Hi to all,
I am trying to make my own repousse black pitch using black tar and
adding some red baked clay powder. Does anyone knows a better
formula?.
Thor Hedderich
Thor,
The simplest way to make your own pitch is to mix two parts of black
tar and one part rosin (resin), a product chemically obtained from
pine trees and also used in rosining violin bows. For softer pitch
add more of the tar and for harder pitch add more of the resin. Keep
in mind that tar is carcinogenic. Use good ventilation or melt the
pitch outdoors.
Valentin Yotkov
Valentin Yotkov Studio
Artisan Member of Society of American Silversmiths
68 Jay Street, Studio 501A
Brooklyn, New York, 11201
I am trying to make my own repousse black pitch using black tar and adding some red baked clay powder.
Adding Plaster of Paris to tar. Chip up the hard tar and place in a
pot that you have dedicated to this task, bring to a heat slowly to
melt/liquify the tar (use a well ventilated area). Then begin adding
Plaster of Paris, mixing it in completely until the ‘former’ tar
becomes almost plasticized in its texture. It takes a surprising
amount of Plaster of Paris, but the results were very good.
Pre-mixed pitch is much more expensive and so the effort is
definitely worth it.
Good luck.
K. David Woolley