Tools: Getting Pitch Bowl Ready

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I set up my pitch bowl and it was very straight forward. I used thinset for setting tile because I had some in the basement. You can use cement or even pumice stone to partially fill the bowl. Mix with water to a peanut butter consistency and put in the bowl.

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Let the cement or whatever you used ‘set up’ and push some holes in it with your fingers. This gives a space for the pitch melt into it and makes it nice and secure so your pitch never slides around or pops out of the cast iron bowl.

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Break up your pitch – wear goggles or glasses… it’s sharp and flies around.

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Melt… You can melt your pitch on the stove in a pan and pour it in the bowl… I did not want pitch in one of my pans. You can melt pitch in the oven in the cast iron bowl itself.. I did not want the bowl in my oven and the weird smell of pitch melting in my house. I used a heat gun which does the job pretty fast. It has two settings 550 degrees and 1000 degrees. I also use the heat gun (Milwaukee brand – Home Depot $65) to warm the pitch and release/adhere the metal while chasing. When you are done you want the pitch melted into a slight mound, a gradual curve over the rim of the bowl.

I have used pitch in classes to hold on to objects too (like a ring while setting a stone)… works great for that as well.

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  1. Nanette Mickle

    Looks great! I used concrete, rocks and all. So far, so good. I also wrapped my chasing tools with (purple) electrical tape to make the a little wider and with more cushion when using them. I got the idea from a book on chasing and repousse by Nancy Megan Corwin. I also added a single ring of different colored tape to the top of the tools to identify them as curved liners, straight liners etc.. because I found I was taking more time to locate the specific tools than working! At least it seemed that way..

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