the SamStoens to release from the sand,

I really had to work to get the last ones out.

The next step was to paint the molds with graphite paint.. then light it to burn of the alchohol. Here’s Orina burning off hers.

Here’s my mold with all the sprue and vent channels scratches and etched in..

I painted them.. he n Diane took a picture of me setting the graphite on fire..

Then we placed a bead of refractory cement around the whole mold.. It was very weird gluing sand together.. but it works !

Then we eased the back of the mold on to the front.

It was a perfect fit.. then I glued on a filling cup..

And two vent risers,

Et voila !.. It was done ! I glued on some paper barriers.. then we were all done.

We’re supposed to show up at 8:15 tomorrow.. ugh.. but I think I’m ready to go.

Diane and I drove home and fixed a nice light dinner. Gabe called as we were finishing up. He’s having a blast.. I can tell.. Here I am talking to Gabe. Looks like I’m tired.. Tomorrow isgoing to be a long hot day as we pour.. so I’m ending now..

You’re all welcoem to come buy and watch the pour.. Here’s the flyer with info

and here’s an article about last year’s pour..

OK.. that’sall for tonight.. sleep well folks.. Gnite Sam
-me