Metal Casting Zone

Hello,

I am a model ship builder from Minnesota who has casted an accurate set of the Swedish warship Vasas cannons in 1:50 scale in Tin-Bismuth using silicone rubber molds.

Now, I have carved a master for a necklace pendant/ornament that the Vasa museum in Sweden wants to have to sell in their store in silver.

Is there any type of material anywhere that is similar to silicone mold rubber (can be poured in a two part mold) that can take the high temperature necessary to melt silver?

If not, what is the best way to go about this endeavor where I can produce many silver castings?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers
Clayton Johnson
Pine City MN
clayton707.googlepages.com

lost wax casting sounds like the deal for you
How about a picture??

Welcome!! Very cool website. I don't think I would have the patience to do those carvings. Very nice work.
Here's a link if you want to dive into investment casting, maybe just get some ideas to make your own stuff.
Kerr Labs

welcome to the forums clayton from brisbane australia. hmmmm silver. apart from the suggestions already given i think member johncast maybe able to offer a suggestion from his jewellery background. he will probally ask to see a picture of the item so he can advise you. is that a problem posting a pic.????if so we can guide you in how to post a pic.

Yes, here is a picture. I also attached a picture of the cannons that I casted, my only real casting experience. I am very new with this and have the impression that with lost wax you have to make the pattern over and over and over again. To me that doesn't sound very efficient? Unless you use a silicone mold to first make the wax pattern?

I am actually interested in learning more about the process of investment casting.

Thanks.

Clayton

Here it is...

Uh, I am trying again..

And my Vasa cannons..

clayton707 wrote:
Yes, here is a picture. I also attached a picture of the cannons that I casted, my only real casting experience. I am very new with this and have the impression that with lost wax you have to make the pattern over and over and over again. To me that doesn't sound very efficient? Unless you use a silicone mold to first make the wax pattern?

I am actually interested in learning more about the process of investment casting.

Thanks.

Clayton

Yes silicone mold to make wax patterns the sprue them up on a tree and pour all at once. sounds easy huh? sometimes it is, and sometimes..... well I cant say that here ill be shunned

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Online forums are great! How do you melt the wax and pour it into the molds? Is there a type of melter available online for wax like there is for melting metals?

How big in diameter does the sprue for the wax patterns need to be so that they will be held together well?

Also, once you have your wax patterns, you make a new mold each time you cast with "investment", correct? Then the investment mold, after use, gets thrown away?

With casting silver, do you need to have, in your investment mold, an air excape vent like in silicone mold rubber casting?

What is a good way to get the molten silver into the mold? Just pour it?

Thanks!
Clayton