it's all about the mold

Here is a brand new mold and the first mold I tried and abused.  That pour I did in my makeshift brick oven took over an hour to finally melt the silver. I have done about 15 more pours with mold #1 and it is just about finished.   All that pressure from the torch really eats away the graphite.  I have added a "pressure shield" to the mix and with a 5 minute melt time in the mini micro, I'm getting much less mold degradation.  I think I can get at least 30 ingots out of a mold now.  Did 14 in total today.  I was reluctant to pursue this venture using propane when I discovered the big solar lens couldn't do the job until I figured out that one 20 lb load of gas is way more than enough to do 100 ingots  The Ben'n'Bud Feed Fundraiser will officially start in about 2 weeks.   88,101,65,0,C,.25  

walk not after the flesh

Following the teachings of Christ is a tricky thing in this world.  I am surrounded by earthly beauty.  I am surrounded by earthly comforts.  I am surrounded by people who vehemently disbelieve.  Yet I am aware of something that isn't seen or felt.  All the stuff of this world makes it a tricky thing but I am up for the continual challenge because of the rewards I am finding by simply trying.  

Romans 8 : 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be . 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore , brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die : but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live . 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  87,102,63,0,C,0

     

Sandalday

Nice Saturday.  Figured out I don't have to train Carl not to attack me if I'm wearing shorts....I just put him in the pen with the girls.  He hangs out all day near them anyway and doesn't seem to mind being in with them.  Now I can try out different outfits to test him with while he is behind bars - he really hates sandals with socks.  90,103,58,0,C,0

This just in...Canvasman34 has another one of his micro mini furnaces available on Ebay...bidding ends Sunday night.  These things are great if you want to play with fire.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290917396316

too cute to melt...

Nice mid morning visit with new friends Neil and Elizabeth.  They are from the Austin area - visiting Big Bend for their first wedding anniversary.  They win the prize of "most photogenic couple".  Cranked up the micro mini all day and pumped out 11 ingots.  Just got a second mold and a third one is on the way.  Need some extras to keep production going because of the cool down time on the molds...they come out of the furnace at 1800°+.  Here is one pound of sterling.  One of my cheap Ebay items was a salt server.  A much more sophisticated way to season your food rather than using a salt shaker.  I melted the little bowl but just as I was about to melt down the spoon, I caught a glimpse of my Mexico Midget tomatoes and the spoon was spared.  92,108,59,0,B,.36

Animal Psychology

Interesting turn of events today.  A picture of Carl and a bunny will have to suffice.   Did an Alpine run for feed and supplies.  Got home around 3 and it was getting hot finally...up to 93° inside the hut (I think Pepino II season starts tomorrow).  Decided it was time to put on shorts and sandals.  Went out to do chores around the grounds and Carl came after me just like he does with all my visitors.  He was relentless no matter what I said to him.  Put my jeans and boots back on and....nothing - he was my buddy again.  This could definitely be a problem as summer rolls in.  Now I have to train Carl to accept my bare legs - maybe they are just too white.  Perhaps I will try shorts and boots tomorrow to ease him into it.  83,102,57,0,B,0  

the boys are doin' fine

Ben just got a new tip to tip measurement this afternoon... 24.5",  He is only getting more lovable as he grows - which is good because he is big enough to kill me now.  Hardly horns me anymore...just wants to be scratched.  Bud has come along quite well.  He hand feeds from strangers now and reluctantly loves getting scratched and brushed...but not into the tape measure yet.  They were romping around like crazy last night after the cool temps and rain we got.  

Looks like summer is finally getting here.  87,97,55,0,B,.32

I think I got it

Fired up the micro mini for the first time today.  From a stone cold start, it takes all of 5 minutes to get yellow hot and melt the silver.  Had trouble with the first five pours - didn't fill the mold even though there was still melted silver in the top.  Suddenly something Canvasman34 said to me in an email popped into my head after my first success with the mold and that fork I cut up..."That is great that the mold worked with so little silver. Normally it needs twice the ingot volume to get a full pour."  I guess I got lucky with that first pour I did in my makeshift brick oven.  Added more silver and got 3 good pours in a row.  I was only using about 35grams for the failed attempts.  55 grams seems to work well. Turned my partial ingots back into nuggets and pickled the batch.

Got rain this afternoon!  60,95,62, .4",W,0