03-21-2005, 05:56 AM
Ave Danus,<br>
I have long been intrigued by this subject myself. Many people say that the patera with a thick handle, and occasionally thick rim are somehow made in one piece, but it has never made much sense to me. Why would you cast and then grind off huge amounts of metal, when you could, exactly as you say, start thin and spin it the same as a bronze helmet. But would you then solder on a handle? "Everyone" says they are all one piece! As I am sure you have examined many original pieces personally, would you say this is a reasonable way to construct them- I mean in several pieces? I have also been told they were cast with a thin disk and the handle in the "normal" thickness, then spun, but wouldn't that heavy handle off to the side wreak havoc with the centrifugal force of the lathe? How does this Dr. Mutz do it?<br>
This is a very interesting subject and I am eager to hear more of your thoughts on it.<br>
I wonder if you have any pictures of Dr. Mutz' lathe that you could post. I also wonder how it works. Does he force the spinning brass over a mold? Or is it free formed?<br>
Vale, Florentius <p></p><i></i>
I have long been intrigued by this subject myself. Many people say that the patera with a thick handle, and occasionally thick rim are somehow made in one piece, but it has never made much sense to me. Why would you cast and then grind off huge amounts of metal, when you could, exactly as you say, start thin and spin it the same as a bronze helmet. But would you then solder on a handle? "Everyone" says they are all one piece! As I am sure you have examined many original pieces personally, would you say this is a reasonable way to construct them- I mean in several pieces? I have also been told they were cast with a thin disk and the handle in the "normal" thickness, then spun, but wouldn't that heavy handle off to the side wreak havoc with the centrifugal force of the lathe? How does this Dr. Mutz do it?<br>
This is a very interesting subject and I am eager to hear more of your thoughts on it.<br>
I wonder if you have any pictures of Dr. Mutz' lathe that you could post. I also wonder how it works. Does he force the spinning brass over a mold? Or is it free formed?<br>
Vale, Florentius <p></p><i></i>
