GB2037219A

GB2037219A - Reproducing wood carvings in plastics

Info

Publication number: GB2037219A
Application number: GB7940892A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-11-28
Filing date: 1979-11-27
Publication date: 1980-07-09

Abstract

A light-coloured wood is carved to produce a master pattern, to which a flexible moulding compound e.g. silicone rubber is applied to form a mould. A monomer, preferably water-extended polyester, is then cast in the mould and the resulting casting sealed and then stained with a dark-coloured-wood stain. Preferably the original carving is in ash and the final casting stained with a walnut stain, since these woods are of similar grain.

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of reproducing wood carvings Plastics mouldings and other reproduction of wood carvings do not usually have a realistic appearance.

This invention stems from the discovery that what appears to be a realistic carving in walnut can be obtained by making a master pattern in ash, forming a mould from the master and using certain plastics materials in the mould, although the invention is of more wide application.

The present invention provides a method producing a cast reproduction of a wood carving comprising carving a master pattern, preferably in a lightcoloured wood, applying to the wood of the master pattern a mixture of linseed oil and turpentine or a material having a similar effect (usually three or four coats are necessary), covering the master pattern with a flexible moulding compound, curing the moulding compound and stripping the resulting mould from the master pattern, pouring a castable monomer into the mould, curing the castable monomer, removing it from the mould, and after a suitable interval, usually about eight hours, applying a sealing material followed by a dark-coloured-wood stain. The excess of stain is then desirably wiped off to highlight the casting, which is then sealed with a semi-matt clear lacquer.

Preferably the master pattern is carved in a light-coloured wood of similar grain to the darkcoloured wood on which the stain used in the final stage is based. The invention is particularly applicable when the carving is of ash and the stain of walnut, since ash and walnut are similarly grained.

Moreover, ash is cheaper than walnut, and walnut carvings are preferred to many others for aesthetic reasons.

The moulding compound is preferably a silicone rubber, e.g. RTV 700 made by General Electric Co.

The casting is preferably formed of waterextended polyester, which usually takes about five minutes to cure.

The use of light-coloured woods, such as ash, has an additional advantage. Dark woods such as walnut catch and reflect only little light. A pattern being carved in a dark wood is therefore highlighted poorly and does not stand out well. As a result, the carver tends to over-compenstate for the lack of reflection by carving too deeply so that he or she can see the pattern more clearly while working on it. Thus the carving obtained is deeper or heavier than was intended. By making the carving of a light-coloured wood, the carver can see more readily the desired pattern without carving too deeply and the resulting depth of carving will approximate more closely to what-was intended than it would have done if a dark wood had been used.

The material for making the casting need not be water-extended polyester, but the weight and clarity of this material, which can be obtained from the Ashland Chemical Co., make it particularly suitable.

1. A method of producing a cast reproduction of a wood carving comprising carving a master pattern in wood, applying to the wood of the master pattern a mixture of linseed oil and turpentine or a material having a similar effect, covering the master pattern with a flexible moulding compound, curing the moulding compound and stripping the resulting mould from the master pattern, pouring a castable monomer into the mould, curing the castable monomer, then removing it from the mould, and, after a suitable interval, applying a sealing material followed by a dark-coloured-wood stain.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, including the further step of wiping off the stain to highlight the casting and sealing the casting with a semi-matt lacquer.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the carving is made in a light-coloured wood.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 in which the light-coloured wood and the wood of the final stain are of similar grain.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 4 in which the light-coloured wood is ash and the final stain is of walnut.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the flexible moulding compound is a silicone rubber.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the casting is of a water-extended polyester.

8. A method as claimed in Claim 7 in which the curing time for the casting is about five minutes.

9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the period between removing the casting from the mould and sealing it is about eight hours.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A method of reproducing wood carvings Plastics mouldings and other reproduction of wood carvings do not usually have a realistic appearance. This invention stems from the discovery that what appears to be a realistic carving in walnut can be obtained by making a master pattern in ash, forming a mould from the master and using certain plastics materials in the mould, although the invention is of more wide application. The present invention provides a method producing a cast reproduction of a wood carving comprising carving a master pattern, preferably in a lightcoloured wood, applying to the wood of the master pattern a mixture of linseed oil and turpentine or a material having a similar effect (usually three or four coats are necessary), covering the master pattern with a flexible moulding compound, curing the moulding compound and stripping the resulting mould from the master pattern, pouring a castable monomer into the mould, curing the castable monomer, removing it from the mould, and after a suitable interval, usually about eight hours, applying a sealing material followed by a dark-coloured-wood stain. The excess of stain is then desirably wiped off to highlight the casting, which is then sealed with a semi-matt clear lacquer. Preferably the master pattern is carved in a light-coloured wood of similar grain to the darkcoloured wood on which the stain used in the final stage is based. The invention is particularly applicable when the carving is of ash and the stain of walnut, since ash and walnut are similarly grained. Moreover, ash is cheaper than walnut, and walnut carvings are preferred to many others for aesthetic reasons. The moulding compound is preferably a silicone rubber, e.g. RTV 700 made by General Electric Co. The casting is preferably formed of waterextended polyester, which usually takes about five minutes to cure. The use of light-coloured woods, such as ash, has an additional advantage. Dark woods such as walnut catch and reflect only little light. A pattern being carved in a dark wood is therefore highlighted poorly and does not stand out well. As a result, the carver tends to over-compenstate for the lack of reflection by carving too deeply so that he or she can see the pattern more clearly while working on it. Thus the carving obtained is deeper or heavier than was intended. By making the carving of a light-coloured wood, the carver can see more readily the desired pattern without carving too deeply and the resulting depth of carving will approximate more closely to what-was intended than it would have done if a dark wood had been used. The material for making the casting need not be water-extended polyester, but the weight and clarity of this material, which can be obtained from the Ashland Chemical Co., make it particularly suitable. CLAIMS