[Jewelry making - Article 00001] - [Orchid] Unresolved issues with casting

[W Denayer]

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    Dear Orchidians, I have been casting rings, brooches and a couple of
    meshes lately. Everything has gone very well so far. I paint my
    pieces with a debubblizer (I use Griffith) and let them dry, while
    preparing the investment (I use Satin Cast). I mix the investment and
    the (distilled) water first with my hands and then with a kitchen
    mixer, making sure that the blade of the mixer stays below the
    surface at all times. After that, I vibrate the investment for about
    one minute. After that, I pour the investment into a 4"x4" flask and
    use my vibrator again for approximately two minutes. I do not use a
    vacuum machine. I was really afraid that I would have to reckon with
    a lot of air bubbles, but I have no problems with them at all.
    However, there are still some unresolved issues: 1) I worry about my
    crucible, which has been turning red / deep brown inside. Till now,
    I have been casting Sterling. I do not know the origin of the red
    substance. Could someone please explain what it is and whether it is
    supposed to be there or not? Would it (still) be safe to use the same
    crucible for gold?; 2) Working with a Little Torch, I use a tip with
    six orifices (for propane/oxygen) to melt the metal (Dave, Tim, John
    and others here, thank you again for your information). This is
    certainly a big improvement, but it remains problematic to melt 45 -
    50 gr. of Sterling. It takes a long time before the metal begins to
    melt and, also, I have difficulties to obtain a reducing flame -
    whatever I do, the flame doesn't seem to be a really reducing one. I
    have been working in the garage and it was really cold there. Could
    that have something to do with it? Thank you for reading and with
    very best wishes for the new year to everyone, Will
    (william.denayer AT pandora.be). 
 

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