Hi, I'm really new to this art, but very interested. Currently I'm looking into casting for a ring. I've researched jeweler wax for the mold, and my professor said he would be willing to kiln the clay mold once I have the wax set in. Has anyone done this before and if you have, could you give me some pointers? Do I have to use the centrifuge technique? or can I just pour the metal into the mold? Also, how do you "finish" or "polish" rings and get that end of metal (from the mold) to come off? I am totally willing to learn from someone.
-Marc
-Dwarfing in the lonely mountains of Maryland.
Sounds like you have the hardest part covered, that's the burnout. It should be easy using the kiln. Are you using a commercial investment like Kerr Satincast? You don't have to use a centrifuge, you can do steam casting, check for how-to's on You-Toob. Basically you press a can with a wet towel in it on top of the mold right after you pour the metal. This creates a small amout of steam pressure, forcing the metal into the mold. You have to be very careful with it, so you don't get burned. Find out all you can before you try it. Be Safe.
I am first going to work with an easy,available metal: Aluminum. I will use a lost-wax mold, that my highschool art teacher said he would be more than willing to kiln for me. I plan on using propane to melt the metal, a nice crucible to melt it in, and then pour it into the mold. I will practice with aluminum, and work my way up to sterling silver. I will use proper eye and body protection, and do all this around non-flamable materials. Here is an example of what I plan to do:
Any hickups in my plan? I mean, of course beside the obvious fact that I need to do more research on metals and the proper ring casting.
The in thing now are solitaire rings with big stones and wide bands and this is it This is one of varm's creations and he says bigger is better and believe me this is a big comfortable ring to wear he has peened the band by hammering it with a ball peen hammer this leaves a beautiful hammered finish that is very popular in our area.
