080v - - - - - Founders of small works @ in tin
They usually cast with solder, even the things that should not become empty, for the latter require fine & soft tin, which however would not release, & would not become empty if it was mixed or had some looking glass tin mix in it, just like they put in a little of it in soft tin. They carve their works on stones of which are made the sharpening stones or files of barbers, which are found in great flakes towards the mountains, & resemble slate. They are three colors of them: reddish, which is not as perfect as the others because it does not last as long in the fire & as,one dard of the color of dark slate, the other whitish. When they have some relief, first they imprint it on carton, as thick as one finger, to serve as a pattern, then with a little compass & little matching iron fittings, they carve their figures, having first flattened their stones & worn down one against the other, they make their p molds of three or four pieces, to make a circle or a square which joins perfectly, because the stones render themselves even. Before casting, they rub the mould with tallow, which has quickly absorbed it because it is hot. Then, taking fine powder of quicklime in a linen, they rub the mould while beating with the linen on top, then blow a little on top to prevent it from becoming porous. The main thing is to make vents. If the work is big and they make it in such a way as seen here, they pierce a hole in the part of the medal, that is least visible. And with a gimblet they pierce the mold on the side of the medal.
Figure
And if they want their work to stay pierced in whichever place, they drive in a piece of cork at this place in the mold. And the lead or tin will not attach to it.
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Make sure the pegs of your box mold enter easily so that opening it will easily open without shifting anything; and that your box molds fit well together; & the table is very flat.
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Try to carve with distilled vinegar.
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Try calcined oyster shells; one says that they are excellent for molding.