A Different Kind of Π Pendant
Introduction: A Different Kind of Π Pendant
I got the design idea for this pendant from a slightly different kind of Pi..
π = iMRT is the formula for osmotic pressure.
While the formula for Osmotic pressure gets complicated (depending on the specific properties of the solute/solvent and the temperature), I think the visualization puts the general principle across.
This is a polymer clay craft (I use Fimo brand), and I plan on making many more variations of this..
Supplies
* Polymer clay (I always use Fimo) - At least 3 different colors. I used:
* For the 'solvent' - White and Magenta (which I mixed from leftovers)
* For the inner part - Blue (similar to what I would call Turkish Blue shade that I mixed from leftovers). This color should be a nice contrast to the 'solvent' colors.
* Glass Christmas ornament - For creating the convex shape
* Sharp blades
* rolling pin for clay
* modelling tools or metal knitting needle - for smaller details.
* A pasta machine - mine goes from 1-thickest to 9 -thinnest (but I never use thinner than 6 because the machine ruins it).
* Oven that can bake at 110C/230F.
* Extremely fine wet sanding paper - I used 1500 and 2000.
* Cookie cutters - circle for the main shape, rectangle for making a cutout.
* Fimo liquid
* Metal wire and small bottle nose pliers - for making the hanger pin.
Optionals and alternatives :
* Latex gloves - they minimize fingerprints which makes sanding easier.
* Lightbulb - instead of a glass Christmas ornament.
* Gel type superglue - instead of Fimo liquid.
* Jewellery findings - head pin or screw eye pin.
Step 1: Main Shape 'Solvent Skinner Blend
Prepare the colors
1. I started by conditioning equal amounts of White and Magenta. (each 3x5cm rectangles 0.5cm thick).
2. Cut each rectangle into triangle and stack them.
3. I decided my triangles were too long so I squished them a bit before connecting them.
4. Roll the connected triangles a little with a rolling pin - so they are a good thickness for the machine.
5. The piece should always go into the machine with both colors ( either of the green arrows )! Don't put them through from the wrong direction (red arrows) otherwise you will get a single color at the end.
6. I left a little bit of white and magenta on each end so that I would get a blend from full white to full magenta.
Put through the machine
1. Start on the thickest setting and then reduce by about 2 settings (mine goes from 1 to 3), folding in half each time.
2. Keep doing that until you happy with the blend.
3. 95
You will notice that the piece widens as it goes through... just try to keep it straight and even when folding
4. finish of by creating an even-ish rectangle
5. cut it into 4 even strips that go from Magenta to White and stack them.
Step 2: Skinner Blend Jelly Roll
1. Run the stacked strips through setting 1 on the pasta machine - starting from the light color (white) to the darker (magenta).
2. Keep reducing the thickness while rolling from light to dark... my poor machine only goes to setting 5.
3. Starting from the white tightly roll-up the long ribbon.
4. At the end you will always have some unevenness at the edges.
5. I press the roll a little to make it tighter, and then press the sides to make the diameter of the circle a little bit wider.
Step 3: Making the Main 'solvent' Shape
Slicing the roll
* My final roll was 3cm in diameter. Using a sharp blade slice of 1-2mm slices.
To prevent the roll from distorting too much when you slice roll it by 90deg between slices.
* To create larger thinner circles I ran each slice through the pasta machine 4 times- each time turning it while reducing the thickness.
* Each of the slices is then smoothed, with the palm of my hand onto the Christmas ornament.
Gloves have appeared so that I don't leave pesky fingerprints on the shapes (its better if the gloves are a little tighter than mine..)
Creating the final shape
* Using a circle cookie cutter, I trim each slice while already on the ball. (keep these leftovers - you can use them later to connect the 2 sides)
* I started by gently marking out where my cutout should be.. making sure that it is about even on each of the 2 circles. 316