looking for more info on a clamping technique

[silvereaglevaughan]

Roaming around you tube I found this delightful vid on katana making. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmRCCy7Bta8

10 min in it shows him heating up what looks like a block of rosin and using it as a clamping device for both reposy & carving on small bits

 

Anyone have more specifics on this method?

[Chinobi]

its a Pitch Pot, frequently used to hold small and oddly sized parts, or pieces for engraving, repousse and the like.

 

there may be other names for it as well.

[Frank Turley]

Yes, a pitch block of which there are various formulas usually involving a mix of pitch, plaster of paris, and beeswax. Pieh tool sells a German red pitch, which they tout.

[Bentiron1946]

I have used "black pitch" it's hard compared to the "red pitch" and I have used brown microcrystalline wax to hold some of my jewelry projects, it pretty nice and inexpensive. There is a company that makes a "pine pitch" up in the Pacific Northwest that is coming into favor with some folks as it has a more pleasant smell, is less flammable than the traditional "black pitch" and is made from a renewable resource rather than a by product of the petrochemical industry.

[Alan Evans]

Yes, a pitch block of which there are various formulas usually involving a mix of pitch, plaster of paris, and beeswax. Pieh tool sells a German red pitch, which they tout.

 

 

Alan Knight the 'smith I worked with used a similar recipe but with tallow instead of the beeswax.

 

My memories of repoussé work on it are not the happiest.  Awful to use if it gets out of balance and the pitch gets too hard. Melts okay but in working it cracks up and you're breathing in pitch dust...gets everywhere! Pre ear defenders awareness/era so the row of the loosening sheet rattling, sore fingers.....the horror, the horror!

 

Alan