[Jewelry making - Article 00334] - Re: [Orchid] Casting torch ingots

[Bruce Holmgrain]

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>         Of late, I've been casting ingots and bars and have a question
>     concerning that;  Do I cast into a hot, warm or cold ingot mold,
>     and what are the reasons for doing it? 

    Hot. One of the major constituents of the resulting gases from a
    torch is water. This water will quickly condense onto cold metal. In
    the case of a metal mold, when hot metal hits this condensation, it
    vaporizes immediately resulting in sputtering metal. I have worked
    with jewelers that have refused to believe this, and  I  have watched
    them spending many hours in the "jewelers position" picking little
    metal bits off of the floor. It could have been a lot worse. 

    I like to lubricate my molds with olive oil. When burned into the
    mold, it provides a layer of carbon that keeps to two metals apart
    and seems to allow more even cooling. 

Bruce Holmgrain
JA Certified Master Bench Jeweler
http://www.goldwerx.com


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