Re: ATM beginner tool questions

[mjc5@psu.edu]

At 12:13 PM -0800 10/29/03, Bill Mitchell wrote:
>After lurking for three years and seeing all the fun situations you
>all work yourself into my curiosity got the better of me and I have
>ordered a 6" WB kit.  I want to make two mirrors out of the kit, an
>f/4.5 first, then an f/8.  I have a few questions before I begin
>though.
>
>1) Is it practical to make a tile tool for a 6" blank?

Sure, then you'll get those two mirrors!


>2) Will the blank make good contact with the tiles during the chordal
>stroke?  I'm thinking there will likely be dead zones where there are
>no tiles close enough to the edge.  Will this be a problem?

Not really a problem. I know no one else seems to do this, but a 
small mirror is a case where my tool making method (one tool for the 
whole mirror) really makes sense

>3) Should I use something else to hog out and then pour the tool once
>I get the general curve going?

For a six inch mirror, you will end up spending more time toolmaking 
than working the mirror. With a hard porcelain tile tool, you can do 
the whole thing in one step.

	- Mike -
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