Materials, tools & procedures

The slips arrived today. I hope to begin & finish the second vase this coming week. I began building the boxes for the big 'sculpture painting' today but ran into problems at every step. Malcolm insisted on my leaving the workshop while he cut the ply. But he turned each piece over leaving rough edges on both sides. When I pointed it out to him, he said "Well, you're going to paint it anyway." First: I am not, & second, if I were I would like a smooth surface to do it on. No respect for the work we students do. Luckily I only gave him the measurements for one, small box, so he didn't get a chance to ruin all my expensive materials.

The next problem was the router table (equipment for a home workshop, not one that gets the usage we give it at Gray's). The way it is set up takes about ten minutes preparation for each piece & several minutes for each cut. I have almost 200 rebates to cut, so the ridiculous system is not viable. And that is without mentioning the damage the double-sided tape causes. I had to go out & buy a proper bit for the router at John Smith's. FIFTY QUID! Damn! I am now surviving on credit cards...

I did find blades for my coping saw at B&Q that work for cutting the lead sheeting. I hope to knock the vase's collar out in the hours left to the day before I go in to work at 11 tonight.

Thirty-three days left... at least I have the CCS essay nearly done.